TORONTO and OTTAWA – Leading Canadian communications law firm Johnston & Buchan said today it will merge with the rapidly growing Fasken Martineau and the new entity looks to create "a high profile presence in Canada’s capital to better serve federally regulated and national clients," according to the press release.
The merger announcement comes six weeks after the creation of the first full-service integrated Canadian-UK law firm resulting from the merger of Fasken Martineau and life sciences, mining, technology and AIM finance specialist firm Stringer Saul of London.
Today’s news is the latest step in an expansion strategy underway at Fasken Martineau that includes growing its commitments in markets that the firm’s Calgary, Johannesburg, London and Ottawa offices serve.
"Fasken Martineau has a strategic plan in place focused on seamlessly serving our clients wherever they may be located. Merging with Johnston & Buchan allows Fasken Martineau to bring a highly respected Ottawa practice on board that offers our clients expertise in communications and trade law and an intimate knowledge of the federal government and the regulatory environment," said David Corbett, managing partner of Fasken Martineau, in the press release.
"Johnston & Buchan is consistently ranked in the top tier of communications law firms in the country by leading legal publications Chambers and Lexpert. The firm has operated for 26 years and is considered by us to be a jewel among Ottawa firms," added Corbett.
The merger means FM now has 640 lawyers, practicing as part of a business law and litigation firm with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City, London, Johannesburg and New York.
"Fasken Martineau’s unique structure and entrepreneurial approach is the right cultural fit for Johnston & Buchan and our clients," said Robert Buchan, founding partner of Johnston & Buchan, and a lawyer who has served Canada’s largest broadcasters and other communications companies in court and in front of the Commission for decades. "The merger presents an opportunity to better serve our clients by growing our communications, trade and regulatory practice areas, while increasing access to complementary areas of expertise such as labour, employment, finance, tax and litigation in Canada and internationally."
"We are very excited about the opportunities that the merger presents for our clients and for our practice," added Laurence Dunbar, Johnston & Buchan partner, who will become co-chair of Fasken Martineau’s expanded communications practice as of April 1st, when the merger comes into effect.
"Not only will the merger add significantly to the range of legal services that we will now be able to offer clients in the nation’s capital, it will also build on our core areas of practice," said Dunbar.
