ShaunCoulson seeks lobby role

Transatlantic firm ShawnCoulson is to open an office in Montreal, followed by new offices in the British Virgin Islands, Panama and Toronto, as part of its next wave of expansion.The offices come as the firm is branching into legislative lobbying in the UK.

Frances Coulson, ShawnCoulson's London-based co-managing partner, has revealed plans for political lobbying in each jurisdiction, hoping to emulate the success of its Washington DC lobbying arm.

She said: 'We are looking at recruiting consultants, lobbying and directing clients to solutions, not necessarily legal ones.

We are trying to be lawyers that enable people.

Accountants have stolen the march on us for a while.

It's time we hit back.' ShawnCoulson was formed through an eight-way European and US law firm merger last October - led by London firm Moon Beever and US firm Shawn Mann.

The new Montreal base is a start-up office, while the other additions are a result of mergers.

Panama and Toronto are expected to be next in line, and due diligence on the merger partners is already underway.The firm has already added Germany, France and Israel this year.

Its Greek office - the result of a merger with Diakopoulos Mylonogiannis & Kourtis - will officially open in June.

It recently added German firm Zilkins & Partners, French firm Corinne Mimran & Partners and Israeli firm Judes Eida Slom & Cohen.

Anne Mizzi