Gowling, WLG merger official

New firm will launch Monday

Canada’s latest international law firm merger is now official.

Gowling WLG launches on Monday, the result of the previously announced merger of Canadian law firm Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and U. K.- based international firm Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co.

The newly merged firm has 1,400 lawyers and professionals working in 18 cities across Canada, the U. K., Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The new f i rm will be managed by a board of three Canadian and three U. K. l awyers. David Fennell, chief executive of the new firm’s U. K. section, and Peter Lukasiewicz, chief executive of the Canadian section, will serve as cochairs.

The new firm has been set up as an English Company Limited by Guarantee, a corporate structure that has members who act as guarantors as opposed to shareholders.

Gowling, a firm whose origins date back to 1887, announced the plans to merge with Wragge Lawrence Graham last July. Both firms bring about 700 lawyers into the deal. Core areas of strength will be natural resources, intellectual property, manufacturing, financial services, infrastructure, real estate, tech and advanced manufacturing.

The Gowling deal continues a trend in which several Canadian law firms have joined forces with international players in recent years.

Last year Vancouverbased Davis LLP became DLA Piper Canada after linking up with U.S. firm DLA Piper.

The Canadian firm previously known as Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP was one of three founding member firms that created global legal giant Den tons in March 2013.

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP contains what used to be Montreal- based Ogilvy Renault LLP and Calgary- based Macleod Dixon LLP.

Gowling isn’ t the first Canadian firm to preserve its brand after an international deal. Fas ken Martineau Du MoulinL LP still goes by that name after its 2013 merger with Johannesburg- based Bell Dewar, a firm of 80 lawyers from South Africa.

NEWLY MERGED FIRM HAS 1,400 LAWYERS.