September 1, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of Beckett Injury Lawyers.
I thought I would share the story of its origin and our journey over these past 25 years as we celebrate this milestone.
In 1999, I was just beginning my journey on the road to a career in law. I had completed my BA, LSAT, law school, a year of articling, the bar exams and had found a job as an associate at a mid-sized full-service firm.
Then fate brought me to a fork in the road.
Just one and a half years into my career, the firm I was working at decided to merge with another mid-sized firm to become a large full-service firm. The lawyer who I worked for at the time, however, did not want to be part of the merged firm and wanted to start a new firm specializing in personal injury.
So, there I was, at age 28, at a crossroads.
Do I stay on the tried and tested road and choose the safety and security of a career at a large law firm? Or do I take the risk and also the unusual opportunity presented to me and choose to co-found a new firm with a focus on one area of law?
Obviously, I chose the latter - and as Robert Frost stated in his famous poem The Road Not Taken ‘that has made all the difference’.
Our firm was founded on a few simple ideas.
Surround yourself with talented people who share our vision, dedication and work ethic.
Focus on one, and on only one, area of law (personal injury) and do it really, really well.
And be relentless in our pursuit of justice.
So, on September 1, 1999 two lawyers, two clerks, one bookkeeper and a receptionist opened a boutique personal injury law firm in a heritage house in downtown London and began our relentless pursuit of justice.
25 years later Beckett Injury Lawyers is the largest exclusively personal injury law firm in Southwestern Ontario.
We have represented over 6,000 clients in their claims against insurance companies, Governments, hospitals, corporations and religious organizations all across Canada.
And, to date, we’ve recovered almost $700 million in compensation for our clients.
I am incredibly proud of the work we have done (and continue to do) fighting for and getting justice/compensation for our clients.
And I am truly grateful that so many clients have put their faith in us in a time of need.
I am equally proud of collateral impacts our work has had on society.
Our work has raised public awareness of the epidemic of sexual abuse in our society and the many ways it impacts its victims.
Our work has helped to create a safe space for victims to come forward with their stories without fear and/or shame.
Our work has led to perpetrators and their enablers being held accountable both in the Court of law and the court of public opinion.
And, most importantly, the awareness and accountability that has come from our work has led to change. Change that I hope and truly believe has made our society safer.
Lastly, with humility and heartfelt gratitude I want to acknowledge and thank all the staff, associates and partners (past and present) who have been on all or part of this journey with me. None of this could have happened without their buy-in, commitment and hard work. Each and every one of them has been an integral part of the success our firm has enjoyed. And, despite the fact that the firm bears only my name, it really is their firm as much as it is my firm. Not just Beckett Injury Law. The Beckett team. The Beckett family.
Thank you for everything.
I am looking forward to seeing what the little personal injury law firm that I started 25 years ago will do over the next 25 years…
Chris Beckett
Founding Partner of Beckett Injury Lawyers
