No surprise here then. Canada’s bigger law firms are now trying to get a foothold in the increasingly competitive Chinese legal market
Here’s what the Montreal Gazette has to say
Canadian firms invading China :Market ‘ripe to explode,’ WestJet boss says
Is it a coincidence that, in recent weeks Calgary-based law firm Bennett Jones LLP has announced the opening of an office in Beijing and WestJet has inked a code-share deal with Hong Kong-based airline giant Cathay Pacific? Or is that both firms are reading the tea leaves and recognizing that having exposure to the Chinese market is a key ingredient for future growth?
In both cases the reasoning is simple: it’s all about market potential. Bennett Jones becomes the second Canadian law firm to put up a shingle in China, following in the footsteps of Toronto-based Blakes, Cassels & Graydon.
The trend reflects the importance of the resource sector in the global economy and the role Canada is bound to play, either from the perspective of foreign direct investment or capital flowing overseas.
“We’re seeing more interest and activity to China from Canada, and the other way around,” said Perry Spitznagel, vice-chair of Bennett Jones and managing partner of the Calgary office.
