DLA Piper is in talks to take on a group of lawyers from Heenan Blaikie, following the announcement that the Canadian firm was to be wound up.

According to Canadian press reports, DLA is in discussions with a group of 60 to 70 lawyers, while another group of 14 lawyers from Heenan's Vancouver office have announced they are leaving to start a boutique firm.

A DLA Piper spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we are in discussions with a group of Toronto and Calgary-based lawyers at Heenan Blaikie."

Heenan Blaikie – once one of the largest law firms in Canada – announced it was closing down its operations earlier this week, with a statement on the firm's website reading: "several practice groups and even entire offices will continue to operate under new names".

Four more Heenan lawyers have joined the Ottawa office of Fasken Martineau while Dentons Canada has hired a group of five real estate and two financial services lawyers from Heenan's.

DLA has had its eye on the Canadian market for some time, having held talks with local heavyweight Fasken Martineau about a potential tie-up back in 2008.

Speaking at the time, DLA chief executive Sir Nigel Knowles said: "We always look at firms we use and whether we should get closer. It is not a particularly big strategic issue; it is something more driven by the US."

Aside from Dentons, other firms to have entered the Canadian market include Clyde & Co which merged with local firm Nicholl Paskell-Mede in 2011 and Norton Rose, which secured two Canadian mergers with Ogilvy Renault and Macleod Dixon in 2011 and 2012 respectively.