The merger, with Johannesburg-based Bell Dewar, will create one of the largest law firms operating in Africa, while at the same time giving Fasken Martineau the largest international footprint of any Canadian-based law firm, Fasken Martineau said in a statement announcing the merger today.
The deal is due to be completed by 1 February 2013.
David Corbett, firm managing partner of Fasken Martineau, said the addition of the Bell Dewar’s team of lawyers to its existing teams in Johannesburg, London, Paris and Canada would position it well in both the African and global markets.
Upon completion of the merger, Bell Dewar managing partner Blaize Vance will become Fasken Martineau’s regional managing partner for Africa, based at the two companies’ newly-consolidated Johannesburg offices.
Bell Dewar has 76 lawyers on staff, to Fasken Martineau’s 773 lawyers.
