Mark G. Baker
Charting a Course for Success

Nineteen years of satisfied use of PowerSoft software

What were you doing in December of 1989?

In December of 1989, the dust was settled from that spring's dismantling of the Berlin wall; Californians were still recovering from the earthquake that had killed dozens and injured hundreds of people a couple of months earlier; MS-DOS 4.1 had just been released; the United States was invading Panama to overthrow Manuel Noriega's government; teens and pre-teens were begging their parents for a GameBoy with Tetris; the Intel 80486 (with a processor speed of 25MHz) was driving the latest PCs, and Macintosh users at the cutting-edge were using their Mac IIci desktop computers; Tim Berners-Lee's innovative "World Wide Web" technology was in its infancy, while the internet's primary access was by way of Telnet, ftp, gopher and usenet. In December of 1989, "The Simpsons" had its premier showing on Fox TV.


Also in December of 1989, Mark Baker had recently departed from one of Toronto's largest firms, and was installing his first software package from PowerSoft Innovations in the new office he had established. In those days, PowerSoft's software was called Time$aver. Between then and now, PowerSoft Innovations Corporation's software has gone through a number of name-changes, and many improvements. Mark Baker's office has also continued to grow and improve, using PowerSoft software. Now, the Baker Law Offices in downtown Toronto make use of PowerSoft's LawStream software for accounting, timekeeping and other management functions on a network of Macintosh computers in the firm's 33rd-floor offices overlooking the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Now, with thousands of clients, thousands of files, and millions of dollars of revenue over the last nineteen years, Mark Baker can look back with pride and satisfaction at the firm he has built. Expertise, attention to detail, dedication to clients, and aggressive representation have all contributed to the success of Mark's firm. Along the way, PowerSoft's software has helped to keep the firm's time and money under control, so the lawyers and staff at Baker Lawyers can focus on serving clients, and can make better use of their skills and the other resources in the office.

Powerful Software for a Powerful Firm

Mark Baker is, first and foremost, a business lawyer. As a commercial lawyer with many years of experience, Mark is well aware of the importance of treating his own firm as a business. One of the tenets of Mark's success has been fairness. Mark's billings reflect the time and the value he provides to his clients. The associates at Baker Lawyers follow the same philosophy, so all the clients of the firm can be assured that they are getting value for the fees they pay.

In a competitive legal market, it's crucial to retain good employees, and Mark makes sure he gives his associates good value for their work, just as he makes sure his clients give good value for the work his firm does for them. LawStream's many reports of work in progress give Mark the information he needs, to be able to determine a fair and accurate value for his clients, his associates and himself.

"The Lawyer Productivity Report alone is worth the price of LawStream: it gives me a fair and reasonable basis for paying my associates, because it lets all of us know how they're converting their time and expertise into money for my firm."

A Tool, Not a Toy

Like many lawyers, Mark doesn't spend a lot of time playing with software, or chatting online with his colleagues about the latest software and hardware trends (although he has been very happy with his new iPhone). When Mark gets to the office, he wants to get to work for his clients. While some lawyers might be trying to cut a few dollars here and there from their office expenses, Mark Baker is busy saving thousands - or hundreds of thousands - of dollars for his clients. Mark needs to know that his software is reliable, so he can serve his clients without worrying about trying to be a computer programmer.

"Some lawyers might have the time to create their own software. I'd rather leave the programming work to programmers. That's why I rely on PowerSoft Innovations Corporation, to keep enhancing LawStream. When I have spare time, I'd rather be sailing than debugging."

Here's how the team at Baker & Company present themselves to their clients, and here's how LawStream helps them satisfy their commitment to their clients:

Located in the core of Toronto’s Financial District, Baker & Company offers sophisticated legal representation, from a boutique platform, to a wide array of businesses, lenders, individuals and not-for-profit organizations.

Our Service Guarantee:

Whether you call us or send us an email, you’ll hear back from us the same day; often within two hours.  When you engage us, we’ll discuss your time requirements and stick to deadlines.  Our work is professional, accurate and well-presented.

Our Value Proposition:

Before commencing work for you, we will discuss our fees and your result expectations.  We will not take any assignment which is expected to cost more than the true value it will bring to your organization. We do not take assignments which are not cost effective or which are motivated merely by non-commercial “principles”.  We are a best value alternative to large downtown law firms.  Our fee structure is deliberately 20% lower than large firm rates.

Our People:

Baker & Company professionals are highly skilled and trained with excellent academic track records.  Like our clients, the Baker & Company team enjoy the boutique firm service model and our unswerving commitment to winning results and quality service.  Under the leadership of Mark G. Baker, LL.M. (Cornell) a 28 year downtown Toronto veteran practitioner, author and teacher, Baker & Company lawyers and paralegals use a positive, practical and expert approach to providing legal solutions and support to our valued clients.

Our Clients:

Some of our better known clients are United Van Lines, St. Mary’s Cement, Canadian Physicians For Aid and Relief, Harley Davidson Dealers Association, Intelligarde International Inc., LodgeNet Interactive Corporation and Royal Equator Hotel Group.  Not all of our clients have marquis brands and we are very proud of the many successful companies and individuals that are part of our client family and who have chosen Baker & Company as their legal service providers. Baker & Company maintains up-to-the-minute expertise in those areas of law affecting active operating companies.

Corporate Law:

From early-stage businesses to mature corporations, Baker & Company provides legal support to over 400 active companies.  Whether you are a foreign company establishing a Canadian presence or a Canadian company committed to growth, we bring three decades of hands-on experience to the table.  Baker & Company maintains the ability to participate in highly sophisticated transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, tax-driven restructuring, lending and borrowing transactions and debtor-creditor work-outs. When you take on a new shareholder or you need to part ways with an existing one, Baker & Company has a number of strategies to help you accomplish your goals.  Our creative shareholder agreements are designed to help stakeholders work together without dispute for many years. For smaller companies or those just starting up, we have very practical reasonably priced solutions that are “right sized” for your organization.

Commercial Law:

We have developed modern and fair-minded agreements for almost every commercial relationship.  Custom contract drafting is one of our signature services.  Every business needs to document its relationships with suppliers and customers in a way that drives business forward; not slow it down.  We think it’s good commercial hygiene to “get it in writing”.  So why not present your customers with agreements that reflect your core values and that they feel comfortable signing. Drowning in someone else’s fine print?  Let us read the contract before it’s too late.  We are happy to review contracts on a short-notice basis.

Real Estate Law:

Whether you are leasing an office or buying an office building, Baker & Company has a wealth of experience to assist you with every aspect of real estate law.  Our lending and construction law group supports developers, builders and lenders with subdivision projects, condominium developments, commercial properties and inner city infill projects. Our clients buy and sell their homes through Baker & Company and we are approved by all of the major banks to assist with primary and secondary financing through residential and commercial mortgages. Public infrastructure projects often mean expropriation of privately held land.  When your land is targeted as the route for a new highway or other public project, Baker & Company will ensure that you receive the maximum compensation permitted by law.

Employment Law:

Whether you have one or several hundred employees, Baker & Company can assist you with employment agreements, the design of compensation and incentive programs, workplace harassment policies, employee stock option plans, planned lay-offs and terminations.  Baker & Company can also assist managers and executives who lose their employment and are pursuing fair compensation from their former employers.

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution:

When disputes arise, and they do, the Baker & Company dispute resolution group can add significant value with a wide array of strategies proven to avoid expensive and time consuming litigation.  When litigation is unavoidable, our approach is smart, practical and results driven.

Administrative Law:

We appear before many federal, provincial and municipal boards and tribunals.  Some of these include the Ontario Municipal Board, the Liquor Licence Board, the Committee of Adjustment and Land Division Committee, the Licence Appeal Tribunal, professional governing bodies, academic discipline tribunals and City and Town Councils.  We also help our clients with government permissions and licensing.

Estates, Trusts and Succession Planning:

Almost everyone wants to die “with assets” when the time comes.  Planning for this event always makes sense. Deemed dispositions at the time of death trigger tax consequences which can materially impact on the ultimate value of your estate.  Baker & Company will work with your tax advisor to structure your estate in a way that suits your needs.  Family trusts, inter vivos gifting, estate freezes and risk management measures are common tools utilized in this process.