Gowling WLG, the result of the February 2016 merger between Canadian independent Gowlings and UK-based Lawrence Wragge & Co, has hired Andre Poles as a partner in its capital markets and investment funds group in Toronto.

Poles is an alumni of York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School who served in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve Force for 27 years, retiring as a Major with the 48th Highlanders of Canada in 2012. He has previously practiced as a senior associate in Torys’ investment funds and asset management group and in the compliance and regulatory division of Macquarie Bank. Over the last three years Poles was General Counsel and Chief Compliance officer for Marquest Asset Management.

The firm hopes the move will deepen its bench for underwriter clients in particular.