The law firm Heenan Blaikie LLP's sign is seen at the entrance to the Bay Adelaide Centre in Toronto February 5, 2014.CHRIS HELGREN/Reuters
The former national co-managing partner of Heenan Blaikie LLP – in charge as the firm disintegrated last month – is moving to McMillan LLP.
Kip Daechsel, who speaks four languages and works on corporate mergers and acquisitions, was the public face of Heenan Blaikie as partners began to flee in the months leading up to its collapse. At the time, he said the firm was going through a strategic review.
However, as the crisis accelerated, former co-managing partner Norman Bacal, brought back into a leadership role to try to salvage the firm, became its primary spokesman. Mr. Bacal and a large group of Heenan Blaikie lawyers left for Dentons LLP after their firm's demise.
"Kip Daechsel is a seasoned lawyer with an enviable reputation for handling complex business challenges," McMillan's chief executive officer, Andrew Kent, said in a statement." His broad range of experience and innovative approach to helping clients makes him an excellent fit with the rest of the firm." said.
According to a statement from McMillan issued Monday, he is the eighth lawyer from Heenan Blaikie to land at McMillan.
The firm's litigation group now includes Heenan refugees Geza Banfai, Caireen Hanert and Laura Brazil. In McMillan's capital markets group, former Heenan Blaikie lawyers include Kosta Kostic and Eugene Chen. Other former Heenan lawyers now at McMillan also include Dawn Mains and Allison Wong.
Jeff Gray