Gowling WLG, a new international law firm created by the combination of Gowlings, a leading Canadian law firm, and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co (WLG), a leading UK-based international law firm, launched today.
With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 18 cities across Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Gowling WLG provides clients with legal advice at home and abroad in a range of areas - from complex cross-border transactions and intellectual property matters to high-stakes litigation and disputes.
The new firm also features a strong focus on key global sectors to provide clients with in-depth experience and expertise specific to their industries, including advanced manufacturing, energy, financial services, infrastructure, life sciences, natural resources, real estate and tech.
"At the core of Gowling WLG is a commitment to helping our clients navigate increasingly complex challenges in a tough business and legal environment," said David Fennell, chief executive of Gowling WLG (UK) LLP. "More and more, our clients are looking outward to global markets for new opportunities. They need a law firm that not only has expertise in those markets, but also understands their business and their sector, and can move at their pace. This is true for our domestic clients as well, who know that there are immense benefits to having legal advisers who understand their industry in their home market, but can also draw on international connections and best practice."
"One of the defining characteristics of Gowling WLG is our strong belief in the power of relationships to deliver tangible business results for our clients," said Peter Lukasiewicz, chief executive officer of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP. "Forging strong relationships with our clients gives us tremendous insight into their worlds, which, in turn, makes us more attuned and responsive to their needs, as well as genuinely ambitious for their success. Building strong relationships internally is also a key priority, as that's what allows us to collaborate seamlessly across sectors, services and borders to bring our clients the best of our firm."
The founding firms bring a legacy of collaborative, people-oriented cultures to Gowling WLG, having both been repeatedly recognised as top employers in their markets. Gowlings has been named one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt for six straight years. WLG has appeared on the UK's Best Workplaces list, produced by the Great Place to Work Institute, every year since the list began in 2001.
"We're immensely proud to be recognised as a top employer, and are firmly committed to encouraging diversity and inclusion in all of our offices," said Fennell. "This allows us to attract and retain great people as well as great clients, who know that motivated and engaged people deliver top-quality advice, approach problems with creativity and imagination, and will go the distance to help them succeed."
On the road to launch, both founding firms have already worked closely together, including on matters in Canada, the UK, China, the Middle East, France, Germany and Singapore. The firms also recently joined forces to win a global intellectual property mandate from cereal manufacturer Weetabix.
"It's an exciting time for us at Gowling WLG, and this is only just the beginning," said Lukasiewicz. "Our vision is for Gowling WLG to be one of the top sector-focused law firms in the world - and we plan on adding like-minded firms to our combination in the near future in order to grow and enhance our practice in the sectors, services and geographic regions where our clients need us to be."
About Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG is a new international law firm created by the combination of Gowlings, a leading Canadian law firm, and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co (WLG), a leading UK-based international law firm.
With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 18 cities worldwide, we provide our clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.
Leadership
Gowling WLG International Limited has a six-member international board comprising three members from each of the founding firms, Gowlings and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co. Those members are:
- James Buchan, firm managing partner, external, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
- David Fennell, CEO, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
- Jenny Hardy, strategic development director, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
- Scott Jolliffe, head of international development, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
- Peter Lukasiewicz, CEO, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
- Andrew Witts, chairman, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
The board will be co-chaired by David Fennell and Peter Lukasiewicz.
Offices
Canada
Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region, Calgary, Vancouver
United Kingdom
London, Birmingham
Continental Europe
Paris, Munich, Brussels, Monaco, Moscow
Middle East
Dubai
Asia
Beijing, Guangzhou, Singapore
In addition to the above office locations, Gowling WLG offers clients access to specialised experience and expertise in countries around the globe. Learn more at gowlingwlg.com/en/globalreach/.
Structure
Gowling WLG is an international law firm comprising the members of Gowling WLG International Limited, an English Company Limited by Guarantee, and their respective affiliates. Each member and affiliate is an autonomous and independent entity.
Gowling WLG International Limited promotes, facilitates and co-ordinates the activities of its members but does not itself provide services to clients. Our structure is explained in more detail at gowlingwlg.com/legal.
About the founding firms
Gowlings
With roots tracing back to 1887, Gowlings - now Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP - has grown to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in Canada, with a reputation for innovation in client-focused service delivery.
The firm is home to more than 700 legal professionals in offices across Canada (Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region, Calgary and Vancouver) and in Moscow and Beijing.
Building on its early strength in intellectual property, Gowlings has diversified to offer a full suite of business law, litigation and intellectual property services in all of Canada's key industries, including energy, mining, financial services, government, infrastructure, manufacturing, life sciences and technology.
Gowlings ranks among the busiest law firms in the world for Canadian M&A, and is known for its deep advocacy expertise before courts, tribunals, regulatory bodies and governments in Canada. The firm has also been named one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt for six straight years.
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co - now Gowling WLG (UK) LLP - is a UK-based international law firm that provides a full service to clients, worldwide. The firm is synonymous with outstanding client service and sector knowledge, providing advice and solutions based on an understanding of the commercial issues, challenges and opportunities faced by clients.
It is home to a leading broad-based real estate practice and is one of the UK's top AIM (Alternative Investment Market) firms. It has a strong financial services pedigree thanks to its market-leading investment funds practice, award-winning pensions experts and a highly rated private capital team. Its dispute resolution teams have particular strengths in intellectual property, construction, international arbitration and commercial litigation.
WLG has been repeatedly recognised as a top employer and has been a fixture on the UK's Best Workplaces list, appearing every year since the list began in 2001. The firm offers clients exceptional capability in the UK, from its bases in London and Birmingham, as well as its offices in Brussels, France, Germany, Monaco, the United Arab Emirates, China and Singapore.
Contact us
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP is a member of Gowling WLG, an international law firm which consists of independent and autonomous entities providing services around the world. Our structure is explained in more detail at gowlingwlg.com/legal.