Soliman succeeds Norman M. Steinberg, who held the position since 2009. Steinberg will be the firm's chair emeritus in Canada.

London-based Norton Rose has more than 3,500 employees in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. It is one of the biggest law firms in Canada.

Soliman, who has been involved with some of the most high-profile Canadian M&A deals in recent years, is advising Agrium Inc (>> Agrium Inc.) on its proposed merger with Potash Corp (>> Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc) and advised the board of the Canadian Oil Sands on the hostile takeover attempt from Suncor Energy Inc (>> Suncor Energy Inc.).

He has advised on some of the biggest activism battles in Canada, including Telus Corp (>> TELUS Corporation) against Mason Capital Management and Agrium in its defense against activist investor Jana Partners. Soliman will remain co-chair of the Canadian special situations team, which offers advice on shareholder activism and hostile M&A.

(Reporting by John Tilak; editing by Grant McCool)

By John Tilak