The firm’s story began in June 1975, when law school classmates Michael McHugh, Bruce Mowat and Abe Szpirglas established the original practice, “McHugh, Mowat, Szpirglas”, in east Hamilton. Robert Whitmore joined as a partner in 1981, and in 1986, Abe Szpirglas left the firm to pursue his practice in downtown Hamilton. The firm continued to grow steadily, and in 2002, Ralph Ionico and Michael MacPherson – who had been practicing in Stoney Creek – joined as partners, forming “McHugh Mowat Whitmore Ionico MacPherson LLP”.
From its inception, the firm has been guided by a team-based approach to legal service, with each lawyer concentrating on specific areas of law. This allows the firm to match each client with the lawyer best suited to their needs, ensuring tailored and effective advice.
In 2011, Bruce Mowat was the first original partner to retire, and at that time, an experienced Hamilton solicitor, William Bastien, joined as a partner. In the same year, the firm moved to its new building at 914 Queenston Road in Stoney Creek and adopted “McHugh Whitmore LLP” as the new firm name. The new building and location marked a positive step forward, providing the space and infrastructure to support the firm’s continued growth.
Michael McHugh Sr. retired at the end of 2017, followed by Robert Whitmore in 2018, William Bastien in 2019 and Ralph Ionico in 2025. Michael John McHugh, Ceili Boer, and David Ionico had each been with the firm for several years as associate lawyers, and in 2018, they transitioned into the partnership. To reflect this new era and new leadership, the firm changed its name to “McHugh Ionico Boer” in 2025.
McHugh Ionico Boer LLP remains deeply committed to the values of its past generations, in terms of both professional excellence and also actively engaging with and supporting the community it serves. The firm proudly continues its tradition of delivering exceptional legal services to the local business community with the highest standards of professionalism that our clients have come to expect.
The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the firm – a milestone that reflects the unwavering dedication of our current and former partners, lawyers and staff, as well as the enduring trust of our loyal clients who have all played a vital role in the firm’s continued success.