Davis LLP

Davis LLP

Type	Limited Liability Partnership
Industry	Law
Founded	Vancouver, (1892)
Headquarters	Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Tokyo (Japan)
Products	Legal Advice, patent and trade-mark agents.
Employees	550
Website	www.davis.ca

Established in 1892, Davis LLP is a full-service international law firm. Founded in Vancouver, BC the firm has grown to include seven offices in Canada and one in Japan. Davis has more than 240 lawyers working in over 40 different practice and industry groups.

History

Edward Pease Davis, K.C. founded Davis LLP in Vancouver, Canada on March 25, 1892, just six years after the city’s incorporation. Born in Ontario and a graduate of the University of Toronto, Davis had the privilege to work for major clients in British Columbia early in his career: Vancouver’s second mayor David Oppenheimer, Canadian Pacific Railway and the Hudson's Bay Company.

1919 - 1945

The Great Depression and World War II caused significant economic turmoil. As a result, the firm developed skills in new practice areas, including insolvency and securities regulation.

During this period, the firm recruited two outstanding individuals who would help shape the firm into what it has become today. David Neil Hossie, a Rhodes scholar and decorated war hero, became a master of virtually all areas of practice from negotiating commercial contracts through estate law to civil litigation. Today, The University of British Columbia (UBC) honours his memory with an annual Prize in Corporate Law.

Sherwood Lett was a Rhodes Scholar, decorated war hero, brigade commander, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, and a recipient of the Order of the British Empire. He acted as UBC Alma Mater President, UBC Senator, Governor, and Chancellor. In 1947, he traveled to Japan to advise on Canada's policy toward the peace settlement with Japan and in 1954, he led the Canadian contingent supervising the truce in Vietnam negotiated at the Geneva Conference. In 1955, he became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of B.C. and later became Chief Justice of B.C.

Lett’s contributions are important as he began the firm's close and still sturdy relationship with Japan as a member of the Japan Society, for which he wrote a paper in 1934 on "Legal disabilities of Japanese including the Second Generation in B.C." UBC memorializes Lett through a scholarship in Law.

1945 - 1959

Lett’s close connections with Japan laid the foundation for the firm’s commitment to Japanese-Canadians and instilled an enthusiasm among its professionals to defend their civil rights. Bob McMaster championed the cause of Japanese-Canadians who lost their property when forced to resettle in the B.C. interior. McMaster blocked attempts by the federal government to deport more than 10,000 Japanese-Canadians, then persuaded a Royal Commission to recommend substantially higher compensation for the land, homes and businesses seized from Japanese-Canadians during the war. In 1957, the firm hired Japanese-Canadian George Fujisawa who led the firm to act for virtually all Japanese companies doing business in B.C.

Closing out the decade, the firm merged with Campbell, Brazier, Fisher, McMaster, Johnson and Alley in 1958, boosting litigation and mining practices, particularly.

1960 - 1979

During the 1960s and 1970s, the firm prospered with a client base strengthened from the merger. Charles Brazier led the litigation team; and Alex Fisher led the mining practice with coal, copper and other types of mining representing a large amount of the firm's work.

The firm’s solicitor practice had a portfolio of banking clientele, and its forestry practice advised the B.C. Government and provincial commissions on matters regarding energy and transportation.

The Japan practice and the firm's association with Japanese-Canadians and Japanese companies enabled its lawyers to participate in many international transactions such as joint ventures with the U.S., and in litigation across Canada.

McMaster forged relationships with credit unions and co-operative associations that continue today. Many young lawyers came on board during this period, and the firm more than doubled, growing from 20 to 50 lawyers. Major clients included CIBC, the Hudson's Bay Company, B.C. Telephone, MacMillan Bloedel, and British Pacific Properties.

1980 - 1990

The Great Inflation that began in 1965 due to concurring high inflation rates and high unemployment carried on into the early 1980s, keeping the Davis bankruptcy and insolvency lawyers very busy. Expo 86 brought a new vitality to B.C. and the firm embraced the wave of new investment. The firm’s admiralty / maritime law, commercial lending, tax, estate planning and litigation practice areas gained traction. The firm's Vancouver office relocated to accommodate growth.

1990 - Today

To establish a broader geographic presence to offer enhanced regional, national and international services to clients, the firm undertook a rapid expansion. Davis & Company, as it was known at that time, opened offices in Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Toronto. The acquisition of Montreal’s Hara-Rothschild with its own robust client catalogue of Japanese banks, corporations and government organizations that conducted business in North America, coincided with Davis’ Japan focus.^{[citation needed]} A merger with Lucas Bowker & White, an Edmonton firm founded in 1948, and the opening of a greenfield office in Calgary rounded out the western region. Opening the Tokyo office underscored the firm’s commitment to Japan and its people. Davis LLP remains the only Canadian-based law firm with an office in Japan.

The firm changed its name to Davis LLP in 2007 in keeping with the founder's name and to identify Davis as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

International experience

Davis’ focus on projects and mergers & acquisitions in the natural resource and infrastructure sector has led to a wide range of mandates outside of Canada on behalf of both Canadian and non-Canadian clients as is illustrated by a recent PPP mandate for the Government of Bermuda.

The firm has a 60-year relationship with Japan and over that period has acted on behalf of Japanese corporations with respect to a significant portion of their Canadian investments and many of their investments in other countries. This relationship has also assisted the firm in acting for Canadian and US clients with investments in Japan.

References

External links

• Official website