Littler, the world’s largest employment and labour law practice representing management, has expanded into Canada with a new office in Toronto that will employ seven Canadian lawyers from respected law firms based in Toronto. The move establishes Littler’s 67th office and follows a period of global expansion in which the firm has dramatically increased its international footprint, particularly across North, Central and South America.
“As we continue to amplify our global capabilities, expanding into Canada was a natural evolution in our strategy of providing a single source solution for multinational employers,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “Canada has seen solid economic growth, particularly in sectors with robust labour and employment needs such as energy, financial services, retail, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. With a global client base increasingly interested in business opportunities in Canada, and our already strong foothold in Latin America, we are excited to add an on-the-ground Canadian presence to our global platform and look forward to additional expansion in the country in the near future.”
Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of the firm’s International Employment Law practice, noted that “Littler has long been interested in expanding into Canada, and in the past few years, more of our U.S. and global client base has been seeking our assistance in Ontario and beyond. Establishing a Toronto office comprised of local attorneys with strong ties to the Canadian business and legal community allows us to build from an existing client base with substantial operations in Canada. A presence in the financial and legal capital of Canada complements our existing capabilities in a country with close ties to the United States, and allows us to serve Canadian investors and companies who are increasingly interested in Latin American business opportunities.”
Six of the seven Canadian lawyers joining Littler’s new Toronto office come from Kuretzky Vassos Henderson, an established boutique firm well recognized in the Canadian labour and employment community, which was recognized for the third time by Canadian Lawyer magazine (most recently for 2014−2015) as one of the top 10 labour and employment boutiques in Canada. The additional member of the team, Sari Springer, comes with 25 years of in-depth employment law and human rights experience from Cassels Brock, a large Canadian firm. She will serve as the Toronto office managing shareholder. John Kloosterman, a shareholder in Littler’s San Francisco office and a licensed Canadian practitioner, will help establish operations in the new Toronto office.
“It’s exciting to become part of a prestigious global firm with unsurpassed levels of expertise and resources, from both a technological and services perspective,” said Sari Springer, office managing shareholder in Toronto. “Littler’s innovative approach to the delivery of legal services offers us a chance to give Canadian clients access to Littler’s highly sophisticated technology platform. And no other firm has Littler’s global presence and depth of experience in labour and employment law.”
Barry Kuretzky, a shareholder in Littler’s Toronto office, previously a senior partner at Kuretzky Vassos Henderson, added, “Our firm has significant name recognition in Canada and will be able to introduce Littler into the market, which will be an advantage as the firm builds its Canadian practice. The key benefit of joining with Littler is its corporate client base around the world. Canadian clients with operations in South America, for example, are thrilled at the prospect of accessing the expanded network that Littler offers. Joining Littler gives us the flexibility to service client needs seamlessly and conveniently in what amounts to a one-stop shop, with no need for different firms in different countries.”
The Canadian attorneys joining Littler noted that the firm impressed them with its global presence in which all lawyers specialize in labour and employment law; its diversity and inclusion policies, innovation, and strong industry sector practices. “Joining Littler, with its extensive U.S. presence and resources, makes good sense for our clients,” continued Springer.
Littler’s international offices now include: Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. The firm’s global capabilities also include U.S.-based lawyers with exceptional international experience, and who are licensed practitioners in Australia, Brazil, China, the United Kingdom and South Africa, among other countries.
Source: www.littler.com
