Allen & Overy closes Canadian outpost as sole partner leaves
Middle East veteran and Toronto founding partner Francois Duquette to leave firm to take in-house role in Canada
September 29, 2015 at 10:12 AM
3 minute read
Allen & Overy (A&O) is to close its Canadian outpost after its sole Canadian partner Francois Duquette resigned from the partnership.
French Canadian Duquette is understood to be taking up an in-house post at a pensions provider Caisse de Depot et de Placement du Quebec.
He founded the magic circle firm's small Toronto office in 2014. Before that he practised in Abu Dhabi between 2004 and 2011, going on to open A&O's Casablanca office in 2011.
Duquette decided to move back to Canada in 2014 with the firm building the office – targeting outbound and inbound investment work, but not domestic Canadian law – around him.
A&O's website lists only senior associate Pierre Abinakle alongside Duquette in the office. The firm is currently discussing possible redeployment options with Abinakle.
A&O will now return to its former practice of flying partners in and out of the country, as it did before the launch in 2014.
Duquette's exit comes after Allen & Overy saw its sole Sao Paulo partner Bruno Soares quit to join Paul Hastings earlier this year. However, on this occasion Soares was subsequently persuaded to stay two months after news of his impending departure broke.
The closure of the Canadian outpost follows several office openings by A&O over the last 12 months.
It launched a South Korean office earlier this month, headed by projects partner Matthias Voss, who relocated from Tokyo to run the office.
In October last year A&O also became the first magic circle firm to open its own office in South Africa with the hire of a seven-lawyer team, including four partners, from local firm Bowman Gilfillan.
It also launched its Peerpoint flexible staffing business in Hong Kong in February this year.
Recent international office closure announcements
Olswang – Berlin – 'decoupling' announced – June
Simmons & Simmons – Rome – August
WilmerHale – Oxford and City – July
Winston & Strawn – Geneva – July
Herbert Smith Freehills – Abu Dhabi – June
Latham & Watkins – Abu Dhabi and Doha – March
Baker Botts – Abu Dhabi – May
Orrick – Frankfurt & Berlin – April
Fried Frank Hong Kong and Shanghai – January
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer – Barcelona – summer 2014
Holland & Knight – Middle East – summer 2014
Hogan Lovells -Prague – May 2014
King & Wood Mallesons – Berlin – March 2014
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