MOOSE JAW — Regent Law has been a well-known legal firm in Moose Jaw for nearly a decade, but it will soon merge with an Alberta firm that wants to strengthen its presence in Saskatchewan.
Stringam Law LLP announced on April 8 that Talon Regent would be joining the company effective Thursday, May 1, a move the company said would reinforce its commitment to delivering premium legal services across Western Canada.
“For years, Talon has been a trusted pillar of the legal community in Moose Jaw, known for his dedication to client service and his innovative approach to the practice of law,” said CEO Kurt E. Schlachter.
“We are honoured to have his talented team join Stringam Law, bringing their experience, expertise and strong client relationships into our growing firm.”
Schlachter expressed excitement about the merger since it helped the company advance its growth vision for Saskatchewan — it also has an office in Swift Current — and allowed the firm to provide an enhanced service while maintaining a personalized approach to services.
Stringam Law will operate from Regent Law’s office at 414-310 Main Street North and ensure a seamless transition with uninterrupted services, the CEO added.
Regent told the Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com that Stringam’s vice-president contacted him about joining the Alberta firm, after the latter learned from a friend in Moose Jaw that he should speak with the young lawyer if the firm were serious about expanding.
The VP conducted more research about Regent by speaking with other people who knew him, and once satisfied, phoned the community lawyer with the offer.
“And so by the time I got a phone call, they were already very intrigued and very interested in me,” Regent said.
Other larger firms have contacted Regent about acquiring his operations, but he was never interested in their business models, while their respective visions never aligned, he continued. However, he knew joining Stringam “would be a really good fit” after speaking with the VP.
Regent pointed out that both firms are technologically savvy and interested in using research and development to continue expanding their capabilities.
“That’s part of the reason they wanted to work with me, is because I’m one of those rare techy lawyers and will be able to help transition their entire firm into the 21st century,” he said.
Regent added that Stringam’s IT department is thrilled that he is joining since he can use his knowledge to convince the other partners to adopt the new technology while explaining its benefits “in legalese” terms.
Stringam Law invited Regent to a partners’ meeting in Texas recently, where he met 15 equity partners also joining the firm. The lawyer noted that the visit helped him build relationships with the company since his only contact had been with the board.
Regent will be Stringam’s sole lawyer in Moose Jaw, but he hopes to hire one or two associates this year. Meanwhile, he is joining a team that has 50 lawyers and more than 200 support staff, people he hopes to leverage to continue growing his practice.
Another aspect of the company that Regent appreciates is how young the staff is. He pointed out that the average age of most firms is around 65 to 70, but it’s 33 in Stringam. He said he’ll likely feel right at home since that’s his age.
Regent started his career in 2016 after joining Terrence Ocrane at Ocrane Law Office, where he served as an associate before becoming a partner. Ocrane died unexpectedly while on vacation, leaving Regent as the sole practitioner of the firm — which he renamed to Regent Law.
It’s a “rather significant change” to join Stringam, while it’s “pretty tough” knowing that the Regent Law sign must come down, said Regent. He noted that he built up the firm over the past eight years, so he feels like he’s giving up a part of himself to join a larger whole.
“I definitely experienced some anxiety and hesitation knowing that I was going to lose control of my own future, knowing that I was going to have to give up some of the decision-making power of my own business,” he continued.
However, after travelling to Texas, he became “totally sold” that Stringam Law is a great team to join since their visions align, while he didn’t expect any major disagreements to occur.
Regent added that he will still own Regent Law/Stringam Law and expects the quality of his service and dedication to Moose Jaw will only improve.
