McMaster Meighen
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| No. of offices | 5 |
|---|---|
| Offices | Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver |
| No. of attorneys | 700+ |
| Major practice areas | General practice |
| Date founded | 2000 |
| Website | blg.com |
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (abbreviated as BLG) is an elite, full-service Canadian law firm. With almost two hundred years of history going back to the 1823 founding of McMaster Gervais, it is the oldest law firm in the country, and today counts over 700 lawyers, intellectual property agents and other professionals in its Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary offices. BLG is governed by a national council composed of partners from across Canada. Sean Weir has been National Managing Partner of the firm since 2000.
In 2017, BLG had more lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada than any other law firm, a position the firm has held for the past nine years in a row. In 2011 – for the fifth consecutive year – BLG was recognized as a “Go-To Law Firm” for Fortune 500 companies, and had the most number of lawyers in Canada with a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating. The firm was recognized as Band 1 in 11 practice groups in the 2017 edition of Chambers Global, and is known especially for its top-ranked practices in international trade, energy, investment, employment and labour, healthcare, shipping, construction, and procurement law.
Former justices of Canada's Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell, who authored the landmark Bhasin v Hrynew decision on the common law duty of good faith, and Justice Louise Arbour, currently UN Special Representative for International Migration, joined BLG in 2017 and 2014, respectively.
Over the years, the firm has produced two Prime Ministers, law school deans, appellate court justices, an ambassador to the United States, and directors of numerous national corporations. It has represented a large number of Canada's most well-known blue chip companies including Hudson’s Bay Co., Canadian Pacific Railway, Bank of Montreal, Prudential Life, Alcan, Royal Trust, Bell Canada, General Electric, DuPont and Dominion Textiles. The firm was also counsel to the Prince of Wales.
The firm also supports a variety of activities by providing pro bono legal services, fundraising and volunteer programs. In 2010, BLG was recognized by the 2010 Canadian Pro Bono Awards with the Canadian National Law Firm Award for contribution to the delivery of pro bono legal services across the country.
On March 1, 2000, the law firms of McMaster Gervais of Montreal, Borden & Elliot of Toronto, Ladner Downs of Vancouver, Howard Mackie of Calgary, and Scott & Aylen of Ottawa, merged to create BLG.
In July 2002, BLG strengthened its corporate securities practice with the acquisition of the Calgary-based law firm Armstrong Perkins Hudson LLP —the then-largest securities boutique in Western Canada.
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