Norton Rose merges with Fulbright to become global super-firm

One of the world's biggest mergers went live on 3 June, with UK-based Norton Rose joining with Houston's Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. The 3,800 lawyer firm is now called Norton Rose Fulbright, and offers 54 offices across six continents.

The merger brings the firm into the world's top 10 category, both in terms of lawyer numbers and revenue - estimated at around $2 billion (£1.3 billion). Global chief executive Peter Martyr said: "Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong business model and culture. We also have momentum. This combination endorses our position on the global stage. This is one of the largest transatlantic legal combinations completed to date and confirms Norton Rose Fulbright as a global legal practice. We have an exciting future ahead."

Kenneth Stewart, managing partner of Fulbright & Jaworski, said: "US companies are looking for law firms that can offer a global platform and a broad range of services and that is exactly what this combination provides. We can now better connect our clients and lawyers in the US with outward-looking opportunities in international and emerging markets."

In other merger news, Mills & Reeve officially joined with Manchester firm George Davies on 1 June to expand Mills & Reeve's Manchester presence to include 15 partners and a full range of legal services, which now includes "substantial corporate, employment, construction real estate and commercial disputes teams". Guy Hinchley, managing partner of Mills & Reeve, said: "This is an exciting day for the firm with a substantially enhanced presence in the North allowing us to deliver our strategy of providing a full range of legal services to clients in our key sectors."