Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. has entered into a landmark agreement to combine with Norton Rose in a global legal practice that will include 3,800 lawyers in 55 offices across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The transaction will be completed on June 1, 2013 under the global brand Norton Rose Fulbright.
The two firms have worked together for a number of years and share a common vision of the future. Fulbright’s leadership emphasized how well the pieces fit together to serve clients throughout the global market.
Steven B. Pfeiffer, Chair of Fulbright’s Executive Committee, said the combination “will expand our global platform and enable us to provide an even broader range of services globally with seamless and superior client service.”
Peter Martyr, Chief Executive of Norton Rose, commented that his firm looked “at the U.S. market for a firm that meets our requirements for excellence in law, good business synergies and a compatible culture. Fulbright & Jaworski meets all our criteria; it is financially strong, with forward-looking management and similar strategic growth aspirations.”
Kenneth L. Stewart, Chair-Elect of Fulbright’s Executive Committee, added, “This is a smart combination of two groups whose geographic presence, capabilities and client service cultures are strongly complementary. The combined organization can provide the experience, insight and service our clients need in doing business around the world.”
Tony Williams, Principal of Jomati Consultants in London and a former Managing Partner of Clifford Chance, commented, “This is a market-changing combination. The combined firm’s strength and depth is something that others will try hard to emulate. But, as a first mover, it will be a hard act to follow.”
Ward Bower, Principal of the leading U.S.-based legal consulting firm Altman Weil, Inc., stated, “After the combination, there will be less than a handful of law firms with global reach, depth and breadth of this quality.”
