Canada’s Blakes Cassels makes Chicago debut

Blakes Cassels & Graydon has become the first Canadian firm to set up shop in Chicago.

The office will initially be staffed by partner Geoff Belsher and one associate though there are hopes that Chicago will house five lawyers within five years.

According to reports the firm applied for a foreign legal consultant’s license form the Illinois Supreme Court and intends to solely advise Canadian clients on Canadian law.

The new office marks a period of US expansion for the firm after it established a New York base in March.