Jeff Gray
The lure of working for one of the world's largest law firms has netted DLA Piper's new Canadian outpost four new partners, all from Bay Street's small and scrappy Wildeboer Dellelce LLP.
DLA Piper, which after years of rumours finally moved into Canada earlier this year by gobbling up Vancouver-based mid-tier firm Davis LLP, said from the get-go that it's short-term goal was to beef up the small Toronto office it inherited.
On Wednesday, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP announced it had snagged securities and corporate finance partners Robert Fonn, Vaughn MacLellan and Derek Sigel and tax specialist Kevin Fritz, all from Wildeboer Dellelce, effective Aug. 1.
Roger Meltzer, the global co-chairman of DLA Piper, told The Globe in March after the merger was announced that it was his intention to "disrupt" the Toronto legal market, and that his firm's move into Canada was not just a drive for resources-related work out West.
In a statement issued Wednesday, he said the new hires were an "important first step" in DLA Piper's plan to strengthen its Toronto offering: "As we stated when we combined with Davis, the evolution of our presence and capabilities in Toronto are key components of our strategy."
It's a large number of lawyers to lose in one day for Wildeboer Dellelce, which has 37 lawyers listed on its web site, excluding students. Since its launch in 1993, the firm has billed itself as an entrepreneurial alternative to Bay Street's stuffier so-called Seven Sisters, and on its website it touts the fact that its office library has a pool table.
Wildeboer Dellelce, which has recently opened an office in Waterloo, Ont., geared toward tech startups, focuses on corporate finance and has many mining industry clients. On Wednesday, Mr. MacLellan's picture was still prominent on the firm's web page.
The firm's managing partner, Perry Dellelce, said his firm has the bench strength to handle the losses, adding that he was sad to see the partners leave but wished them well. The firm was planning a sendoff party for Monday, he said.
"DLA Piper is a different platform than the unique platform of Wildeboer Dellelce," Mr. Dellelce said.
He argued that his firm can thrive as it competes with larger domestic firms and the growing number of giant law international firms in Canada's legal market: "We welcome the competition. I believe a rising tide raises all ships. We are on files opposite DLA Piper and Skadden Arps and Oslers and Torys and Stikemans on a regular basis."