The firm is looking to expand its lawyer headcount in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal
Global labour and employment firm Littler Mendelson PC continues to expand its presence in Canada, launching a Vancouver office this week while actively recruiting lawyers at each of its Canadian locations.
Paul Pulver joined the firm as a partner and its only Vancouver-based lawyer on Monday. Pulver previously spent three decades at Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP, a labour and employment firm in the city.
The development comes less than five months after Littler launched its Montreal office with the hire of a single employment lawyer, Olivia Girouard. But Stephen Shore, office managing partner of Littler’s Canadian offices, told Canadian Lawyer on Wednesday that the headcount at all three Canadian offices will soon be changing.
“We are actively hiring in all of our Canadian offices at all levels (associates, counsel, partners),” Shore said in an email, adding that the number of lawyers in Toronto has increased from 10 to 25 in the past year and a half.
“I anticipate we will quickly build our ranks in Vancouver and Montreal,” Shore said. “New Canadian offices are also very much part of our growth strategy.”
According to Pulver, Littler opened a Vancouver office because its strategy is “to serve the key economic hubs and try to have a national platform across Canada.
“I think there’s significant client demand for that, and although Littler has been able to serve Western Canada using other lawyers, it’s helpful to have… boots on the ground and to be responsive to the issues that come up for employers in BC and in Western Canada,” Pulver says.
One of the largest labour and employment firms in the US that exclusively serves employers and management, Littler first ventured into Canada in 2015 with the launch of its Toronto office. The firm also has offices across Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Shore says the Canadian offices largely advise clients on local issues but also have expertise in global cross-border matters.
Pulver spent the majority of his legal career at Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP, where he advised private and public sector employers on a broad range of labour and employment issues. Since his departure, the firm has rebranded as Crawford Munroe Thomson LLP.
“As we continue to grow our presence as a destination for both clients and top legal talent in Canada, we’re thrilled to welcome Paul to the firm,” Shore said in a statement announcing Pulver’s addition to Littler.
“Paul’s insight into the region’s regulatory environment and his extensive experience advising employers through periods of change make him an exceptional resource for the Canadian business community and multinational companies operating within it.”
Pulver told Canadian Lawyer that while he was proud of his accomplishments at his former firm and believes it will continue to be successful, it was time for a change.
“The opportunity at Littler – to work with a global power with such impressive resources and great people and skilled lawyers – was really attractive for me and an opportunity I felt I couldn’t pass up,” he says.
