A King of the People: Dominic De Rose

Leaning against the handmade stone wall of his cavernous wine cellar, Dominic De Rose pours himself a glass of the legendary 1985 Sassicaia, it’s sweetly elegant aroma wafting deliciously through the air. Reminiscent of a beautiful Mediterranean cellar, his extensive collection of fine wines beckons you to explore its depth, which brims with collector classics, finely preserved vintages and varietals that rest carefully inside crafted wooden curios. “I’ve been collecting wines for over 25 years,” says De Rose. “You’ve got to have a passion outside of your line of business or else you won’t perform or do as well in your career.”

Selecting his treasures from auctions and world-renowned vineyards, his impressive collection is not just a décor piece or a reflection of his taste for the finer things in life – it’s the reward for a life governed by a strong work ethic and an unrelenting drive to succeed. “I look at life like this – you get out of it what you put into it,” says De Rose, as he sits against his 1957 Vespa, originally owned by John Wayne, and beside his lovingly fully restored yellow Fiat 500. “Don’t tell me that the sky is the limit when I know that there are footprints on the moon.”

As a key builder of De Rose Barristers & Solicitors, De Rose continues his life’s work and lives by the words: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in you’r life.”

Outside of the countless rewarding hours he puts into the law firm, he is refreshingly relaxed, charming with a smile and genuine in his mannerisms. Despite his laid-back approach to life and work, De Rose can’t hide his fierce ambition and sense of fairness. Reflecting his passion and personal values, he takes great pride and satisfaction from helping injured people in need, and follows the motto: “Never throw in the towel.”

Reflecting his upbringing and real-life experiences, De Rose understands the ups and downs of life experienced by all of us on Earth. The great joy of the recent birth of his first grandchild was tempered by the painful experience of tragically losing his younger brother, Aurelio, last year. With his brother’s photo in front of him on his desktop computer, he says, “Life can move pretty fast and if you don’t stop to enjoy it, you could miss it.”

Similar to the efforts that went into the genesis and creation of the legendary 1985 Sassicaia, the philosophy and culture of De Rose Barristers & Solicitors reflects his strong work ethic, sense of fairness and unrelenting desire to succeed. The law firm specializes in personal injury lawsuits, and all of its members obtain enormous satisfaction from helping people obtain millions of dollars in compensation for its clients.

Reflecting his spirit and strong family values, his daughters, Mary and Diana, work at the law firm. Learning from their father that hard work pays off, the sisters are well-educated in the field of law: Diana is finishing law school and preparing for bar exams, while Mary, who is already a lawyer, is a leading star and the managing partner of the firm. “Mary was one of the youngest lawyers to get called to the bar,” explains De Rose with great pride. “She is a woman who completes whatever she puts her mind to.”

Enjoying every day of work and the personal satisfaction that comes from helping injured people, while enjoying a glass of wine with friends and family, De Rose says: “I am truly fortunate and blessed to have the life that I do.”

De Rose Barristers & Solicitors
1280 Finch Ave. W., Toronto, Ont.
Suite 508

T: 416.780.8080,
www.deroselaw.ca