Lateral
Are recent moves and shakes at Canada's top law firms
signaling a deeper problem or just business as usual?
thinking
By Jennifer Brown
I
t was news that hit Bay Street with a bang. In late
February, a group of lawyers from Fraser Milner
Casgrain LLP's mining group crossed over to
Bennett Jones LLP, effectively gutting FMC's mining practice just a month before it was to officially
join with SNR Denton and Salans LLP to create
a new global law firm with 2,500 lawyers and 79
offices around the world. "That was a big deal,"
says Carolyn Berger of legal recruitment firm
Marsden International. "It was a great, great thing
for Bennett Jones — just unbelievable. I think
they're a great group and it was a good move for
them. They wouldn't have done it if it wasn't."
It wasn't the first departure of its kind from
FMC. Rewind to last November, about the same time the firm was formally
announcing plans to combine to form what is now Dentons, eight senior
members of FMC's Calgary office announced they were leaving to create a
boutique firm, Rose LLP. That group was led by long-time FMC partner Jim
Rose. Matt Lindsay, a former FMC managing partner and now a Rose LLP
partner, said it was just the right time to go.
Many expected there to be fallout from international law firm mergers,
but an entire practice group? And all at once? That, most agree, is a rare
event. "I don't think FMC is saying it hasn't been a loss — they've been pretty
www.CANADIAN
L a w ye r m a g . c o m
M ay
2013
27
