Camerons forms alliance with Canadian law firm

International firm Cameron McKenna has an-nounced that its Toronto venture - first revealed in The Lawyer (23 March) - will involve an exclusive alliance with Power Budd, a firm recently established with the sole intention of working with Camerons.
Power Budd's three partners are all experts in energy and environmental law.
Robert Power, the managing partner, was legal counsel to the Ontario Legislative Select Committee on Hydro Nuclear Affairs, while Peter Budd advises the Energy Minister in Canada, and Martine Band has advised the Canadian government on how the electricity market should be regulated.
The three leading lawyers were tempted into an alliance with Camerons by its head of North American energy and projects practice Fiona Woolf.
Woolf says: "Toronto is appealing to us for a number of reasons. The moves to deregulate the power sector in both the US and Ontario will create opportunities for investors, lenders and market participants. Our Washington practice already handles many cross-border energy projects and transactions.
"The addition of a Toronto office and the expertise of Power Budd will enhance our ability to grow this business."
Canadian law does not allow foreign firms to practise Canadian law, so the link-up with Power Budd has given Camerons an easy way into the lucrative Canadian energy market.
Bill Shelford, senior partner at Camerons, says: "The firm has a clear strategy to achieve international leadership by investing in those practice and geographical areas in which we are already strong.
"This latest development, following on from our merger with Washington firm Morley Caskin last year, shows we are intent on realising this goal.
"Over the next few months we will be making further announcements regarding our international reach."
Details of the Cameron McKenna European alliance, revealed in The Lawyer (15 March), are expected within the next few weeks.