Gowlings Explained

Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Type:	Limited Liability Partnership (Private)
Foundation:	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Industry:	Law firm
Products:	Legal advice
Services:	Business law, litigation/advocacy, intellectual property

Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP (Gowlings) was a Canadian and international law firm, with about 700 legal professionals in 10 offices in Canada and as well as London, Moscow, and Beijing. The firm offered legal support in business law, advocacy/litigation and intellectual property law.

On July 8, 2015, Gowlings announced that they would amalgamate with UK firm Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co to create a new international law firm called Gowling WLG.^[1] The new firm launched in February 2016.^[2]

History

Gowlings' originated with the firm Henderson & McVeity, which was founded in Ottawa in 1887.^{[3] [4]} Its name passed through numerous permutations, but included references to the lawyers Gordon Gowling, George and Gordon Henderson.^[5] In the 1980s, the firm expanded beyond its traditional Ottawa base, establishing offices in Toronto, Kitchener, and Moscow.

Starting in the mid-1990s, Gowlings created a national platform through a succession of mergers with other law firms in Vancouver, Hamilton, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto.^[6] The firm eventually adopted the simple brand name "Gowlings" (which had long been in informal use).^[7]

Notable firm members

• Leonard Walter Brockington (1888–1966). Founding chairman of the CBC, 1936-1939^[8]
• Gordon F. Henderson (1912–1993). President of the Canadian Bar Association, 1979–1980;^[9] Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, 1991 - 1993^[10]
• Roy McMurtry (1932 -). Attorney-General of Ontario, 1975–1985 and Chief Justice of Ontario, 1996-2007^[11]
• Ray Hnatyshyn (1934 - 2002). 24th Governor-General of Canada, 1990 - 1995^[12]
• Ian Scott (1934 - 2006). Attorney-General of Ontario, 1985 - 1990^[13]
• Donald Mazankowski (1935 -). Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, 1986 - 1993^[14]
• Martin Cauchon (1962 -). Minister of Justice (Canada) and Attorney General of Canada, 2002–2003; Minister of National Revenue (Canada), 1999-2002^[15]
• Lawrence Cannon (1947 -). Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada), 2006 - 2008 and Stephen Harper's former Quebec lieutenant^{[16] [17]}
• Frank Marrocco . Associate Chief Justice (2005 -) of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice,^[18]

Notes and References

1. "Gowlings joins forces with Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co to launch new international law firm: Gowling WLG." http://www.gowlings.com/News/news.asp?newsID=983&lang=0
2. Web site: New International Law Firm Gowling WLG Launches Today. 22 February 2016. 24 February 2016. Gowling WLG.
3. Web site: Establishing a Business in Canada. Backgrounder . 2007-02-05 . 2004 . Gowlings bulletin . Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP . https://archive.today/20061030113052/http://www.gowlings.com/dbic/contents.asp . 2006-10-30 . dead .
4. The predecessor firm of Henderson & McVeity was MacTavish and MacCracken, founded in 1877. George F. Henderson and MacCracken became partners in 1889.
5. Can He Pull It Off? The Gowlings Gamble. Lexpert Magazine (May 2001). May 2001. Julius. Melnitzer. 72.
6. Gowlings cements giant merger. The Globe and Mail. Gordon. Pitts. July 5, 2001. Canadian Business.
7. By Any Other Name. Canadian Lawyer. Ann. Macaulay. November/ December 2000. 12.
8. Web site: St. George and Merrie England . 2007-02-05 . Brockington . Leonard . 1954 . The Empire Club of Canada Speeches 1953-1954 . The Empire Club Foundation . https://web.archive.org/web/20070213215015/http://www.empireclubfoundation.com/details.asp?SpeechID=2793&FT=yes . 2007-02-13 . dead .
9. Web site: CBA Past Presidents . 2007-02-05 . 2006 . Canadian Bar Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070210183240/http://www.cba.org/CBA/Info/main/PrintHtml.aspx?DocId=13167 . 2007-02-10 .
10. Web site: Past Chancellors of the University . 2007-02-05 . Administration & Governance . University of Ottawa . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209023059/http://web5.uottawa.ca/admingov/past-chancellors.html . 2007-02-09 . dead .
11. News: Jacquie . McNish . McMurtry's pro bono crusade . 2007-06-05 . The Globe and Mail . 2007-06-08 .
12. Web site: Hnatyshyn named Chancellor . 2007-02-05 . 2002 . Carleton University . https://web.archive.org/web/20061013015356/http://magazine.carleton.ca/2002_Spring/719.htm . 2006-10-13 . dead .
13. News: Mary Ann . Horgan . Sine MacKinnon . Justice deCarteret Cory, Ian Scott, and Mel Lastman to receive honorary degrees from York University . 1997-05-30 . York University . Media Release Archive . 1 . 2007-02-05 .
14. Web site: Rt. Hon Donald F. Mazankowski . 2007-02-05 . Forbes.com .
15. Web site: Martin Cauchon receives CBA SOGIC Ally Award . 2007-02-05 . Bernstein . Hannah . 2004-08-17 . Canadian Bar Association . cba.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20070421013452/http://www.cba.org/CBA/News/2004_Releases/2004-08-17_sogically.aspx . 2007-04-21 . dead .
16. http://www.international.gc.ca/ministers-ministres/Lawrence_Cannon.aspx?view=d
17. Gray, Jeff (2011-10-04)"Lawrence Cannon Lands at Gowlings" globeandmail.com Retrieved 2011-11-14
18. http://www.ontariocourts.ca/scj/judges/current/#Exec/ Ontario Courts website