Canada’s leading law firm Fasken Martineau merges with Stringer Saul to create largest full-service Canadian-UK law firm
Leading law firms Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and London, UK-based Stringer Saul LLP announced today that they have agreed to merge to create the first full-service integrated Canadian-UK law firm.
The merger will position the London office of the combined firm as the largest legal office in the UK with full access to Canadian resources, support and client base and will expand the global partnership to almost 650 lawyers in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, New York, Montreal, Quebec City, London and Johannesburg.
“The merger is an integral part of Fasken Martineau’s ongoing growth strategy and is designed to allow us to provide more comprehensive services to our clients in all of the world’s major financial centres. We also believe that Stringer Saul’s expertise and reputation with the AIM securities market in London will provide tangible benefits to our clients globally,” said David Corbett, managing partner of Fasken Martineau.
“An increasing number of our clients in Canada and around the world are looking to access the London capital markets through the AIM Market, not only in the mining area, where Fasken Martineau has been ranked as the world’s leading mining law firm for two consecutive years, but also in our strong life sciences, and financial services practice areas, and in other industries where access to capital markets is critical. We believe that this merger with Stringer Saul is the right move at the right time and will prove to be mutually beneficial to both merging firms and our clients.”
Through Fasken Martineau’s London office, the two firms have worked closely since 2004 and will continue to do so until the formal implementation of the legally combined firms on February 1, 2007. At this time, the combined office in London, England will be renamed Fasken Martineau Stringer Saul LLP.
While the London office of Fasken Martineau has served clients in the UK market for nearly two decades, the partnership with Stringer Saul will build a stronger bridge to provide full service to clients globally and improved access to the AIM securities market as well as access to UK-trained legal expertise in a number of other areas.
“We have been looking to expand our services internationally particularly in the financial, life sciences and natural resources markets,” said Norman Ziman, managing partner of Stringer Saul. “A partnership with Fasken Martineau is a natural fit that links our strengths and resources to clients in the UK and North America and positions us for future global growth.”
With the AIM market becoming a key driver of growth for thousands of small-capitalization growth companies around the world, including 46 Canadian-based companies, the partnership between Fasken Martineau and Stringer Saul will provide seamless service to Canadian companies looking to enter the world financial arena under the London Stock Exchange.
About Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, which ranks among the four largest law firms in Canada (Lexpert’s 2006 Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada), is a leading Canadian business and litigation law firm. Fasken Martineau is recognized for its strength and expertise in financial services, corporate finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, energy, mining and environmental law, aboriginal affairs, taxation, wealth management, litigation, arbitration, labour and employment law, human rights, intellectual property and information technology law. With more than 600 lawyers, the firm has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City as well in New York, London and Johannesburg. Fasken Martineau LLP is a limited liability partnership and includes law corporations.
About Stringer Saul LLP
Stringer Saul LLP is a commercial law firm based in central London. It provides a broad-based capability in commercial law including company and corporate, commercial agreements, intellectual property, information technology, tax, commercial property, employment, international trade and litigation services. The firm, whose clients range from entrepreneurs to public companies, is unusual in adopting a team-based approach to solving client problems.
The firm has a strong reputation, born out of specialist legal and commercial expertise, in a number of specific business areas including the AIM market, life sciences, natural resources, publishing and retail property. The firm has accreditations in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories and seven of its partners are recognized as legal experts in mergers and acquisitions, life sciences, publishing and shipping.