New York-based international law firm
Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP has moved north of the border to start up a new office in Toronto.
“We are responding to our Canadian clients’ increasing cross-border business activities,” says firm chairman Brad Karp. “Our Toronto office will help us provide enhanced service to our clients on the ground in Canada.”
Not a stranger to the Canadian market, Paul Weiss has already worked with big Canuck names like Husky Energy Inc. and Onex Corp. and have been a presence here for more than 40 years.
“Our roots are in Western Canada, though over the years, we’ve developed clients across [the country],” says Ted Maynard, head of the Canadian practice group. “We’ve had some really meaningful work in the east, and we want to continue the growth of that eastern and central Canadian work.
“Toronto is a substantial source for our cross-border work, and we’re here to round out our Canadian practice.”
Christopher Cummings and Adam Giverts have also moved over from the Toronto outpost of Shearman & Sterling LLP to join the firm as partners. Both are known for their skill in handling cross-border capital markets and mergers, acquisitions transactions, but especially for their prowess and familiarity with representing major financial institutions. Andrew Foley has relocated from New York to help staff the newly opened branch. Maynard, along with other Canadian practice group members Matthew W. Abbott and Ariel J. Deckelbaum, will continue to be based in New York.
Despite the relocation, says Giverts, the Toronto office will practise only U.S. law, with a focus on cross-border capital markets, and private equity. It will continue to partner with Canadian firms to provide counsel to its clients.
“Chris and Adam are only U.S. lawyers,” says Maynard, stressing that their realm of expertise is still rooted south of the border. “[But] we have the highest respect for them and their capabilities.
“The opportunity to have them join us as we move north was just a wonderful combination of right people, time, and location.”
Paul Weiss has more than 600 lawyers in three offices in the U.S., as well as Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and London, England. Its new Toronto office is located at 1 Yonge St.
