Norton Rose Group is set to capture a greater share of energy and resources work following a merger with Canadian law firm Macleod Dixon.

Managing partner Norton Rose Australia and group deputy chief executive Don Boyd said the merger was a direct play at the mining and energy industry, as Macleod Dixon is a specialist in that area. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta –the heart of the Canadian energy industry - Macleod Dixon has offices in Toronto, Moscow, Almaty, Caracas, Bogotá and Rio de Janeiro, locations all rich in natural resources.

Although Norton Rose already has a presence in Canada through its merger with Ogilvy Renault in June 2011, Boyd said this new addition to the Norton Rose family would take it to more remote locations which will be increasingly relevant, as mining companies with operations in Canada and Australia continue to invest wherever the resources are. Boyd added that with 59% of listed mining companies (or three in five)  on Canada's stock exchanges (TSX and TSXV), Canada was an important market for all resources rich legal practices.

In the past year a number of large deals involving Canadian miners and super funds have taken place in Australia, including the acquisition of Equinox Minerals by Barrick Gold acquisition for A$7 billion (approx).“There is going to be considerable workflow,” said Boyd. “There are clients in Canada that we have worked with before who are already active in Australia and Asia. They have been making significant investments in Australia in infrastructure and mining,”

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