Causing excitement on the international front, City firm Norton Rose has announced that Deacons Australia will join Norton Rose Group. This will be a significant boost to the firm’s presence in the Asia Pacific region which many predict as set for a boom when things improve. The combined practice will be called Norton Rose Group and will take effect from 1 January 2010.

On the stats front, the new Norton Rose Group will have a turnover of more than GBP420m (AUD864m) and in excess of 1800 fee earners in 29 offices worldwide. In the Asia Pacific region, there will be over 700 fee earners operating from 12 offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Peter Martyr, Chief Executive Officer, Norton Rose LLP commented:

“We share the same global ambitions to develop our business and improve the depth and breadth of service to our clients. This move will enhance our international reach and in particular create one of the best resourced legal practices in the Asia Pacific region.”

“The economic influence in the world is moving eastwards and in order to develop our business we needed a significant expansion in our resources in Asia Pacific. The increased capability of the group throughout Asia Pacific will lay the foundations for further regional development and expansion.”

Don Boyd, Chief Executive Partner, Deacons Australia commented:

“As soon as the initial discussions were underway it became clear that there was a common global ambition, particularly in the predicted growth markets of the future, namely Asia Pacific. We have shared aspirations regarding strategic growth, both in practice area terms and geographic expansion. The business case is compelling and the synergy of working together is convincing.”