DAC Beachcroft seals association with Canada's McCague Borlack

The Toronto-based firm is a founding member of the Canadian Litigation Counsel, a network of law firms associated with the Harmonie Group, which DAC Beachcroft is a member of.

A deal has been agreed for two years, during which time the firms will share office facilities and work for mutual clients while staff will be seconded between the firms.

A statement from DAC Beachcroft said the long-term aim was for the two firms to “fully integrate”.

The move further builds on the merger between Beachcroft and Davies Arnold Cooper (22 June 2011) and both firms plan to strengthen their client base at the top end of the market.

McCague Borlack is home to 70 lawyers with clients in the London insurance market including Kiln Group, Catlin and Argo International.

The association, which will last initially for two years, will allow DAC Beachcroft and McCague Borlack to jointly service clients with interests in both the London and Canadian insurance markets.

DAC Beachcroft International senior partner Danny Gowan said the firms had “worked closely” in the past.

He added: “This association is an important step in the development of DAC Beachcroft’s global network. Canada is a key region in which we need to be able to serve our clients, particularly international insurance companies.

“We’re excited at the prospect of doing so by working with McCague Borlack and look forward to developing our relationship further with them.”

DAC Beachcroft has also stated its intention to expand DAC’s successful Latin America practice (31 October 2011).

In October managing partner Paul Murray told The Lawyer: “Our competitors were moving ahead. Clydes and Kennedys are pushing for international expansion. The [insurance]market’s moving forward all the time and it’s moving quickly. Both firms need to push together and do it quickly.”