Firm History

2005

Cognition LLP is launched by co-founders Rubsun Ho and Joe Milstone with the vision of providing uncompromising top-tier legal service.

2005

Two more lawyers are added – doubling the size of the firm.

2006

The firm expands into Ottawa.

2008

The firm welcomes its first Articling Student.

2009

The firm grows to 16 lawyers (9 of the 16 are still with the firm a decade later).

2012

The firm is named to the Profit List of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies for the first time.

2012

Jackie Dinsmore joins the firm as an Owner and Chief Development Officer.

2013

The firm expands into Calgary.

2015

Rubsun and Joe named as two of the top 50 Legal Industry Innovators by Fastcase.

2015

Ontario Business Achievement Award for service innovation.

2015

Two Canadian In-House Lawyer Innovation Awards for work with small and large legal departments.

2016

Named to the Profit List of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies for the fifth year in a row.

2016

Firm rebrands as Caravel Law

2018

Stuart Wood joins Caravel Law as its new CEO.

2019

Business Decisions Podcast launches

2020

BC office opens

Today

Caravel Law starts working with you!

A New Take on Legal Services

Since 2005, Caravel Law (formerly Cognition LLP) has transformed the delivery of legal services and solutions for businesses by deploying a lean overhead, technology-based model that utilizes more operationally-experienced lawyers. When they decided to create this firm, Rubsun and Joe aimed to make simple changes in the way of practicing law:  

  • Give clients more business-minded advice rather than straight “legal” advice. 
  • Let lawyers choose the kind of work they would do and for whom. 
  • Divide the sale of the services from the provision of services so that lawyers can focus on legal work and client service, instead of business development. 

Rubsun and Joe’s thought process was, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a law firm that acted more like a start-up and didn’t carry the overhead that traditional firms did?” It quickly became evident that the model was much needed by clients and lawyers alike. There were dozens and dozens of applicants for every lawyer that was hired. 

Today, Caravel Law remains a leader in legal innovation in Canada. Our firm continues to build on the strong foundation that was started nearly 20 years ago by two lawyers who re-imagined how a law firm could and should run to create a better experience for clients and lawyers. Caravel Law not only believes in the importance of innovation and technology, but also in the significance of client service, exemplified by being the first law firm in Canada to have a Director of Client Happiness, and the first law firm in Canada to introduce Net Promoter Score surveys after each matter. As traditional law firms are getting smaller and struggling to stay relevant, Caravel Law’s novel approach has meant that it has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing businesses in Canada and maintained a high Net Promoter Score, far beyond the industry average. 

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