Norton Rose Fulbright has made 30 staff redundant throughout its Australian offices, including 12 fee-earners and 18 support staff. The firm stated this was ‘not a change that is happening in any other region than Australia – it is a local response to a local market.’
A spokesperson for the firm added: ‘This was a difficult decision and we are doing all that we can to support those affected. Like other professional services firms in Australia, we have responded to changes in the local market. We will continue to concentrate on our primary areas of growth: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.’
‘Those affected have been individually contacted. We are of course providing each person with as much support as we can during this process.’
All Australian staff have since been informed, as the changes took effect from last Thursday (14 November).
It was also confirmed today (21 November) that the firm’s London-based head of nuclear services Fiona Reilly had departed from the firm after 14 years to take up a role as director at auditing giant PwC. Her move coincides with that of longstanding antitrust partners Mark Jones and Michael Grenfell who also confirmed they were leaving for Hogan Lovells and the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) respectively in the last week.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
