One of Canora’s law offices is changing hands and in the process, the new owners expect it will provide a better opportunity to serve the community.
Leland Campbell LLP opened a new branch of its law office in Canora on December 12 and is currently occupying the former Seidle Law Firm office. The office is the second law firm open in Canora, with Kachur Rusnak Balacko Rusnak also having a branch in Canora.
Nolan Kondratoff, partner with Leland Campbell, explained that the firm was approached by Wayne Seidle prior to his retirement with the proposition of serving Canora residents in his place.
“It just made sense,” Kondratoff said in an interview on December 14.
Leland Campbell LLP is a general purpose law firm that handles criminal law, civil litigation, family law, collaborative law, real estate, wills, estates and trusts; corporate law, commercial law, small claims, litigation and oil, gas and mineral issues.
“We do almost anything,” Kondratoff explained.
The firm has existed in some form or another since the late 1920s, according to Kondradoff. It was the successor to the law firm started by William Harold Morrison in 1924. The firm began practicing in Yorkton, began another office in Kamsack in 2008, and now will be opening its third location in Canora.
A large group of staff is available to serve Canora, with a total of eight lawyers, one articling student and 16 support staff hired at the three locations. The firm will be open at the same business hours as it was when the building was owned by Seidle Law Firm with a rotation of practitioners coming to Canora regularly to assist clients.
“The best part about having so many lawyers is that we have access to them right away,” Kondratoff said, adding that the law firm has integrated technology and a central server set up so that a client’s file can be worked on from any of the law offices.
Kondratoff stated he will be making the Canora office his main office and will be working from it most days. Originally from Kamsack, Kondratoff began practicing as a lawyer in 2008, first at a firm in Estavan before being hired for Leland Campbell. He has lived in Canora for six years, and currently lives with his wife Taunya, a member of the Canora RCMP, and his three-year-old daughter. He became a partner in 2016.
Kondratoff said he is excited to be here, and believes the new location will help Leland Campbell better serve Canora customers.
“Not everybody wants to drive to Yorkton, and many others are unable to,” he said, adding that this will mean people needing law services for everyday life will be able to have access to the service in town.
Kondratoff’s goals are for Leland Campbell to ensure professional services do not become non-existent in Canora, and to maintain a connection with the community.
“Wayne served Canora wonderfully, and we’re going to try to continue that,” he said.
