Loopstra Nixon Joins LawExchange International
November 20, 2012 (Toronto) – Loopstra Nixon today announced its affiliation with LawExchange International (“LEI”) effective January 1, 2013. In doing so, Loopstra Nixon becomes the only Canadian firm to join LEI’s global network of independent law firms.
Loopstra Nixon along with Buffalo-based Phillips Lytle LLP completes LEI’s strategic goal of expanding into the Toronto and New York markets. With the addition of Loopstra Nixon and Phillips Lytle, the LEI team will include over 1,500 lawyers practicing among 26 affiliated law firms with offices in 61 cities and 23 countries around the world.
Loopstra Nixon and Phillips Lytle have enjoyed a successful and growing affiliation over the last nine years through the Cicero League of International Law Firms, a largely European-focused network of mid-sized law firms, which both firms will leave effective December 31, 2012.
Speaking about the relationship with Phillips Lytle, J. A. (Sandy) Nixon said, “our firms have enjoyed a great relationship since initiating our affiliation in 2004. The ability to call upon the U.S. legal expertise and reputation of Phillips Lytle continues to be a great resource for our clients and, with the joint move to LEI, is an important part of our near term growth strategy. We are quite fortunate to be able to broaden those relationships in the US to include firms in Boston, the Research Triangle, Chicago and San Diego.”
Celebrating 40 years of practice in 2013, Loopstra Nixon has been recruiting heavily from some of Toronto’s large law firms to accelerate its growth plans and expand its reach. In late 2010, the firm recruited corporate partner Allan Ritchie from Baker & McKenzie LLP and has since added former Baker & McKenzie lawyers Rob Kittredge (Intellectual Property), Reg Theriault (Commercial Real Estate) and Michael Otto (Corporate) as well as Derek Van Doorn (Corporate, Wealth Management) from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.
Ritchie, a lawyer licensed in Canada and the United States, sees LEI as more evidence that mid-sized law firms can compete alongside the global powerhouses. “Clients are realizing that global expansion does not necessarily mean moving their legal work to a giant global firm. Networks such as LEI enable clients to control costs and enjoy concierge service both of which are hallmarks of successful mid-sized firms.” Mr. Ritchie went on to say: “LEI member firms share our firm’s broad range of skills and passion for excellence with at the same time efficient and cost effective rates. We are now big enough with the range and scope to handle virtually any size legal matter all over the world yet small enough not to be bureaucratic and to maintain our cost effective nature and dedication to each individual client.” Ritchie estimates that half his practice involves advising business clients based outside of Canada, primarily in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.
Founded in 1834, Phillips Lytle is a 182-attorney firm based in Buffalo with offices in Manhattan and throughout New York State. The firm has a long-standing and successful Canadian cross border practice and, in September 2011, became the first U.S. law firm to establish an office in technology-rich Kitchener-Waterloo. Frederick G. Attea, senior partner at Phillips Lytle, is excited about being part of LEI. “We see the move to LEI as an opportunity to affiliate ourselves with some of the world’s highest quality mid-market law firms while continuing to develop our successful cross-border relationship with Loopstra Nixon”.
The U.S. footprint of LEI includes San Diego-based Procopio Hargreaves & Savitch; Morse, Barnes-Brown and Pendleton of Boston; Chicago’s Gould & Ratner; and, Raleigh-headquartered Hutchison PLLC. While all are major regional players in their respective legal markets, LEI’s plans called for expansion. “A number of years ago, LEI identified Toronto and New York as important strategic components of our growth strategy,” said Fred Tannenbaum, Managing Partner at LEI’s Chicago affiliate, Gould & Ratner and current LEI Executive Committee member. “We are delighted to have found our solution in Loopstra Nixon and Phillips Lytle, both of which are top quality firms in their respective markets. Our LEI network is now even more complete and expansive thanks to the addition of these two excellent firms in these two key markets. The global reach LEI offers is now even more expansive and encompassing to serve our clients’ needs wherever they may arise.”
Even though the transition to LEI will be formalized in the new year, deal flow has already begun with both Loopstra Nixon and Phillips Lytle advising clients of LEI member firms and using the network on a reciprocal basis.