When Robert Villani unlocked the doors to his new law office in 1995, he wanted little more than to make a living in the hometown he loved.
Three decades later, Villani & Company has grown into Powell River’s largest full-service law firm, employing three lawyers, almost 20 local employees and, if all goes according to plan, a second-generation Villani.
“My son Cole is in his third year of law school and is looking forward to beginning his career in his hometown,” says Villani. “The day he tells me he doesn’t want to practise law will be the day I retire, but that day hasn’t come yet.”
From complex corporate transactions to real-estate conveyancing and criminal defence, Villani & Company covers almost every legal need a client might face.
“We cover almost everything,” notes associate Stacey Fletcher, a certified family-law mediator with more than 20 years of courtroom experience. “Because we have multiple lawyers and dedicated departments, we can move quickly on files that would stall elsewhere.”
That capacity means the office is effectively always open.
“Some firms shut down when the supervising lawyer goes on holiday,” says Villani. “Here, there’s always overlap, our door never shows a ‘closed’ sign.”
All three lawyers: Villani, Fletcher and litigator Brandon Henderson, were born and raised in Powell River. That hometown knowledge, they say, helps them anticipate clients’ needs, whether it’s scheduling a will signing around ferry times or making a hospital visit.
“People walk in and recognize us, or at least know our cousins,” laughs Fletcher. “That comfort level makes tough legal conversations a little easier.”
Perhaps nowhere is the firm’s local commitment clearer than in its community sponsorships.
Each year, Villani & Company donates money, time or both to a long roster of charities and societies. From supporting local programs that benefit youth to seniors and everyone in between, including animals, the firm is proud to be able to give back to the community.
Villani’s passion for giving back is personal: his brother’s battle with cystic fibrosis had him fundraising at age five, and he never let go. Fletcher and Henderson serve on boards ranging from the Rotary Club of Powell River to the city’s sustainability committee.
While real estate files still account for a considerable amount of the firm’s workload, Fletcher sees rapid growth in family-law mediation, an alternative to drawn-out court battles.
“The courts and the new Family Law Act both push for out-of-court solutions,” she explains. “Mediation is friendlier, faster and less expensive.”
If there’s one service the firm wishes more locals would use, it’s estate planning.
“Everyone should have a will and a power of attorney,” says Villani.
Too often, frantic phone calls arrive from hospital bedsides, situations that could have been avoided with a one-hour appointment. The firm’s approach goes beyond simple drafting.
“We look at the whole estate picture to save families money and headaches down the road,” says Fletcher.
“When there is an estate dispute, retaining the right litigator with experience in this area of law is essential,” adds Henderson.
With Cole planning to join the practice, the firm is mapping out another generation of local service. But some things, they insist, won’t change: profits will stay in town, doors will stay open, and the giving will continue.
“Powell River has given us our livelihoods,” says Villani. “The least we can do is give back, on the ice, in the forest, at the food bank, wherever this community needs us.”
For appointments or more information, contact Villani & Company at 604.485.6188 or go to villaniandco.com.
