Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has tied up with a third Canadian firm, acquiring Vancouver firm Bull Housser following the acquisition of Oglivy Renault in 2011 and Macleod Dixon in 2012.
Bull Housser, a 92-lawyer firm, handles projects and transactions in fields including energy, mining, infrastructure, transport, mining and commodities. It is one of Vancouver’s largest law firms.
Commenting on the acquisition, NRF Canada managing partner Charles Hurdon, said: ‘Our respective clients want simplified access to our firm across Canada, the U.S. western seaboard and the Pacific Rim. This combination addresses their need for that and provides a Vancouver presence. It also supports our clients with the regional and market knowledge required to capitalize on the domestic and foreign investment and development opportunities in British Columbia.’
Janet Grove, managing partner of Bull Housser added: ‘British Columbia has become a global leader in a range of industries, and we have enjoyed assisting our clients with many projects that have transformed business and the landscape both in British Columbia and elsewhere.’
NRF is no stranger to the Canadian market, first securing a tie-up five years ago when the firm brought Ogilvy Renault into the Norton Rose Group. This was followed a year later by Macleod Dixon which established the group’s first offices in Latin America with outposts in Venezuela and Columbia.
More recently the acquisitive NRF expanded its African offering by entering an alliance with Kenyan law firm Walker Kontos. Nairobi-based firm Walker Kontos has nine partners and 11 fee earners, specialising in banking and finance as well as M&A, project finance, energy, capital markets and real estate. The alliance will be formally launched in October.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
