Breakdown

“An illuminating insider’s account of the collapse of one of Canada’s premier law firms. Puts you in the passenger seat of a train wreck.” – Jacquie McNish , Senior Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal“Good storytelling makes for a good book. Norman Bacal’s ability to render a business story accessible to all readers, not just lawyers, makes this an entertaining read.” – Robert Lantos, film producer, Chairman, Serendipity Point Films“A fascinating and important business story, whose lessons on the impact of culture and leadership apply to all organizations, regardless of size, sector or geography.” – Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO, Air Canada“Jaw dropping!” – Drew Hasselback, Editor, Legal Post section of the National Post

Norm Bacal founded the Toronto office of Heenan Blaikie in 1989, and within the next 25 years grew it to an office of over 200 lawyers. In 1997 he became the national co-managing partner of the firm and helped it become one of Canada’s best-known law firms. As one of Canada’s leading tax attorneys in the entertainment business, he helped to finance countless Canadian films and television shows and many Hollywood studio pictures filmed in Canada. He also advised studios such as Warner Bros and MGM and was a member of the board of directors of Lions Gate Entertainment for almost 10 years. At the end of 2012, Bacal retired as managing partner. Born in 1956 in Montreal, Bacal graduated from McGill University’s Faculty of Law in 1980. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Sharon, a portrait artist. They have four children.