Can you imagine having a good client trolling for a great lateral hire for your law firm and making it happen? Heenan Blaikie, is one of Canada’s premier law firms (heck, they attracted former Prime Minister Jean Cretien and years ago, the even more famous former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau).

According to yesterday’s Globe and Mail article, When clients give lawyers advice:

Correct us if we’re wrong, but aren’t lawyers supposed to be giving clients advice rather than the other way around?

Former Ogilvy Renault partner Catherine Wade was grateful to have the tables turned recently when she got a bit of career counselling from the folk at long-time client VenGrowth Capital Partners. Their proposal: Consider jumping to Heenan Blaikie.

The Vancouver-based corporate finance practitioner made the leap to Heenans after VenGrowth suggested certain synergies might be achieved.

Punchline: Perhaps law firms should contemplate using their premiere clients as a vehicle to helping them attract the best lateral hires. A well-placed question might yield amazing results.