McInnes Cooper Expands Cape Breton Presence with New Office in Membertou
Published:
July 6, 2026
MEMBERTOU, NS – July 6, 2026 – McInnes Cooper is relocating its Sydney office to a new, purpose-built space in Membertou, Nova Scotia, expanding its Cape Breton presence and creating additional capacity to support continued growth in the region.
The new office accommodates up to 61 team members, doubling the capacity of the firm’s previous Sydney location. It reflects McInnes Cooper’s continued investment in Cape Breton and its focus on modern, collaborative workplaces that serve clients, colleagues and the region.
“Since our 2022 merger, we have seen sustained growth in both our client base and our team here in Cape Breton,” said Dwight Rudderham, KC, Office Lead Partner in Sydney. “This new office gives us the space to build on that momentum and continue serving clients across the region with the depth and responsiveness they expect from McInnes Cooper.”
The move follows several years of strategic growth for McInnes Cooper, including mergers with The Breton Law Group and LaFosse MacLeod in Sydney, Barteaux Labour and Employment Lawyers Inc. in Halifax, and, most recently, the opening of a Toronto office through the acquisition of Kranc Associates.
The new Sydney location was designed with sustainability, accessibility and collaboration in mind. Built with renewable, low-carbon mass timber, the fully accessible space features natural light, flexible work areas and meeting rooms that support hybrid work, client service and in-person collaboration.
The design reflects the firm’s focus on flexible, people-focused workplaces that support how teams work best together while enhancing the experience for clients and visitors.
Choosing Membertou reflects McInnes Cooper’s support for local economic development in a growing Indigenous-led business hub and builds on the firm’s longstanding relationship with Membertou.
“McInnes Cooper is a strong, strategic partner to Membertou,” said Chief Terry Paul, Chief & CEO, Membertou. “As our advisors, we’ve achieved new levels of success with acquisitions like Clearwater Seafoods and NewDock – the St. John’s dockyard. We’re proud to welcome their Cape Breton team to our new offices in Membertou at Mi’kma’ki Place.”
“Membertou is a forward-looking location with a strong and growing business presence,” said Kevin Kiley, Managing Partner at McInnes Cooper. “Establishing our new Cape Breton office here reflects our confidence in the region’s future and our focus on building workplaces that support our people, our clients and the communities we serve.”
The Membertou office strengthens McInnes Cooper’s “one firm” approach, giving Cape Breton clients local access to legal talent backed by the firm’s broader expertise across Atlantic Canada and its growing national platform.
McInnes Cooper thanks Falkbuilt, i.d.ah. design studio, and Lindsay Construction for helping bring the new office to life.
Additional Quotes
“McInnes Cooper is widely recognized for innovation in the legal profession and their new workspace in the heart of Membertou First Nation Sydney is no exception. As a strategic project partner, we are delighted to have been part of this project and celebrate the success of the entire team.”
Anathea Fenton and Stephen Vaslet, Principals at Falkbuilt
“Being a part of this project was an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful partnership between McInnes Cooper and the Membertou community. The design reflects a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and creating spaces that strengthen connection to place, people, and community.”
Mireille Metwalli, Co-Founder + Principal at i.d.ah design studio
“The new space of McInnes Cooper is a great reflection of their team, their culture, and the strong presence they’ve built in Cape Breton. It was a pleasure working alongside their group to bring that vision to life. Projects like this are driven by collaboration, and we’re proud to have partnered with McInnes Cooper to deliver a space that will support their people and clients for years to come.”
Brandon Gracie, Project Manager at Lindsay Construction
Sustainability Highlights
Steel contains 19.8% post-consumer and 14.4% pre-consumer recycled content, reducing the need for virgin materials and helping lower the project’s carbon footprint.
Aluminum used in the glass wall framing contains at least 20% pre-consumer recycled content and carries an industry Environmental Product Declaration, providing transparency into its environmental impact.
About McInnes Cooper
McInnes Cooper is a solutions-driven Canadian business law firm advising clients across industries from eight offices across Canada. With more than 240 lawyers and 250 professional resources, the firm combines legal experience, industry knowledge and innovation to help clients solve complex business challenges. Through MC Advisory, MC Innovation and MC Training, McInnes Cooper extends its services beyond traditional legal advice to deliver practical, technology-enabled solutions that help clients achieve more.
Media inquiries:
Chief Strategy & Operations Officer
roberto.pont@mcinnescooper.com
(902) 444-8545
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