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Oh, Canada!
Folklaw knows of many partners who have moved to various parts of the world for a firm, but this is the first time we've heard of a firm following a partner.
Leanne Mezrani
Folklaw knows of many partners who have moved to various parts of the world for a firm, but this is the first time we’ve heard of a firm following a partner.
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Allen & Overy has opened an office in Canada after structured finance partner François Duquette said he wanted to go home, reported The Lawyer.
Folklaw gets Duquette. Life is good in Canada – there’s the great Canadian outdoors, poutine (fries, gravy and cheese curds … Folklaw’s mouth is watering) and really, really nice people.
Duquette was the founding partner of the Magic Circle firm’s Casablanca office. He also led the firm’s expansion into Abu Dhabi. But after 10 years abroad he was homesick, and he told A&O so.
Rather than lose a highly-regarded partner, the firm has opened a small base in Toronto.
A&O said it is not looking to compete with the local market or expand the office beyond Duquette and one associate.
A&O put a Canada launch on hold in 2011, the year after the firm launched in Australia. It has been reported that the firm wanted to focus on its Oz operations.
Whether investing in a Canada office was a wise business decision remains unclear, but A&O definitely gets the prize for the firm that will go above and beyond for its high-earning partners…
