International business law firms seek to enter Canadian space through tie-ins with Canadian insurance and business law firms

International business law firms are aiming to make their way into the Canadian market through tie-ins with local Canadian law firms, including firms working in the insurance area.
Most recently, legal media reported United Kingdom insurance specialist Clyde & Co is seeking to expand its influence in Canada. Unconfirmed reports suggest the law firm is in discussions about entering the Canadian market through a merger with Nicholl Paskell-Mede, a specialist boutique firm that does insurance law and civil liability defence work, with offices in Toronto and Montreal.
legalweek.com reported Clydes would not comment specifically on discussions with Paskell-Mede. But Clydes did confirm an interest in expanding into the Canadian market.
“In respect of Canada, we have engaged Senator David Angus Q.C. as a consultant to Clyde & Co,” legalweek.com quotes Clydes’ statement as saying. “He had been one of the senior partners and founders of the leading Canadian law firm Stikeman Elliott.
“As a long time adviser to the London insurance market, he is someone who we have worked with closely on a professional basis for many years. With David’s input, we are looking closely at establishing a presence in Canada.”
Meanwhile, DLA Piper, a global law firm that does work in commercial law (including product liability), is also looking to get into the game in Canada.
In thelawyer.com, DLA Piper chairman Frank Burch confirmed his firm is also in talks with a potential Canadian tie-up. thelawyer.com speculated the frontrunners in DLA Piper’s plans are thought to be Heenan Blaikie and Fraser Milner Casgrain, both with offices in the Calgary market.
“We’ve talked to six or seven firms and continue to talk to three or four of the top 10,” thelawyer.com quotes Burch as saying. “There’s now a high level of interest among the top Canadian firms in being an early mover [in terms of tying up with a global player].”
In November 2010, Ogilvy Renault in Canada, a business law firm with a specialty practice in insurance law, announced plans to join up with international business law firm Norton Rose Group.
Ogilvy Renault will formally join the Norton Rose Group on June 1, 2011, according to a posting on the Norton Rose Web site.