Canadian Lawyer

Former Mountie is Blakes' man in Beijing B lake Cassels & Graydon LLP is another big Canadian law firm catching the wave of Chinese investment interest in Canada. Blakes has been in Beijing for more than a decade and the man running the operation is a one-time member of the RCMP. During the 1980s Robert Kwauk served with the Mounties in Stony Plain, Alta., and later did some plainclothes work in Edmonton. Kwauk left the Mounties to do a combined LLB and MBA at the University of Alberta. He knew his law enforcement background would give him an edge if he did criminal law, but he was attracted to the civil side and in the end joined Blakes. Kwauk grew up in Vancouver. His grandparents came from China and while he did not become fluently bilingual, he says "I got comfortable being around the language." That, and a secondment to a law firm in Taipei, made him the perfect candidate to represent Blakes in Beijing. He has been in the city since 1998 and witnessed China's remarkable growth. Kwauk misses Calgary — "hikes in the mountains, runs along the Bow River, the clean air" — but he says rather than lament what he is missing he prefers to celebrate Beijing. "It's a fabulous city," he says in his office in central Beijing. In spite of the smog and the chaotic traffic Kwauk "loves" Robert Kwauk says his role in facilitating investment between China 'is the place China and Canada. For himself, the firm, to be' for business. and adventurous Canadian business interests he says "this is the place to be." So how long will Kwauk, who remains a member of the Alberta Bar, stay in Beijing? "Well I'll quote former [Alberta] premier Ralph Klein," Kwauk says. "When asked about retirement Klein said something like 'I just finished building the house, why would I want to leave?'" — GE LEAVE NO DOUBT WITH THE CONTRACTS YOU NEGOTIATE OR DISPUTE CHITTY ON CONTRACTS, 31ST EDITION GENERAL EDITOR: HUGH BEALE, Q.C. (HON.) Chitty on Contracts, 31st Edition has it all covered: the formation of contracts, the capacity of parties, terms, illegality and public policy, joint obligations, third parties and assignment, performance, discharge, and remedies. In-depth chapter contents headings and the index mean that you'll quickly find the right section and paragraph you need. VOLUMES 1&2 HARDCOVER ORDER # L14090-E31-65203 £455 GBP Jurisdiction: Commonwealth, United Kingdom, International October 2012 Sweet & Maxwell Other options available. Call for details. Shipping and handling are extra. Price subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. Chitty on Contracts is also available as an eBook on Thomson Reuters Proview™. AVAILABLE RISK-FREE FOR 30 DAYS Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Email: carswell.international@thomsonreuters.com www.CANADIAN L a w ye r m a g . c o m Jan uary 2013 11

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