Canada's Heenan Blaikie has launched an office in Paris with the hire of a team of ex-partners from Norton Rose's French arm.

Former Norton Rose corporate partners Jean-Francois Mercadier, Pascale Gallien and Anne-Sylvie Vassenaix Paxton and dispute resolution partner Alexander Brabant launched the office this week (3 January) for the Canadian firm.

They have been joined by Karen Leclerc (litigation) and Ali Boroumand (M&A) who were counsel at Norton Rose but have joined Heenan Blaikie as partners. Nine associates have also made the move to Heenan Blaikie from Norton Rose. The partners announced their resignation in October, leaving the UK firm in December.

The office, which will be led by Mercadier and will focus on corporate and litigation work, marks Heenan Blaikie's first venture into Europe.

Mercadier told Legal Week: "There were two fundamental reasons behind our decision to move. Firstly, we felt that the culture of Norton Rose was changing… and secondly the Paris office was kept away from the definition of the firm's strategy… Therefore, when Heenan Blaikie offered us the chance to open an office for them in Paris, which as part of its main objectives is to become the platform of the firm's development in French Africa, we felt that it was the right decision."

Heenan Blaikie co-managing partner Norman Bacal said: "The long-term plan is to expand our international operations and so we have established [the office], not so much because of Paris, but because we have found the right talent who add to our international practice objectives – particularly in Africa where we have established a considerable reputation.

"We are looking around the world and taking small steps to grow our global platform, particularly in the Middle East, Asia and South America."

The hires take partner count at Heenan Blaikie to 200 around the world.