Una Gabie - Top Forty Under 40

Flexible work and life

Una Gabie

Una Gabie, 32, is co-owner and partner at Touchstone Law Group in Kelowna. She is the 15th nominee for the Kelowna Top Forty Under 40 program to be profiled in this newspaper. Nominations are being accepted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until March 31. A special event honouring all 40 nominees will be held this spring.

Kelowna lawyer Una Gabie likes to work from Mexico for two or three weeks in November and again for three or four weeks in January. “Remote technology has made this possible,” said Gabie, 32, a co-owner and partner at Touchstone Law Group. “My husband and I have a condo in Mexico and we want to enjoy it. Owning my own firm with a partner gives me this flexibility.” For the most part, Gabie can keep up with her work-holiday via email. And when face-to-face client meetings are necessary, her business partner and fellow lawyer, Jennette Vopicka, steps in. “Jennette and I spell each other off and most clients are comfortable with that because they have met and trust both of us,” said Gabie. However, Vopicka has required all these plans to take on more flexibility this year. She just had a baby and is on maternity leave, meaning Gabie will forgo the jaunts to Mexico this winter. “It’s about teamwork and working together,” said Gabie. “I will get to Mexico for shorter times and after Jennette returns to work.” The same sort of flexibility is afforded to staff.

“We all have flexible work arrangements,” said Gabie. “And each month we sit down and ask for input from everyone. Everyone has job descriptions, but we all jump in to help out if one person or one project needs it.” Both Gabie and Vopicka have worked for law firms, large and small, in the past. “Us starting our own law firm really just happened naturally,” said Gabie. “We met through a mutual friend, who also just happens to be a lawyer, and we found we think and work similarly. We both wanted flexibility and to work in a modern and innovative way with our clients and staff.”

Two women starting and heading up a law firm is not the norm in a profession where men still dominate at the top. Touchstone practices mostly business and real estate law and helps people with wills and estates. “Having my own firm also allows me to be involved in the business side of the practice, which I really enjoy,” said Gabie. “I like business development, marketing and strategic planning.”

While proud of Touchstone’s female roots, the firm is not women-exclusive. The articling student is a man as is the firm’s general manager.

Editor’s note: This is the 15th of 40 profiles for the Kelowna Top Forty Under 40 program presented by BDO Accountants and Consultants, Junior Chamber International (Okanagan branch), Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and The Daily Courier. Every week we’ll feature someone under the age of 40 who is making a difference through business, innovation and community service.

Source: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 12:38 pm by Steve MacNaull, The Daily Courier