Accountancy firm Ernst & Young is gearing up for the launch of a full-scale multidisciplinary legal practice in Canada pending a law society review of MDPs.
Earlier this year three-partner Toronto law firm Donahue & Associates became linked to the firm in what is regarded as the first step towards Ernst &Young's stated aim of providing a “one-stop shop”.
Now the firm is expressing confidence that the review into MDPs being conducted by the Law Society of Upper Canada will come out in favour of it.
A spokesman said: “Even though we don't know what the result will be, we are extremely confident of a positive result.”
Tim Kennish, managing partner at leading Canadian firm Osler Hoskin & Harcourt, expressed concern about the firm's moves into the legal market.
“Ernst & Young doesn't need law society approval,” he said. “It can encroach into law while structuring its legal component to accommodate existing law society rules.”
Donahue & Associates works out of Ernst & Young's Toronto office.
