2004 ALUMNI RECIPIENTS

Harold Geller, 39

Biggest achievement: The founding and growth of our law firm. (Partner) Neil Milton and I have built a business focused on results and resolutions, not legal mumbo-jumbo.

Best skill: Hard work

Most admired businessperson: Neil Milton. Neil is brilliant, practical and loyal. Without his support and hard work, I would not be a lawyer with a national reputation and a growing practice. His best quality is that he continually puts the interests of those he cares about (including, for some odd reason, me) before his own self-interest.

Biggest business lesson learned: Balance. I am an advocate for my client and a colleague of other lawyers. I am a bulldog and a dispute resolver. When I am on a cash retainer, I take all clients; when I take risk on a file or am pro bono, then I filter which clients and causes I wish to represent. I love my work, but it's just work. I work hard, so I can spend time with family and friends. In sum, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is the yin and yan of my life and the most important business lesson I have learned.

Favourite charity: The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa and Tapestry House

Professional recognition that would mean the most: I judge professional success based on the thank you letters I receive from my clients. My clients have nothing to gain when they send someone whom they have paid for a job a thank you letter.