In a bid to increase innovation and be more client-centric, Blake, Cassels & Graydon has appointed longtime partner Brian Facey as chair of strategic business initiatives—a newly created role at the firm.

Facey, who was previously chair of the firm’s competition, antitrust and foreign investment practice—one of the biggest in Canada—will continue practicing and will remain on the firm’s executive committee, where he has been for eight years. But in his newly created role, he plans to take the experience and knowledge he’s gained leading the firm’s competition practice and amplify it by examining how the firm attracts, retains, and serves its clients.