Richard Pharand was called to the Bar in 1969. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa in 1963 and received his LL.B. at the University of Ottawa Law School in 1967. He has been practicing law in Sudbury and Northeastern Ontario since 1969. He is what is known as a generalist, who has 40 years of experience in real estate law, contract law, family law, criminal law and civil litigation, the area of personal injury, estates and labour and employment.

In addition, his law office has a large number of Wills and he continues to prepare Wills and Powers of Attorney on behalf of his clients.

Richard has many clients and most of his clients are referrals from other clients.

There are clients who have been coming to his office since he was a law student in 1967-1968. Recently, one of those clients came to obtain notarized copies of documents. There was no charge to that client because, as he was told, he has been a client for many years and as a result of being a loyal client, there is no charge for the services rendered in that case. In other cases, where loyal clients return to the office for speeding tickets or minor matters, they are also handled on behalf of the client at no charge.

The office does not do real estate purchases, residential or commercial. Richard has extensive experience in real estate and he continues to act on behalf of vendors of residential properties and with regard to real estate transfers resulting from litigation.

The office is registered with Teranet.

Richard prides himself on answering all telephone calls in the shortest, briefest time.

At the present time, Richard is a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association and, in the past, has been a member of the Advocates' Society and the Criminal Lawyers' Association. He knows many lawyers in Ontario and if his clients have a problem, he doesn't hesitate to dial up an expert in an area of law that he is unfamiliar with and obtain answers and/or refer the client to someone who is able to deal with the matter.

At the present time, Richard's hourly rate is $400.00 and his assistant, Catherine Laberge, who has been employed by him for the past 32 years, is a highly qualified law clerk and her hourly rate is $125.00 for services rendered as a law clerk.