Angèle di Giovanni, Lindsay Amantea, and Andrée-Anne Auclair share their perspectives on working at DS Lawyers

It may sound like a cliché but we really treat each other like family.”

DS Lawyers has always prided itself on creating a family atmosphere, one that supports our team and helps them to be the very best they can be. Three of our professional attorneys from across Canada, Angèle di Giovanni, Lindsay Amantea, and Andrée-Anne Auclair, are shining examples of what makes DS Lawyers a great place to work, develop, and grow. The three share their perspectives of working for DS Lawyers with Droit-Inc, how they’re encouraged to perform, our positive corporate culture, and the incredible advantages of having the resources of an international law firm at their disposal (in French only)

DS Avocats Canada and Burstall LLP Announce Landmark Merger

DS Lawyers, an international business law firm with its Canadian headquarters in Québec City and Montréal, and Burstall LLP, a highly respected boutique business law firm based in Calgary, have come to an agreement to combine their teams, expertise and business.

Effective July 1, 2021, Burstall LLP has merged with DS Lawyers (DS Avocats) and changed its name to DS Burstall

This landmark agreement will accelerate the transformation of the Canadian legal industry by providing a distinct alternative for businesses across the country in both domestic and international markets, while providing sophisticated clientele with immediate access to the full range of business and legal expertise required to meet business plans’ objectives and corporate financial priorities.

“We’re very pleased and excited with this merger that will benefit our clients and our professional team. We’ll now have access to a larger and more diverse network of legal professionals across Canada and internationally, with better systems, technology and administrative support, to bolster our incredible team of lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants and support staff,” said Robert Verbuck ,Managing Partner of DS Burstall.

DS Lawyers’ clients will be able to leverage the strategic acumen of DS Burstall’s team of skilled professionals who boast extensive expertise and experience in business law, corporate finance, capital markets and securities regulation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law and governance, employment law, dispute resolution, banking, energy and cannabis law.

Similarly, Burstall’s clients will now have access to wide-ranging expertise in others pecialties including tax, trade, real estate and financial services, across Canada and internationally.

With the addition of this new team of Calgary-based lawyers, the DS Lawyers network now has six offices across Canada in Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. This is in addition to its international presence in Europe, Asia and South America through DS Avocats, with a total of more than 400 corporate legal practitioners across a network of offices in 23 cities in 13 countries.

“This merger agreement is a significant strategic accomplishment for both firms and represents another milestone in the growth of DS lawyers,” said Richard Laramée, Chairman of the Board, DS Lawyers Canada. “Our firm is dedicated to Canada’s business community. Our shared philosophies and values, our innovative and solutions-based thinking and our combined expertise will benefit our clients and allow us to further fulfill our mutual objectives of continuing to meet their needs and exceed their expectations both in Canada and around the world.”

About DS Burstall

Burstall LLP was a boutique law firm based in Calgary with a distinguished history of serving businesses and entrepreneurs for over 50 years, beginning as Burstall, Clarke, Jones and Coady and in recent years as Burstall Winger Zammit LLP.

Its team of experienced lawyers value accessibility, personal contact and implementing cost-effective services. Burstall’s client-centred approach allows the team to better serve client needs, providing strategic legal services, as well as advice and solutions to pave the way for client growth and coming ventures.

For more information: www.burstall.com

About DS Avocats Canada

DS Lawyers was founded in 2007 in Québec City and partnered with the DS Group in 2013

With six offices in Canada, located in Québec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, the firm specializes in business law, primarily mergers and acquisitions, financing and taxation.

Its multidisciplinary team offers a full range of legal services nationwide to a diversified, international clientele. Globally, DS Lawyers brings together more than 400 corporate legal practitioners across a network of 23 offices on four continents.

For more information: www.dsavocats.com

Paris Tax team strengthened with the arrival of Jean-Claude DRIE, Laurent KIHL and Adrien LANDON

DS Avocats Paris is strengthening its tax department by integrating Jean-Claude Drié, Partner, Laurent Kihl, Of Counsel, and Adrien Landon as an associate, thus pursuing its development strategy.

With this arrival, the Paris tax team now consists of 4 Partners, 1 Of Counsel and 4 associates.

The team thus composed broadens its support capabilities in the event of tax audits and criminal litigation, and provides a new service for the handling of production taxes. The department also expands existing synergies with other areas of expertise in order to assist our clients with the tax issues arising from their mergers and acquisitions, real estate and development operations, in a national and international context.

As former tax administration executives, Jean-Claude Drié and Laurent Kihl bring their extensive knowledge of the French Tax Authorities (DGFIP) to the department, which enables them to provide the best possible advice to companies and prevent any litigation before the courts.

Jean-Claude Drié

Jean-Claude Drié is a graduate of the École Nationale des Impôts and holds a doctorate in law.

He was a public finance inspector in charge of tax auditing at the Direction des Vérifications Nationales et Internationales (DVNI), a teacher at the Sorbonne and author of books on taxation ; he is also a lecturer in auditing and local taxation.


A specialist in tax audit assistance and litigation, he joins DS Avocats as a Partner

Laurent Kihl

 graduate of the École Nationale des Impôts, Laurent Kihl was an auditor, then inspector in charge of litigation (corporate taxation) at the Hauts-de-Seine Tax Services Department.


He is involved in tax litigation for individuals and companies. His area of expertise extends to tax consulting and tax audit assistance. He has extensive know-how in the field of patrimonial taxation. He also supervises restructuring operations for tax purposes and coordinates audit operations.

He joins DS Avocats as a Of Counsel.

Adrien Landon

After a Master in Business Law and a collaboration at Price WaterHouse Coopers, Adrien Landon joined Jean-Claude Drié and Laurent Kihl in 2018.


He is particularly involved in personal and patrimonial tax matters and participates in tax audit assistance for both individuals and companies. He participates in tax consulting operations in close collaboration with the partners.

He joins DS Avocats as an associate.

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Christophe Billet states: “DS Avocats’ ambition is to anticipate the needs of our clients. It is in this context that the arrival of Jean-Claude, Laurent and Adrien completes our offer in tax law, in particular in the areas of tax audits, litigation, tax investigations, criminal risk and exemption requests“.

Jean-Claude Drié adds: “The international and trailblazing approach of DS Avocats provides us with the opportunity to offer our clients 360° support in tax law, and more generally in all areas of business law.”

Laurent Kihl concludes: “The permanent evolution of taxation requires a speedy transition for law firms in order to provide the tax security expected by their clients. Our expertise combined with the know-how of DS Avocats opens up dynamic and promising prospects.

Contact DS Avocats : Laure Esclapez

Contact Avocom Virginie Jubault

About DS Avocats

Founded in Paris in 1972, DS brings together nearly 400 corporate legal practitioners within a network of 22 offices on 4 continents.

As the leading French law firm with an international dimension, DS has a dual expertise in consulting and litigation, and assists its French and foreign clients in all areas of business law, both in France and abroad.