Norton Rose's Canada arm is set to see the departure of a high-profile senior arbitrator, with former Ogilvy Renault chairman Yves Fortier quitting the firm due to conflict concerns.

Fortier, 76, will leave Norton Rose OR at the end of the year in the wake of Ogilvy's merger with the top 10 UK firm, which went live this June.

He has spent over 50 years at Ogilvy, including serving as chairman from 1992 to 2009. He is leaving the firm to continue his career as an independent arbitrator.

Fortier said in a statement: "Being an international arbitrator as a member of a global legal practice can create inherent conflict risks. My decision to leave the firm was motivated by the need to continue my international arbitration and mediation practice in an independent and impartial way.

"This was a very emotional decision for me to take, given that the firm has been my home for more than 50 years."

Fortier, an internationally regarded arbitrator, was also Canada's ambassador to the UN from 1988 until 1992, and served as the country's representative on the UN Security Council from 1989 to 1990.

Norton Rose managing partner John Coleman commented: "Yves has been one of the great leaders of the firm. His is a distinguished jurist who has earned a reputation for being one of the best international arbitrators in the world, and we are very appreciative of his talent and leadership which helped build a global reputation for our firm including a highly successful international arbitration group."

The news comes after Norton Rose recently confirmed that it is adding a second Canadian firm to its international network via a tie-up with Macleod Dixon.

Macleod, which will unite with Norton Rose's existing Canadian operations under a new Norton Rose Canada banner in January 2012, will hand the Norton Rose Group an additional 250 fee earners, bringing its global headcount close to 3,000, including 700 in Canada.