Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP originated with A.B. Cunningham, K.C. who began the practice of law in 1894. His sons, D.G. ("Ben") Cunningham, Q.C., LL.D. and Willis G. Cunningham, Q.C. continued the practice as Cunningham & Cunningham.

In 1963 the firm expanded when Robert A. Little, Q.C., joined the practice and was followed later by the Honourable J. Douglas Cunningham, Q.C., Peter A.S. Milliken, M.P., and David H. Bonham, F.C.A, Q.C. By 1978, the firm was known as Cunningham, Little, Bonham & Milliken.

Peter G.D. Swan, Q.C. began his law career in 1959 when he joined the firm Rankin and Wright located at 71 Clarence Street. In 1963, Michael W. Carty, Q.C. joined the firm to form Rankin, Swan and Carty. They were followed by the Honourable Douglas M. Belch, Q.C. and Paul C. Ryan, and by 1974 the firm was known as Swan, Carty, Belch & Ryan.

In January, 1982, the two firms merged to form Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP, the Kingston area's largest law firm.

In 1988, Peter A.S. Milliken was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands and is currently Speaker for the House of Commons. J. Douglas Cunningham, Q.C. was appointed a Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 1991, and is now Associate Chief of that Court. Douglas M. Belch, Q.C. received a similar judicial appointment in 1998.

TODAY

Today, the law firm consists of 18 lawyers who provide a full range of legal services to individuals, families, business and public sector clients throughout Eastern Ontario. The firm’s objective is to provide sound advice and effective presentation that meets clients’ needs, and to fulfil that objective the firm is organized into practice groups.

BUSINESS LAW GROUP

The Business Law Group serves individuals, corporations, partnerships, joint ventures and trusts with respect to all business and tax related matters. In addition to general and strategic advice on business and tax matters, we provide advice and representation on the formation and organization of businesses, assistance with the negotiation and preparation of documents for all business and financing transactions, and tax planning for individuals, families and businesses.

ESTATES GROUP

The Estates Group assists individuals in estate planning and the preparation of wills, trusts and powers of attorney. We help families with the legal aspects of substitute decision-making. We also provide services in the area of administration of estates including estate accounting and estate income tax issues.

FAMILY GROUP

The Family Law Group provides skilled legal services in the area of family law legislation, the Divorce Act, the Family Law Act and legislation applicable to children. We prepare domestic contracts including cohabitation, marriage agreements and separation agreements. We also represent individuals in the course of separation and divorce in respect of claims for custody, support, possession of the matrimonial home and equalization of family property.

LITIGATION GROUP

The Litigation Group offers a wide range of services to individuals, groups, regulated health professionals, partnerships, institutions and corporations to help resolve disputes. We represent clients in hearings before administrative tribunals and in all Courts in Ontario, including professional regulation, occupational health and safety, environmental, human rights, workers' compensation, personal injury, occupier's liability, negligence and commercial litigation.

REAL ESTATE GROUP

The Real Estate Group provides a comprehensive range of services in connection with the purchase, sale, mortgaging and refinancing of real property. We help individuals with the purchase, sale and refinancing of their homes and cottages. We provide services to businesses and non-profit corporations in connection with refinancing of real property; to land developers with the subdivision approval process, construction of residences, and the sale of lots and homes; and to financial institutions with the placement and enforcement of security on real property.

LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT GROUP

The Employment Group provides services to public and private sector clients, whether in large or small organizations, on a wide range of employment issues. These services include hiring and dismissal, collective agreements, pay equity, union organization, management and union relations, technological change, restructuring, pension issues, occupational health and safety, and human rights. We also represent our clients before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, Workers' Compensation Board and the Courts.

MUNICIPAL GROUP

The Municipal Group provides services to municipal corporations with respect to the wide range of legislation that affects their operations including municipal tax assessment and collection, by-law prosecution, conflict of interest, freedom of information and development charges. We also provide services to both municipalities and private clients with respect to land use planning and development, expropriation, waste management and other environmental matters, and we regularly appear before the Ontario Municipal Board, the Environmental Assessment Board and other regulatory bodies and agencies.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH GROUP

The lawyers in the Education Group provide legal services to educational institutions in Ontario, including issues involving student and teachers regulatory frameworks, standards of care, procedural fairness, policy and governance, property and contract. In the area of Health law, we advise on legal and ethical issues, including professional privileges, consent and governance.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The firm is deeply committed to the betterment of our community. All members of the firm contribute their time and efforts to charitable and other volunteer activities. The firm supports local charities, educational institutions, hospitals, theatre, amateur athletic events, the Kingston and District Chamber of Commerce, the Kingston Economic Development Corporation, and the Kingston Symphony Orchestra.