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Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP Celebrates 100 Years In Downtown Windsor
Taken on October 5 at the Open House event for the new location, current partners hold up framed portraits of the firm’s founding partners. From left: Jeffrey W. Nanson; Thomas Robert Porter (Max N. Mousseau portrait); Jennifer Simpson Rooke (Armando F. DeLuca portrait); Ilias Kiritsis (Leon Z. McPherson portrait); Richard Lee Pollock, and Zuzana Szasz (Walter H. Prince portrait).
Have a Cup of Joe with Joe - Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP Celebrates 100 Years In Downtown Windsor
By Joe McParland. Photos By Tina Huynh
The full-service law firm, Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP recently hosted an open house to celebrate their 100 year anniversary as a law firm in downtown Windsor.
The reception also provided the opportunity to introduce their new location at 525 Windsor Avenue, Suite 200 — finally — as an earlier introduction was delayed by the restrictions of COVID-19.
The firm moved from their previous 16-year downtown location at Westcourt Place (251 Goyeau Street), after a fire took place in the basement garage of the highrise building on November 12, 2019.
The renovation work for their new home at the Windsor Avenue building commenced in the fall of 2020 and was completed with the firm’s occupancy in April 2021.
The entire second floor of the building — approximately 10,000 square feet — was completely remodelled and an elevator was installed. General contractors, Rosati Construction retained and managed all sub-trades and worked closely with the building’s owner. The approximate construction cost was $1 million!
Finally, in fall 2023, it was time to celebrate the hard work of local suppliers and the firm’s success, with an open house celebration on October 5.
The well-attended event included the firm’s clients, members of the Essex Law Association, court administration partners, Superior Court Justices, local politicians, former colleagues, and family and friends.
The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association presented the firm with a Certificate of Recognition in honour of its leadership and commitment to excellence, business growth, and success in the city centre.
City of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was also in attendance and thanked the firm for their 100 years of outstanding presence in the community, particularly in the downtown.
Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP is one of the three oldest law firms in Windsor.
The oldest firm is Bartlet & Richardes LLP, which was established in 1887, five
years before the town of Windsor gained status as a city in 1892. They were an original tenant of the iconic Canada Building at Park Street and Ouellette Avenue, since 1930.
As a result of redevelopment plans for the building, they relocated in December 2020 and took possession of their new office at 2565 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 100.
The second oldest law firm in Windsor is the McTague Law Firm LLP, founded downtown in 1920. In 1981, the firm’s partners purchased land at 455 Pelissier Street and constructed their current law office.
McTague Law Firm LLP edges out
Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP by three years in reaching the centennial mark in 2020.
Like most law firms, Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP is the result of various mergers throughout their evolution and growth.
It all started in 1923 when the McPherson, Prince & Geddes Law Firm was founded by Norman J. McLarty, Q.C. and Gordon L. Fraser, Q.C.
According to their website history, shown on: MousseauLaw.com, in 1934 McLarty moved to Ottawa as the Secretary of State in the Cabinet of Mackenzie King
Leon Z. McPherson joined the firm in 1945 and, upon the death of McLarty, the firm name became Fraser & McPherson
In 1955, Walter H. Prince joined the firm as an associate, followed by Hugh B. Geddes in 1958.
On April 1, 1965, a new partnership was formed under the name, McPherson, Prince & Geddes
The Mousseau, DeLuca, Dinham, Porter & Pollock Law Firm was originally founded in 1961 by Max N. Mousseau, Q.C.
In 1966, Edward J. Dube and Armando F. DeLuca partnered with Mousseau, and the firm became known as Mousseau, Dube, DeLuca.
The two individual firms headed by Mousseau and McPherson, merged on January 1, 2001, as Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP.
The current partners of the firm are Thomas R. Porter, Richard L. Pollock, Ilias Kiritsis, Jeffrey W. Nanson, Jennifer S. Rooke and Zuzana Szasz.
In 2023 the firm expanded with the addition of senior solicitors John P. Corrent and John Macri, who join a corporate, wills and real estate team headed by partners Porter and Kiritsis.
Pollock and Nanson lead a civil litigation department, which includes associate lawyers Joseph DeLuca, Jonathan Wiesenthal, Mitchell Witteveen and Bahaar Chaudhry
The family law department is comprised of partners Jennifer Rooke, Sue (Zuzana) Szasz and junior associate, Amanda Tubbs
In total there are 13 lawyers and 16 support staff, including licensed paralegals. They specialize in a wide range of legal practice areas, including but not limited to, corporate, wills, estate planning, real estate law, taxation, commercial and general litigation, land development, municipal law, and family law.
Their institutional clients include the Director of Public Prosecutions (Canada), the Town of Amherstburg, and the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society.
“Our firm’s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a respected pillar of the legal community is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our lawyers and staff over the years,” says Porter, Senior Partner.
As Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP embarks on its second century, it remains dedicated to upholding the values and principles that have been the foundation of its success.
“As we celebrate our centennial year, we take pride in the significant milestones we’ve achieved and look forward to continuing to serve our clients with the same passion and commitment that have defined our firm for the past century,” comments Porter.
Along with their dedicated suppliers and clients, Biz X magazine congratulates the firm for their 100 years of dedicated, committed and professional service to our region.
We all thank them for their important presence in Windsor’s downtown centre.
