Searching for symmetry between competitive rowing and a career in the law.

Jesse Tarbotton Interviews Blair Horn

PROFILE:
Member of the gold medal Men’s eight at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Sport: Eights (Rowing)
Practice Area: Corporate Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions
Current Affiliation: Fasken Martineau Dumolin LLP


PHOTO:
Front row, left to right: Pat Turner, Kevin Neufeld, Mark Evans
Middle row, left to right: Michael Evans, Grant Main, Dean Crawford
Back row, left to right: Blair Horn, Paul Steel, Brian McMahon (coxswain)

Mere days after the distribution of this issue of BarTalk, following a decade of anticipation, Blair Horn will be carrying the Olympic torch on one of its final legs and the 2010 Winter Olympics will be upon us!

This is the final instalment of the Lawyer-Olympian series and it must be recognized that a clear and intriguing trend appears to have emerged: Olympian rowers are finding success as legal professionals. What is it about rowing that seems to set the stage for a successful career in law?

When sitting down to interview Mr. Horn, a member of the 1984 gold medal winning men’s eight team, this question figured prominently in my mind. For those of you who are keeping track, this publication has already featured Trisha Smith and George Hungerford, QC, both highly successful rowers and lawyers.

Mr. Horn was quick to rationalize when I initially posed the question to him, “this trend may be related to the number of competitors being higher than in other sports.” However, Mr. Horn continued, “I do see parallels between the Olympics and legal practice but I think it’s a parallel that’s drawn between the Olympics and pursuing other goals, whether it’s law, medicine or family.”

“There is an element of hard work, goal setting and working to achieve those goals and that to me flows not just from the Olympics to law but to just about all other aspects of life.”

Mr. Horn also identified the importance of networking and having strong role models to look up to. “There is something about the rowing background that maybe sets you up; a strong fraternity wherein young rowers see older rowers moving on to careers, whether it is medicine, Wall Street or the law.”

“When it comes down to it,” says Mr. Horn, who speaks to groups of young people several times each year about his Olympic experience, “It’s all about setting your goal and believing in yourself, people can accomplish incredible things beyond their dreams if they chase them hard enough.”

It is clear that networking, hard work and goal setting are a recipe for success, both in the boat and at the Bar.

This article was published in the February 2010 issue of BarTalk. © 2010 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.