Cassels Brock has expanded its corporate and securities practice in Vancouver with the addition of two attorneys from a boutique firm that is closing its doors.
Jeff Durno joins Cassels Brock as a partner. Accompanying Durno to the firm is associate Sam Cole. Both lawyers come to the firm from ASKD Law, where Durno served as managing partner. Durno and Cole are the latest additions to an office that has grown to include more than 15 legal professionals since opening in 2012.
Durno has acted as adviser on the Canadian take-private transactions of such clients as Soma Labs, ARHT Media, SoMedia, and Mezzi Holdings. Besides practicing law, he serves as chairman of LX Ventures, Identillect Technologies, Emprise Capital, and Neutrisci International.
“I used to practice in Toronto back in the early 90s, at Holden Day Wilson, and a lot of the securities lawyers from that firm are now at Cassels Brock. So I had familiarity with a lot of people at the firm. Later in my career, I was at a smaller boutique firm here in Vancouver. Three partners and I made decision to wind up as of May 31, and to do our separate things. Cassels Brock was an easy choice for me,” Durno said.
“My practice is on the technological and industrial side, and I’m finding that there’s good deal flow. I’m representing an Israel-based technology company that’s looking to expand their sales from Israel and Europe into North America. The market reception has been strong. The deal flow at my end has picked up quite substantially,” he added.