"Combining an American and a Canadian law firm, broadens our ability to provide legal services to organizations doing business in North America," said Thomas W. Linn, Miller Canfield's CEO. "By uniting with the Wilson Walker firm, we respond to the needs of our global economy, and greatly expand our ability to offer clients seamless, cross-border representation," said Linn.

During its 80-year history Wilson Walker has focused on providing legal services to in-bound Canadian investment and corporations seeking to establish operations in Canada. This expertise complements Miller Canfield's ability to serve its clients located in the U.S., Poland, Europe, and Asia and the rest of the world, who seek a North American presence.

Canada and the United States share the world's largest and most comprehensive trading relationship, supporting over two million jobs in each country. "We are each other's largest trading partner, with over $1 billion (U.S.) in trade flowing across our borders daily. The Detroit-Windsor border is a major entry point," said Linn.

Jeffrey Slopen, a Wilson Walker partner, agrees. "There has been significant growth in the number of foreign companies investing in and transacting business in Canada--and many Canadian enterprises have established operations in foreign lands. Strong trade and economic relations between our two countries offer significant incentives to Japanese, Asian, and European companies interested in establishing or expanding operations in North America. With offices in Michigan and Ontario, we are able to offer legal assistance on both sides of our very busy border," said Slopen.

"Although our two law firms differ in size, there are many parallels in our attitudes toward client service, our collegial style, and in our legal practices," said Slopen. "Like Miller Canfield, we help companies solve business problems--from tax law, labor and employment law, or litigation and alternative dispute resolution, to changes in environmental regulations, immigration and trade laws, and real estate and financial transactions. Our firm's primary ability of achieving our clients' goals will be significantly enhanced," said Slopen.

Slopen, a practicing Canadian lawyer, has law degrees from both Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and the University of Detroit Law School and is licensed to practice law in Michigan. Similarly, Miller Canfield's Jeffrey Zauberman, a principal in the Detroit office, is licensed to practice in both countries. As part of their plan to unify the two law firms, Zauberman will divide his time between the Windsor and Detroit offices to assist with integrating practice groups and coordinating client services.

This combination of Canadian and U.S. legal expertise enhances Miller Canfield's Automotive Industry Group's ability to provide additional services to the North American Auto industry. Ontario has diverse manufacturing industries and many American manufacturing companies--particularly auto suppliers--opened facilities in Canada when trade restrictions were lessened by the passing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in December 1992. Regional Detroit is the number one exporter of goods to NAFTA countries and the automotive industry represents over U.S. $300 million of trade every day.

An office in Ontario also enhances Miller Canfield's reputation as a leading international law firm. Miller Canfield's International Business Group provides a full range of services including organizing U.S. subsidiaries for foreign corporations, preparation of incorporation documents, documenting land purchase and building construction, while also providing counsel for compliance with federal reporting matters, and employment law considerations. Immigration is another significant area of practice and Miller Canfield offers 24-hour a day, 7 days a week, access to immigration case status through the firm's Internet-based extranet.

Miller Canfield was named one of the best corporate law firms in the Detroit metropolitan area in a special 2001 issue of Corporate Board Member magazine. Corporate Board Member produced its list of the Best Corporate Law Firms in America by surveying 32,500 members of corporate boards across America asking them to identify the firms they most admired nationally and in their hometowns. The survey determined the five most respected law firms in the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Miller Canfield is celebrating its 150^th anniversary during 2002 by hosting client receptions in the firm's various offices and numerous activities for employees, the creation of a sesquicentennial logo, an ad campaign, and publishing a firm history titled Miller Canfield at 150: An Informal History, written by award-winning author and historian, James E. Tobin, Jr., son of the longtime head of the firm's labor and employment group.

The 300-attorney law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., established in Detroit, Michigan in 1852, has offices in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Howell, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Monroe, Troy, Washington, D.C., New York City, Pensacola, Florida, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and in Gdynia, Katowice, and Warsaw, Poland. The internet address is www.millercanfield.com.