The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50835
REGIONAL WRAP-UP MACLEOD DIXON MERGER INCREASES NORTON ROSE'S OIL & GAS REACH international presence with a large office in Caracas and others in Brazil, Colombia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Indeed, its South American outposts will mark Norton Rose's first foray into the continent. But Bill Tuer, Macleod Dixon's manag- ing partner, says the deal takes the firm to a level it could never have managed alone. "Although we were international already and we're proud of our success, in real- ity we were a firm of approximately 300 lawyers," he says. "And in this competitive marketplace, you need a certain level of resources and a certain platform to really be able to service your clients, particularly at the international level." Norton Rose wasn't the only domes- tic or international player interested in Macleod Dixon, according to Tuer, who says the British giant stood out from the crowd. "It is fair to say other firms have contacted us with expressions of interest. We were very careful and very focused on what we were looking for." Both Norton Rose and Macleod Dixon were among the first foreign law firms to establish a presence in the for- mer Soviet Union. "That's one of those opportunities where we will bring our depth and resources and particularly our profile in mining and energy," says Tuer. "We have market-leading lawyers and a market-leading practice in mining and energy in Moscow. So we're very complementary and our operations will fold neatly into the Norton Rose opera- tions there." Jay Kellerman, a mining lawyer at Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto, said he's not surprised to see Norton Rose mak- ing a play for Macleod Dixon because of its strength in energy and resources. "I think the resource sector is extremely important to Canadian law firms," he says. "In the past three or four years, those law firms who have historically not been as strong in the sector have realized the importance and are making strides to increase their exposure. Although Canadian-listed mining companies may have their assets abroad, C Kellerman says much of the legal work has to take place here. "It's more than just mining per se. It's corporate finance, M&A, and project financing. They need to raise equity to develop projects, regardless of where their assets are. The Norton Roses of the world are looking to Canada as a market to feed their global franchise and keep the work internally when they have an Asian buyer acquir- ing a Canadian company with an asset in South Africa as opposed to it going to another Canadian law firm." Coleman says he had been in touch with Tuer over a possible merger for a long time, but notes talks intensified over the summer. The focus for the next few months will be on the integration process. Coleman will stay on as managing partner of Norton Rose Canada, while Tuer will join the firm's executive com- mittee. According to Peter Martyr, group chief executive of the Norton Rose Group, the firm's global management is now eye- ing a move into the U.S. market. He told Reuters he hopes to find a partner firm there in the next two to five years. The big question remains which global firm will be next to gobble up another Canadian shop? — MK B.C. lawyer trailblazing in the D.R. Congo Chilliwack, B.C., Crown prosecutor John Lester. hilliwack, B.C., Crown prosecutor John Lester believes he is the first Canadian lawyer to step into the Democratic Republic of the Congo to work with MONUSCO, the new United Nations stabiliza- tion effort aimed at establishing human rights and protecting civilians after bloody years of war and civil strife. "I'm the only one — as far as I know," he said, adding that the e-mail arrived summer 2011 through the B.C. attorney general's prosecution branch from the Canadian military contingency in the D.R.C. asking for volunteer prosecutors willing to commit for a year. It's not like there's a crush of applicants rushing to the D.R.C., which www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com N O VEMBER / D ECEMBER 2011 13 C ontinued fr om pa g e 11 C ontinued on pa g e 14