Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP announced today that Philippe Johnson, a member of the firm’s Management Committee, will be appointed Managing Partner of the firm’s Montréal office effective June 1, 2017. Philippe will succeed Pierre-André Themens who will retire as Managing Partner at the end of May, after 17 years in the role. Pierre-André will continue to be active as a partner of the firm.

In his new role, Philippe will manage the lawyers and operations of Davies’ Montréal office and along with Shawn McReynolds, Managing Partner of the Toronto office, will lead the firm in its continued dedication to excellence and focus on its clients’ successes.

Philippe has been a leading lawyer in the firm’s Corporate/Commercial and Mergers & Acquisitions practices for 16 years. He has advised leading Canadian, U.S. and international companies on their most important Canadian investments, mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, corporate reorganizations, joint ventures and other major projects. Cross-border and international deals have been a significant area of focus for him. He is a director and trustee of Fondation Montréal inc., a non-profit that funds and supports entrepreneurial startups, as well as a director of Fondation Serge Marcil.

‟Philippe is the clear choice of the partners to assume this role” said Pierre-André Themens. ‟He is well respected as a practitioner, inside the firm and within the wider business and legal communities. Philippe has an extensive knowledge of the firm and its client base and will continue to be instrumental in our continued drive to deliver outstanding legal services.”