Wishart Law Firm LLP can trace its beginnings to the day in 1900 when the McFadden brothers hung out their shingle.
Moses and Uriah McFadden set up office at the intersection of Brock and Queen Street. They practiced together until Moses was appointed as a judge in 1915. Ernest McMillan, a young lawyer from Prince Edward Island, then joined the firm. When Uriah McFadden was appointed a judge in 1931, Ernest brought his younger brother, Gordon to the City of Sault Ste. Marie to join him in the practice of law. The firm was known as McMillan and McMillan until 1939, when Arthur Wishart, a New Brunswick-born lawyer, left his practice in Blind River to come to Sault Ste. Marie. The name of the firm was changed to Wishart and McMillan. By the end of World War II, illness had forced Gordon McMillan to leave the firm.
Mr. Wishart recruited two young lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald and Derek Holder. This enabled the firm to accept an appointment as solicitor for the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. Wishart was a former mayor of Blind River. He later served as alderman in the City of Sault Ste. Marie and in 1963 he was elected as the Progressive Conservative member to the provincial legislature. He was appointed Attorney General of the Province of Ontario and was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978.
Mr. Wishart retired from active practice when he was elected to the Ontario Legislature. By then, young lawyers Gerald E. Nori and C. Bruce Noble, who had previously joined the firm, assumed leadership of it. Mr. Noble thereafter accepted an appointment to the bench, leaving the firm in the capable control of Mr. Nori. While still in the care of Mr. Noble and Mr. Nori, lawyers Gordon P. Acton and Orlando M. Rosa joined the firm.
As the firm’s leader, Mr. Nori was widely known and highly regarded for his talent, wisdom and knowledge. He practiced law for over 40 years until his death on January 31, 2007. Mr. Rosa and Mr. Acton, who had become partners with Mr. Nori and Mr. Noble in the 1980s, took on the leadership role of the firm for the next many years.
Through their years as leaders, Mr. Rosa and Mr. Acton brought on many associates, including Paul Cassan, Steven Shoemaker and Matthew Shoemaker. In 2021, Mr. Cassan, Steven Shoemaker and Matthew Shoemaker became partners and have lead the firm since that time.
Drawing on a century of knowledge, the lawyers and staff of Wishart Law Firm continue with to provide excellent solutions to all clients.
Over its 100+ year history, Wishart Law Firm has produced a total of seven judges: Moses McFadden, Uriah McFadden, Derek Holder, Patrick Fitzgerald, John Wright, Stan Kurisko, and Bruce Noble. Drawing on our past experience we have built a firm rich in talent and experience.