KPMG acquires Montreal law firm Sweibel Novek Rabbat

KPMG Canada has acquired Montreal-based boutique law firm Sweibel Novek Rabbat LLP (SNR).

Founded in 1994, SNR provides specialized services in tax planning, tax litigation, estate planning, commercial and corporate legal services. The company has 13 employees on site.

The SNR team joins KPMG Law LLP, an affiliate of a Big Four accounting law firm. The deal strengthens KPMG's ability to support family businesses and entrepreneurs with succession issues as baby boomers continue to leave the workforce.

“This acquisition is an important milestone in our growth strategy aimed at providing a unique approach to our clients' business needs by leveraging our multidisciplinary capabilities while offering the best legal mix,” said Benoit Lacoste, regional managing partner at KPMG Canada in Bienvenue, Quebec. “According to our Focus Québec survey, 82% of Quebec companies are accelerating their succession plans. It is more important than ever to expand our offering to business families to enable entrepreneurs to address all aspects of implementing an optimal transition plan.”

KPMG Law has 150 lawyers in major centers across Canada, including 25 in Quebec. KPMG's international network includes 3,800 lawyers in 143 markets serving tax, business, charity, labor and immigration law, as well as tax litigation, estates and trusts.

“We have built long and close relationships with our clients over many years and are committed to providing personalized, value-added service,” said Sidney Sweibel, founding partner of Sweibel Novek Rabbat LLP. “We are excited to join forces with KPMG to expand their business, personal and estate planning capabilities with an even broader range of services tailored to their specific needs.”

The deal follows KPMG's acquisition of Montreal-based accounting and consulting firm Ruby Stein Wagner in January.

KPMG has more than 10,000 employees in Canada, including 1,750 in Quebec.