We note, with mixed emotions, the passing of Canada Law Book, a company whose roots in Canadian law go back a century.
Here is the announcement that it is being acquired by Thomson.
* 04 Aug 2010
Thomson Reuters Acquires Canada Law Book
Combined content and services provide true online and print customer advantagesToronto, Canada, Aug. 4, 2010 – Thomson Reuters today announced the acquisition of Canada Law Book, a division of the Cartwright Group Limited. Canada Law Book will be aligned with Carswell, a Thomson Reuters business headquartered in Toronto. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Canada Law Book produces publications across 36 topics of legal information, and is known for having high editorial standards, as well as authors who are among Canada’s most prominent legal scholars.
“Canada Law Book provides unparalleled content, including superior content for the labour, employment and intellectual property practice areas, and has an extraordinary team of author-experts who will complement the Carswell family of authors and the products and services we produce,” said Don Van Meer, president, Carswell. “We are confident our combined strengths will provide true value to our customers, and we are committed to maintaining and enriching the high-quality product offerings our customers have come to expect from us and from Canada Law Book.”
Carswell and Canada Law Book each brings more than 100 years of legal tradition and expertise to customers, and together provide the recognised excellence, integrity and highest editorial standards that ensure legal practitioners, judges and academics receive the most comprehensive materials for their practise.
The efficiencies in service will, we hope, outweigh the emergence of an even more concentrated market.
Tip of the hat to Gary Rodrigues for seeing this coming.
And our best wishes to Ian Cartwright, Stuart Morrison and the rest of the community at CLB.
I have no sympathy for the demise of Canada Law Book, http://www.duhaime.org/LawMag/LawArticle-1219/Law-Reports-Rest-In-Peace.aspx. Nor will any lawyer not practising law in some ivory tower.
Lloyd, the article you link to on your site is an interesting read.
I think it should be noted that Canada Law Book didn't (doesn't) just create great headnotes to organize the rambling weavings of the common law, they also publish(ed) excellent texts and looseleaf material.
Martin's Criminal Code, the Law of Contracts by S.M. Waddams, Canadian Labour Arbitration (fondly known as Brown & Beatty), not to mention practice tools like O'Brien's Forms are just a few of the titles that have a lengthy history of publication by CLB. Great works all, that I have been purchasing for my firm library, in fact, they have all "been in practice" longer than I have.
While sympathy doesn't really have a place in a free market economy, I think that some sentiment over the demise of a competitive option does.
Respectfully, Shaunna
As Thomson Reuters has also acquired Marque d’Or this whole situation seems reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s. I'm only commenting because I'm curious to see whether this strategy is sustainable in the 21st century. After all, in the fashion circles 1980s inspired styles are back.