Miller-Maki celebrates 100 years

When it came time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Miller-Maki, Tom Maki took a moment to ponder the philosophical implications.

He wondered how it's possible to celebrate the anniversary of something which contains none of its original components.

The original partners at the downtown Sudbury law firm, including Tom's father, Kauko Maki, have long since passed away.

Tom then thought of a long-ago philosophy lecture he'd heard during his days at the University of Toronto.

It posed the question that if you had a pair of woollen socks that had been darned so many times that no original yard remained, is it the same pair of socks?

Tom, a lawyer at the firm like his father before him, contends the answer is yes, because Miller-Maki has the same focus on working and playing equally hard that it had in the beginning.

More than 100 people, including dignitaries, present and past Miller-Maki staff, and members of the local legal community, gathered for the 100th anniversary celebration May 24 at the Science North cavern.

“It's very rare we have a 100-year anniversary of any business, and I'm very, very honoured to be part of it,” Mayor Marianne Matichuk, who attended the event on behalf of Greater Sudbury city council, said.

“If you've been around 100 years, it tells me you're doing a fantastic job. The history of Miller Maki is a history of Sudbury. This company and the generations of lawyers who have passed through it are true community builders.”

The firm can trace its roots back to 1909, when R.R. McKessock set up a law practice in Sudbury.

George Miller joined McKessock in 1913, but was left to run the firm alone when war broke out in 1914, and McKessock joined the armed forces.

After the war, in 1920, Miller ventured out on his own to specialize in criminal law. In 1934, he took on Kauko Maki as an articling student.

Maki finished his education in 1940, and joined Miller in his law practice, becoming a full partner in 1947. At the end of the 1940s, lawyers William Inch and D'Arcy Mulligan joined the firm.

The firm grew exponentially from there, and today has 12 lawyers and 30 support staff.

Michael O'Hara, one of the firm's partners, said he thinks the original partners would be surprised if they knew Miller-Maki would reach its 100th anniversary.

“I'm sure the last thing on George Miller's mind when he headed north was that one day, the firm that he helped found would be celebrating an anniversary such as this,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the proof is here tonight, as to the result of his initial efforts.”

O'Hara, who has been with Miller-Maki since 1974, said the firm's lawyers have contributed a lot to the Sudbury community, and not just from a legal perspective.

Miller, for example, sat on the Sudbury Town Council, was a member of the University of Sudbury's first board of regents, and was the co-founder of the CKSO television station.

Miller-Maki's lawyers have continued this tradition of service, O'Hara said, sitting on the boards of many different organizations in the city, and participating in numerous charitable efforts.

They also certainly know how to have fun, O'Hara said, with the partners throwing their staff numerous parties.

The 100th celebration is “just another chance to have a good party — a 100th birthday party,” he said. “You don't get those very often.”

Tom said he first worked at Miller-Maki back in 1958, when he was just 15 years old. His father brought him on as a summer student, and he learned how to search title and file court papers.

He got so good at it that by the time he was 18, he was teaching articling students how to complete these tasks.

“Their noses were a bit out of joint, because they already had two degrees by this time,” Tom said.

He was called to the bar himself in 1969, and has been practising at Miller-Maki ever since, specializing in business and estate law.

At 70 years old, he doesn't plan on retiring any time soon from the firm that carries such a strong family history, although he did step down as partner a few years back, and is now an associate.

“I've enjoyed every minute of it,” Tom said. “You learn something new every day. The clients you meet are great. That's why I'm not retiring, because I think I'd miss the interaction with people.”