International law firm Gowling WLG and Hamilton-based law firm ESB Lawyers announced today that they are joining forces, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Pairing ESB's market-leading local expertise with Gowling WLG's robust global platform, the newly merged practice promises to set a new benchmark for advisory services in the Hamilton region and redefine the role a law firm can play in its clients' success.

In addition to new opportunities and insights flowing from an extensive international network and strategic regional partnerships, the merger will provide clients with a significantly enhanced service offering - which encompasses business law, private wealth, civil and commercial litigation, financial services, real estate, public and education law, intellectual property and Indigenous law among other areas.

"In Hamilton and across Southern Ontario, ESB is widely regarded for its deep-rooted commitment to client service and formidable strength across multiple practice areas," said Louis Frapporti, managing partner of Gowling WLG's Hamilton office. "However, what truly sets their team apart is the guiding spirit of community that underpins their work, their accomplishments and their relationships with many of the region's key players and decision-makers."

Comprising 18 legal professionals and 16 staff, ESB has been a staple of Hamilton's business and legal communities since 1991. In that time, the firm has served as a trusted adviser to many of the region's major public institutions and private enterprises.

"Gowling WLG has proven that a law firm can do more to help its clients succeed, beyond the provision of legal services. It is this vision, and the unique possibilities it presents for our own clients, that ultimately motivated our decision to unite our practices," said Michael Bordin, partner at ESB Lawyers. "What's more, Gowling WLG's global reach and innovative local partnerships allow us to participate in Hamilton's flourishing economy in a way that is otherwise unimaginable for a mid-sized local firm - positioning us to deliver groundbreaking new opportunities and solutions to our clients."

Gowling WLG was the first national Canadian law firm to locate in the Hamilton region. Since opening its doors in 1995, it has established itself not only as one of the city's leading providers of legal solutions, but also as an important driver of economic activity and innovation.

The firm has become an active participant in Hamilton's commercial renaissance in recent years, cementing partnerships with its principal institutions - including McMaster University, Mohawk College and the City itself - and leveraging its far-reaching network to bring investors and innovators from around the world to Canada's steel capital.

"As our Hamilton office embarks on a new chapter of its history - one defined by local collaboration, global innovation and regional prosperity, the arrival of the ESB team will ensure we have the resources and high-caliber talent to support an increasingly diverse and sophisticated clientele on all fronts," said Frapporti.

With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 18 cities worldwide, Gowling WLG provides clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.