Our History

Chuck Loopstra leaves the firm of Luck Harris and Belyea with law student Sandy Nixon. They open a general practice law firm on June 1, 1973 in a storefront office in northwest Toronto.

Sandy Nixon becomes a partner upon his call to the bar in the spring of 1974.

Loopstra Nixon becomes Loopstra, Nixon & McLeish.

Loopstra Nixon McLeish expands its articling program from 1 to 2 students. Those students were Bob Hall and Jamie Melville.

The firm expands its practice to include corporate law, banking, municipal law, real estate, commercial litigation, family law, and personal injury litigation. By the mid 80s the firms growth requires additional space and there are 20 people on the 6th floor of 155 Rexdale Blvd (BMO building) with all its systems linked by underground cable.

 

Bob Hall works with the local branch of the Bank of Montreal to establish the first dedicated BMO Auto Finance Group – a BMO division that grows to become a national leader in automotive lending. 

The firm celebrates its 10th anniversary. 

Loopstra Nixon McLeish purchases and installs its first fax machine, a Panafax System. 

With ongoing growth needs, 4 Loopstra Nixon McLeish partners join a developer group to acquire land and construct the 135 Queens Plate Drive building.

The firm moves into the newly built Queens Plate Drive location, which will grow to be Loopstra Nixon’s head office.

Bob Hall closes the largest Loopstra Nixon McLeish syndicate financing transaction to date – the $250 million Potter Station Power Plant Project.

Loopstra Nixon McLeish completes several Caribbean hotel acquisitions and financings for the firm’s Pension Fund clients.

The firm completes the financing transaction to construct the Canadian Tire Centre Arena (formerly the Corel Centre – home to the Ottawa Senators) 

The firm celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Pictured: Charles Loopstra, Sandy Nixon and John McLeish.

The firm restructures in 2000 to focus on business and public law in response to growing client needs and to recruit high-caliber talent. At the same time the firm reverts back to Loopstra Nixon LLP. 

Loopstra Nixon undergoes a rebrand and introduces the “LN” logo – a departure from the previous brand which only used a wordmark. 

Loopstra Nixon becomes the Canadian affiliate of the Cicero League of International Lawyers, which led to the fruitful affiliation with Phillips Lytle LLP -- one of Western New York’s top law firms.

Loopstra Nixon is retained by the City of Toronto.

Ian Scarlett becomes Managing Partner and continued in the role for 9 years.

Carswell publishes the 10th Anniversary edition of Annual Review of Civil Litigation which is regularly cited by appellate courts across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada. The book includes a chapter written by C.M. Loopstra, Q.C. of this firm, and assisted by associate lawyer Andy C. Jairam on Developments in the Law of Negligent Misrepresentation. In a foreword written by Chief Justice McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada she refers to the chapter as “promoting a common understanding of recent legal developments”.

Loopstra Nixon and Phillips Lytle move their international alliance to LawExchange International.

Loopstra Nixon LLP is proud to have represented Gay Lea Foods, Ontario's largest dairy co-operative, in its recent acquisition of Salerno Dairy Products, a specialty Italian cheese manufacturer. The team was led by Sandy Nixon and included Bobbi-Ann Wallace and Jason Cicchetti (Corporate/Commercial) as well as Mark Fryer (Employment) and Reg Theriault (Commercial Real Estate). 

The Loopstra Nixon brand get a refresh with the introduction of a new logo which includes colour for the first time. 

Sandy Nixon accepts Pinehurst club award on behalf of the firm.

As part of their "50 Years of Service" celebration, Fastfrate Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ron Tepper presented Sandy Nixon with a plaque this week to mark 20 years of partnership between the trucking company and Loopstra Nixon. 

The firm opens its first locations outside Ontario with the addition of satellite offices in Buffalo, NY and New York City.

The firm is listed on the Profit 500, Canadian Business Magazine’s list of Canada’s fastest-growing companies, for the first time.

The firm continues its long tradition of an annual toy drive, this year donating to CP24 CHUM Christmas wish program. 

The firm opens a satellite office in Vaughan.

Loopstra Nixon makes its second appearance on Canadian Business Magazine's Growth 500 list.

The firm undertakes a full renovation of the 6th floor at Queens Plate drive, modernizing both client and office spaces.

Loopstra Nixon is ranked as a Top 10 Ontario Regional Firm by Canadian Lawyer magazine.

The Firm celebrates the 50th anniversary of Charles M. Loopstra’s call to the bar.

Allan Ritchie assumes the role of Chairman of LawExchange International.

Allan Ritchie is named one of Canada’s Top Lawyers Under 40 by Lexpert Magazine and was awarded the Lauren D. Rachlin Award for Excellence in International Business Law by the OBA. 

Chuck Loopstra has been selected as a recipient of the Brown, Mulligan, Rocha Distinguished Public Service Award by the International Municipal Lawyers Association.

The firm opens a new office in the Richmond - Adelaide Centre, Downtown Toronto.

Loopstra Nixon announces its commitment to Diversity Labs Mansfield Rule certification process, becoming the first mid- size Mansfield Rule participant headquartered in Canada,

Growth once again creates a need for space and the firm takes over and renovates the balance of the 5th floor at Queens Plate Dr.

In June of 2022, the firm kicks off its 50th year of representing businesses, public institutions and entrepreneurs just like us… and providing legal counsel across all fields to clients, big and small, based next door and around the world.

The firm opens a new office at 390 Davis Drive in Newmarket, Ontario.

Loopstra Nixon merges with Macdonald Sager on July 1st 2023. The combined firm will have over 100 lawyers and a total headcount of over 200 professionals across 4 offices in the Greater Toronto Area.

Feige Nawrocki joins Loopstra Nixon on July 1st 2023. 

The firm opens a new office at 150 Elgin Street in Ottawa, Ontario.

The firm opens a new office at 100 New Park Place in Vaughan, Ontario.

The firm opens a new office at 366 King Street East in Kingston, Ontario.