Brent J. Ludwig
President and Founder

Brent J. Ludwig founded Ludwig Financial in December 2007.  He has over 3 years of recruiting and over 12 years of corporate finance, M&A and legal negotiating experience, having made the switch from corporate law to found and run a national dealer-focused recruiting business in 2005.

Brent has placed candidates with virtually every major bank-owned, independent and boutique firm in the country.  He has also placed candidates with international and bulge-bracket firms.  Brent brings expert-level negotiating, compensation and strategic experience to the table.  Lawyers don’t conduct their own files – nor should you be conducting your own personal M&A transaction.  Brent is highly adept at drilling down to match candidates’ wishes with employers’ needs. Integrity, professionalism and excellent service are his personal values.

Brent was born in Saskatoon Saskatchewan and has lived in virtually every corner of Canada, from the tip of Vancouver Island, to Vancouver, the BC interior, the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, northern Ontario, southern Ontario and New Brunswick.  Brent obtained a B.A. in History from St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. and headed for his first dose of big city life in Toronto where he obtained his MBA/LLB from Schulich School of Business/Osgoode Hall Law School in 1991.  He practised corporate finance/securities law with Stikeman Elliott in Toronto, Ladner Downs (now Borden Ladner Gervais) in Vancouver and Bennett Jones in Calgary. 

Brent’s active lifestyle includes hobbies such as hockey, skiing, snowboarding, squash and running.  He considers giving back to his community to be very important as a fiercely proud Calgarian, Albertan and Canadian, and as such served as the volunteer Chairman of Calgary’s Relay For Life, the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual community-based fundraising walkathon, leading it for five years until it became the top fundraising Relay in Canada (2006, 2007).  He also serves on the executive of his local community association.  He remains a devoted Saskatchewan Roughriders fan to this day.

James E. Lorimer
Managing Director and Recruiter, Capital Markets

James E. Lorimer joined Ludwig Financial in December 2009 to lead Ludwig Financials expansion into the Toronto market. He brings a deep understanding of the capital markets recruiting business, from 15 years of investment banking experience at firms including Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. (and predecessor Midland Walwyn Capital Inc.), Crosbie & Company Inc., Clarus Securities Inc. and Blackmont Capital Inc. During this period, James had significant experience hiring for critical capital markets roles and as a result knows key professionals at virtually every major bank-owned, independent and boutique firm in the country. James also brings a wealth of M&A transaction experience to Ludwig Financials dealer-focused M&A advisory practice.

James appreciates the difficulty associated with finding a recruiter to truly work for the candidates best interest and provide meaningful guidance in determining your next big move. Above all, candidates need a professional, discreet advisor. He prides himself on providing superior service, honest advice and finding the right candidate for every mandate.

Kevin D. Smith
Managing Director and Recruiter, Capital Markets