Bar Talk
International legal giant Norton Rose - in Canada, the former Ogilvy Renault LLP - has poached Poupak Bahamin, a corporate lawyer and Africa specialist, away from Heenan Blaikie LLP in Montreal.
Ms. Bahamin will be based in Paris. She acts for African, Canadian and European clients and focuses on mining, oil and gas, and environmental projects, mostly in francophone Africa.
In other moves, Nathan Whitling, the Edmonton constitutional lawyer who took on the case of Omar Khadr, imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, is joining Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP as counsel in its Edmonton office.
A veteran lead lawyer in Supreme Court of Canada cases, Mr. Whitling has represented Mr. Khadr and his family in court battles in Canada pro bono.
He is leaving the Alberta firm Parlee McLaws LLP to join FMC's litigation team, and will focus on constitutional law, commercial litigation and aboriginal law. Mr. Whitling earned a master of laws at Harvard in 1998 before clerking at the Supreme Court.
Dennis Picco, the managing partner of FMC's Edmonton office, said Mr. Whitling will also continue his pro bono work.
"His broad experience, deep knowledge and a nuanced understanding of constitutional law will enhance the leadership of FMC's constitutional practice," Mr. Picco said in a statement. "In addition, Nathan's dedication to pro bono work is an excellent fit with FMC's core values of giving back to our communities."
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