Bar Talk
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP is sending Russia a little love, adding to its presence in Moscow as it eyes international expansion.
Gowlings has brought on four intellectual property lawyers and a biotech patent specialist in Russia, where the firm has been operating for 20 years.
Alexander Christophoroff, Julianna Tabastajewa, Yulia Yarnykh, Larissa Osharina and Tatiana Lyu are joining the firm, which hopes to attract more business from clients who want to establish themselves in Russia.
Gowlings is also putting new muscle into its London office, which focuses on energy and infrastructure and increasing its initiatives in China and the U.S.
In memoriam
Norman Ziman, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP's former managing partner in London, died after a long battle with cancer on Sept. 11, the firm said this week.
"Above and beyond his business contributions to our firm, he was an inspiration and a friend to all. He will be greatly missed," managing partner David Corbett said in a statement.
On the move
Michael Davies, a veteran with 20 years of experience in banking and investment law, has joined Heenan Blaikie LLP in Toronto as a partner in its financial services group. He left Ogier, an offshore law firm based in the Cayman Islands, where he has served as counsel since September, 2007.
Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP welcomed Graham McLeod back to the firm as a partner, after the lawyer spent five years at Infrastructure Ontario, the government's private-public partnership agency. Most recently, he headed up the agency's procurement group. He spent 1997 to 2005 as an associate at Blakes.
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in Montreal has snatched an investment management lawyer away from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. Fasken Martineau said this week that François Brais is joining the firm as a partner, after having headed up his old firm's regional investment management practice.
Mr. Blais counsels investment managers on setting up investment funds and hedge funds, as well as on registration on compliance issues.
Miller Thomson LLP has hired intellectual property lawyer Tai Nahm away from Fasken Martineau.
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