Banking & Finance
Gowling WLG's Banking & Finance practice delivers comprehensive legal services across a spectrum of financing transactions, including complex domestic and cross-border deals. The team offers practical and commercial advice in areas such as financial services regulation and fintech law. Recent strategic appointments, including Naina Patel in structured finance and Jason Kroft leading the Structured Finance and Securitization Group, have enhanced the firm's capabilities in structured finance, securitization, and derivatives. These additions bolster the firm's ability to provide innovative solutions to clients navigating sophisticated financial transactions.
Business
Gowling WLG's Business practice delivers comprehensive legal services across corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and tax. The firm's UK Corporate Practice Group, encompassing these areas, reported a 32% year-on-year increase in financial performance in Q1 2025, reflecting its robust capabilities. The team has advised on significant transactions, including Clio's US$1 billion acquisition of vLex, Urban Logistics REIT plc's £700 million sale to LondonMetric Property plc, and Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity's participation in the £349 million acquisition of Alliance Pharma PLC. With a global presence, including offices in the UK, Canada, and the UAE, Gowling WLG offers clients seamless, cross-border legal solutions tailored to their business needs.
Corporate & Commercial
Gowling WLG's Corporate & Commercial practice offers comprehensive legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and commercial contracts, tailored to meet the diverse needs of clients across various industries. The team provides strategic counsel on complex transactions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment with clients' business objectives. With a global presence, the practice is equipped to handle cross-border matters, offering seamless support to clients operating in multiple jurisdictions. Key contacts include Frank Y. Sur, Partner and Head of the Corporate Practice Group in Canada, and David Lowe, Partner and Head of Commercial Contracts in the UK.
Energy, Environment & ESG
Gowling WLG's Energy, Environment & ESG practice offers comprehensive legal services to clients navigating the complexities of environmental regulations, sustainable energy projects, and ESG compliance. The firm has been recognized in The Legal 500 UK Green Guide for its commitment to ESG, sustainability, and climate change-related work. The team provides strategic advice on environmental assessments, regulatory compliance, and the development of renewable energy initiatives. Notable practitioners include Ben Stansfield, co-chair of the firm's ESG practice, and Gareth Baker, co-leader of the Energy team, both acknowledged for their expertise in renewable energy and green hydrogen investments. The practice also assists clients in understanding their ESG responsibilities, identifying risks and opportunities, and formalizing their sustainability strategies.
Insurance
Gowling WLG's Insurance & Professional Liability Practice Group offers comprehensive legal services to insurers, insureds, and self-insured organizations across various sectors. The team handles a wide range of insurance disputes, including coverage issues, personal injury claims, property losses, product liability, and professional negligence cases. With a proactive approach to litigation, they aim to resolve disputes efficiently through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or court proceedings. The practice is led by experienced partners such as Belinda Bain in Toronto, who specializes in insurance, InsurTech, municipal liability, and professional liability matters, and Mike Adlem in Vancouver, who focuses on corporate commercial and insurance litigation. Their collective expertise ensures clients receive strategic advice tailored to their specific needs.
Intellectual Property
Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property team comprises over 200 professionals across Canada, the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, offering comprehensive services in patent strategy, trademark prosecution, brand protection, IP litigation, and trade secrets management. With a century of experience, the firm assists clients in sectors such as life sciences, technology, automotive, and consumer products, providing strategic advice on IP portfolio management, enforcement, and commercialization. Their global reach and technical expertise enable them to navigate complex IP challenges, ensuring clients' innovations and brands are effectively protected and leveraged in international markets.
Lawsuits & Disputes
Gowling WLG's Dispute Resolution & Litigation practice offers comprehensive services across multiple jurisdictions, including commercial litigation, insurance and professional liability, and both international and domestic arbitration. The firm is recognized for its effective cross-border litigation capabilities and strategic, territory-specific advice. Their team has extensive experience representing corporations and individuals in complex disputes, such as fraud, corruption, regulatory actions, and cyber incidents. Additionally, they provide expertise in areas like product liability, regulatory crime, and trusts litigation, ensuring clients receive tailored solutions to their legal challenges.
Real Estate
Gowling WLG's Real Estate practice offers comprehensive legal services across all asset classes, including living, logistics, manufacturing, data centres, offices, retail, and life sciences. With over 480 real estate lawyers globally, the firm advises landowners, developers, lenders, institutional investors, private equity real estate funds, asset managers, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and REITs on complex and opportunistic deals. Their expertise encompasses asset management, commercial leasing, expropriation law, municipal law, real estate development, and financing. The team is consistently recognized by legal directories such as Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for their excellence in the field.
Media, Technology and Telecoms
Gowling WLG's Media, Technology, and Telecoms (TMT) practice offers comprehensive legal services tailored to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The team specializes in complex IT outsourcing transactions, digital transformation projects, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and fintech. They also provide regulatory guidance on data protection and consumer protection laws. The firm's TMT team has been recognized for its excellence, winning 'TMT Team of the Year' at the 2025 LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards. With a deep understanding of the local regulatory environment and a commitment to innovation, Gowling WLG assists clients in navigating the complexities of the media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.
Employment & Labor
Gowling WLG's Employment, Labour & Equalities practice offers comprehensive legal services to businesses across various sectors, including manufacturing, energy, financial services, life sciences, and technology. The team provides expertise in employment law, labour relations, health and safety, human rights, workplace privacy, and employment litigation. They assist clients with workforce restructuring, compliance with legislation, and managing complex employee matters. The firm emphasizes a human-focused, relationship-driven approach, delivering practical advice that aligns with clients' business objectives and workplace culture.
Immigration
Gowling WLG's Immigration Group, led by Certified Specialist Bill MacGregor, offers comprehensive corporate and business immigration services to facilitate the seamless cross-border movement of personnel while ensuring employer compliance with immigration regulations. The team assists clients with obtaining work permits, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), and immigration documentation for accompanying family members. They also develop immigration strategies, provide compliance counsel, and support the cross-border movement of personnel. With experience across industries such as information technology, engineering, infrastructure, mining, energy, life sciences, and manufacturing, the group delivers tailored solutions to meet diverse client needs.
