Fasken Martineau

History and Development

Fasken’s earliest predecessor, Beatty and Chadwick, was founded in Toronto in 1863 by William Henry Beatty and Edward Marion Chadwick. Over the next century, the firm evolved through mergers, becoming Fasken & Calvin, and later Fasken Campbell Godfrey in 1989. Meanwhile, Martineau Walker was established in Montreal in 1907, and Russell & DuMoulin in Vancouver in 1882. In late 1999, Fasken Campbell Godfrey merged with Martineau Walker to form Fasken Martineau, and in February 2000, Russell & DuMoulin joined, creating Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. The firm adopted the single name “Fasken” and a new brand identity in 2017.

Practice Areas and Expertise

Fasken offers a broad range of legal services across corporate and commercial law (M&A, securities, corporate governance, private equity), litigation and dispute resolution (commercial litigation, class actions, arbitration, regulatory defence), banking and finance (project finance, capital markets, fintech), intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyright, IP litigation), tax (corporate tax planning, transfer pricing, tax disputes), real estate (commercial leasing, development, financing), energy and natural resources (mining, oil and gas, renewable energy), technology (IT contracts, data privacy, cybersecurity), and labour and employment. The firm is especially recognized for its work in the mining sector, particularly in Africa and South America, and for its strength in cross-border transactions involving Canada, the UK, and South Africa.

Innovation and Technology

Fasken has invested in legal technology and innovation through an internal group called “Fasken Innovation” and a Chief Technology Officer overseeing IT strategy. The firm publishes thought leadership on topics such as AI, data governance, and fintech regulation, and has been active in deals involving emerging technology companies.

Recent Developments

In December 2025, Fasken announced the elevation of 21 lawyers to partnership effective January 1, 2026, reflecting continued growth. In 2025, the firm was part of the deal team for a C$4 billion joint acquisition of Filo with BHP and a concurrent US$690 million transaction. It regularly wins accolades at the Canadian Law Awards, including a Capital Markets Deal of the Year award in 2026.

Reputation and Rankings

Fasken is consistently ranked among the top law firms in Canada by Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, and Canadian Lawyer, particularly for corporate law, litigation, energy, and mining. The firm operates as a limited liability partnership with a managing partner and a partnership board overseeing strategy and operations.