Canadian firm to be pioneer in Venezuela

Calgary firm Macleod Dixon has opened an office in Caracas to become the first Canadian firm to move into Latin America.

The new office will be headed by Glenn Faass, who had been head of the firm's Moscow office for the past five years. He is joined by Uisdean Vass, recruited from UK firm Clyde & Co's Caracas office, and two Venezuelan lawyers.

Macleod Dixon was the first Canadian firm to open up in Russia in 1990 and it has also run an office in Almaty, Kazakstan, since 1995.

Paul Drager, chair of Macleod Dixon's international transactions group, said his firm's strategy was to "not go to places like Hong Kong and Paris" but to concentrate on developing legal markets.

Drager, whose firm specialises in oil and gas mining and finance, said: "Latin America is emerging as the new frontier for international energy and mining corporations. Our clients are making long-term commitments to Latin America, and so are we."

As well as UK firm Clyde & Co, Venezuela also has two Baker & McKenzie offices in Caracas and Valencia.