Ogletree Deakins. (Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)

After hiring a partner in the same city earlier this year, labor and employment law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart has officially opened its second Canadian office in Montréal, Québec.

The Montréal office marks the Atlanta firm's 54th office worldwide. It will be led by partner Lucie Guimond who joined Ogletree Deakins in April, coming from Canadian-British firm Gowling WLG. Before that, she practiced law at her own firm.

"What I've seen is that many American clients have interest in Canada … and of course, they are looking for legal assistance, and many clients like to deal with the same firm all across" their business footprint, Guimond said.

As of now, Guimond is the only partner at the Montréal office. She is joined by associate Ryan Martin, who came from Dentons this month.

"Within a year, I would like Ogletree Montréal—as I would like [for] Ogletree Toronto—to be a player to be reckoned with in that market of very niche expertise, strictly employment and labor," Guimond said, adding that she is looking to hire "best talent" to help the firm bolster its presence in the market.

Ogletree Deakins opened its Toronto office at the beginning of 2016. That location is headed by Hugh Christie, who previously chaired the national labor and employment practice for Gowlings, which became Gowlings WLG after its 2017 merger with W.K. firm Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co. According to Guimond, the Toronto outpost has grown to about 12 attorneys.

Guimond has been practicing in Montréal for nearly three decades. She said another reason the firm chose to open in Montréal is that Québec has a separate legal system from the rest of Canada. Quebec continues to apply civil law toward civil private law matters, while the other provinces operate under common law.

In a statement about the firm's strategy in Canada, Ogletree Deakins managing shareholder Matt Keen said his firm has "developed a significant client base across Eastern Canada" and that the new office was launched "in response to client demand for our services in Quebec."

"Lucie is a veteran lawyer who has practiced law in Quebec for 30 years," Keen continued. "We are confident she is the right person to lead our expansion in the region and help our clients navigate the ever-changing, and often challenging, employment laws in Quebec."

Guimond's practice includes advocacy and advisory work in labor and employment law for employers in the private and public sectors, including M&A transactions. She also represents clients in both English and French language proceedings.

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