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Fasken Martineau to merge with South African law firm

Fasken Martineau affirms its position as the most international of the Canadian-based law firms
Fasken Martineau affirms its position as the most international of the Canadian-based law firms

Bay Street’s Fasken Martineau has announced that they will merge with the Johannesburg-based law firm Bell Dewar. The merger is scheduled to take effect in February 2013.

The two firms focus on many of the same areas, such as mining, energy, infrastructure and project finance. Bell Dewar will become part of Fasken Martineau and operate under the Canadian firm’s name. Bell Dewar was established in 1890 and currently has 76 lawyers on staff.

Faskens will now have 167 lawyers abroad, more than any other Canadian-based law firm. The firm has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City, London, Paris and Johannesburg. Prior to this merger, Faskens has had a small office of its own in Johannesburg, with five lawyers, since 2003. The merger was primarily driven by Faskens’ mining industry clients, as they invest across the continent of Africa.