Our firm is the proud successor of one of the oldest law firms in the Edmonton area. Our origins date back to June 1895, when the Honourable Alexander Cameron Rutherford arrived from Ontario and established a law office at the railhead of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, then known as South Edmonton, District of Alberta, Northwest Territories. Alexander Rutherford was the first lawyer on the south side of the river, an area later to become known as Strathcona.

Alexander Rutherford soon became involved in western politics and began the firm's long tradition of community service. He was active in many areas including athletic, literary, religious, business, historic and educational organizations.

When South Edmonton was incorporated as the Town of Strathcona in 1899, Mr. Rutherford was the first Secretary-Treasurer. In 1902 he was elected to the Territorial Legislative Assembly where he was Deputy Speaker until 1905. In August of 1905, Mr. Rutherford won the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Association and on September 2, 1905, the day after Alberta's inauguration as a province, Mr. Rutherford became the first Premier of the province.

Premier Rutherford took particular interest in the education system and rapidly expanded Alberta's public school system. In 1906, he initiated legislation founding the University of Alberta and personally selected the site in Strathcona for the University campus. The residence he built near the campus, now known as Rutherford House, has been restored and furnished as a historic house, museum and memorial.

The firm in 1968: Eric McCuaig, Stanley McCuaig, Louis Desrochers,
Branny Schepanovich, John Beckingham and David McDonald.

In 1911, Strathcona amalgamated with Edmonton and the firm opened a branch office north of the river. Mr. Rutherford was later joined in this law practice by Stanley Harwood McCuaig, who articled with the firm and later married Mr. Rutherford's daughter, Hazel.

S.H. McCuaig practised law in Edmonton for nearly 60 years and set very high standards of practice for himself and the firm. He became President of the Canadian Bar Association. He too was a very generous supporter of many community endeavours.

In 1948 S.H. McCuaig was joined in the practice by his son, Eric McCuaig, who served as President of the Law Society of Alberta and a Bencher for many years. He was also a member of the University of Alberta Hospital Board and continues to be a member of the University Senate. Over the succeeding years the firm has counted many other distinguished lawyers among its partners and associates.

We are proud that four of our partners have been appointed to serve as Judges or Justices of the Courts in Alberta: Mr. Justice David C. McDonald [Supreme Court of Alberta, Court of Queen's Bench and Alberta Court of Appeal]; His Honour Judge Sidney E.W.Wood [Provincial Court of Alberta]; Mr. Justice Frans F. Slatter [Court of Appeal of Alberta]; and Mr. Justice John J. Gill [Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta].

We look back with great satisfaction to the results we have achieved for our clients in the past - clients with local, national and international interests. We are proud of our established tradition of dedication, performance, and community service. The present members of our firm are committed to carrying forward this tradition into "our second century of service".

For you, our present and future clients, we believe we must be innovative and constructive. Our emphasis is on serving you by providing the highest quality service in a cost effective and timely fashion. The "old fashioned" values of professionalism and service are now combined with our modern technology and current legal knowledge to provide you with the effective representation you need.

Our firm has a proud past. Our firm is richly endowed with a tradition of service to clients and to the community. Our firm seeks to live by that tradition.