Polten & Hodder was founded as an association in July of 1988. The founding principals are Eric P. Polten and J. Gardner Hodder. In addition to its four fully qualified Canadian lawyers, the firm employs a staff of twelve, including two legal assistants, four law clerks and three law students from Germany (Referendars) whose status approximates that of an articling student, all of whom work under supervision of lawyers. Our offices occupy the top floor of Adelaide Place, ING Tower, located at 181 University Avenue and Adelaide Street in downtown Toronto. We practice within Law Chambers, sharing the resources, facilities and talents of some 25 lawyers and other professionals. The firm's highest commitments are to excellence in legal representation and adherence to ethical standards. It is not surprising that our firm has played a major role in establishing a new profession -- independent paralegals -- in Ontario and beyond, and in January of 1996 became the first in Ontario to win a class action trial under the Class Proceedings Act. Polten & Hodder is the founding Toronto member firm of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms.