Clyde & Co expands in Canada with Vancouver venture

Clyde & Co expands in Canada with Vancouver venture

Merger with local firm SHK Law will see the British firm adding six new partners in its bid to boost its North American insurance practice

The British law firm Clyde & Co is all set to give a push to further expand its North American insurance practice by increasing its presence in Canada.

A merger with local firm SHK Law Corporation has enabled it to open its office in Vancouver. This will be the third office of Clyde & Co in Canada as it is already present in Toronto and Montreal. The merger process is expected to be over by early July.

The Canadian firm focuses on insurance, construction and professional disputes, with an emphasis on errors and omissions and directors and officers coverage, product liability, construction disputes and commercial litigation. Its partners specialise in advising architects, engineers, actuaries and insurance brokers, as well as owners, contractors and their insurers.

"In SHK Law, we are joining forces with a firm with whom our existing Canadian offices share a common culture, vision and practice focus. The team has a leading reputation in both insurance and construction which will further bolster our leadership positions in these sectors globally and benefit our clients in Canada, North America and beyond," Matthew Kelsall, Clyde & Co's CEO, said.

SHK Law's six partners joining Clyde & Co as part of the merger are:

• Mark Braidwood -- litigation lawyer

• William Knutson QC -- civil litigator

• Seema Lal -- construction, insurance and commercial litigator

• Vanessa Reakes -- negligence claims and insurance law expert

• Don Smith -- litigation and dispute resolution lawyer

• Craig Wallace -- professional liability and insurance litigation.

"This merger is the crucial next step in our North American growth strategy following a period of consolidation. Merging with SHK not only gives us an on-the-ground presence enabling us to work closely with insurers in Western Canada, but also further deepens our construction offering in a region that has a thriving infrastructure sector and a wealth of natural resources," Carolena Gordon, chair of Clyde & Co's North American board, said.

Clyde & Co is making a determined move to establish its presence in North America as it had opened its offices in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Denver.