Meet the global energy giant casting a (Ful)bright light via its energy and projects work.
Norton Rose Fulbright Lateral Profile 2024
“I knew I wanted to land at a large law firm with international resources,” an NRF associate mentioned when asked what they were looking for in a firm. And quite right too. While many firms claim international status, NRF takes the biscuit, with offices planted in the UK, US, Asia, the Middle East, Canada, South Africa and Australia. As Jeff Cody, the firm’s US managing partner, puts it: “I would say that our firm is one of the very few truly global firms. The coverage that we offer is more than most.”For a lot of the firm’s associates, however, the draw is more about NRF’s domestic roots than its international spread. The 2013 merger between the UK’s Norton Rose and Texas-rooted Fulbright & Jaworski is a significant point in the firm’s history, but the Texan origins of NRF’s US practice continues to draw people in: “Keeping to Texan roots was important to me,” one told us, “the firm has a less harsh view than East Coast firms. It is less grinding and respects time outside of work.”
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm? Associates say…
“It is like a Choose Your Own Adventure – if you want to bill 2,200+ hours, you can, or you can bill 1,900 and still get a good bonus and stay on partner track. I like the work life balance aspect.”
“The people are generally authentic, genuine, and kind.”
“The firm is actually committed to diversity.”
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2024
Energy, infrastructure, and natural resources careers
The view from the firm: With a combined team of over 1,300 lawyers across all practice areas, major multinational corporates, commercial banks, funds, developers, investors, governmental bodies and multilaterals rely on our innovative approach, unprecedented legal capability and experience. Throughout the lifecycle of a project, an M&A transaction, a financing or a dispute, we can help navigate complex circumstances while sticking to challenging deadlines and ensuring adherence to government and regulatory standards, domestically and abroad.
Our energy, infrastructure and natural resources lawyers have been at the heart of many of the world’s leading energy and infrastructure projects, including innovative and first-to-market transactions across a variety of sectors including oil and gas, LNG, nuclear, mining, power and utilities, renewables, water, roads, ports and terminals, commodities, construction and engineering, rail and food and agribusiness.
Energy, infrastructure, and natural resources clients: CIBC, Mizuho, MUFG, Société Générale.
Recent work highlight: Represented IRG Acquisition Holdings in the purchase of a renewables portfolio from American Electric Power for an enterprise value of $1.5 billion.
Technology careers
The view from the firm: Our global team of technology lawyers advise some of the world’s leading corporations on the legal, regulatory and commercial issues raised by the impact of technology on their businesses. This encompasses businesses across the technology, business services, communications, media, entertainment and consumer markets sectors in both established and emerging markets.
Our technology team, made up of more than 500 lawyers in more than 50 cities across the world, is able to draw upon the in-depth industry knowledge from our other key industry teams, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare and consumer markets to deliver a truly global technology solution to clients. We are recognized as thought leaders in the industry, providing insight on cutting-edge technology developments, including artificial intelligence, big data, internet of things, cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and data protection and privacy, to help our clients navigate the risks of digital disruption as well as the competitive opportunities afforded by investment in digital capital.
Technology clients: CrowdOut Capital, Crusoe Energy Systems, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
Recent work highlight: Served as counsel to the Texas Office of the Attorney General, representing the entire state of Texas in three cases against Google.
Financial institutions careers
The view from the firm: Our team of more than 1,000 global financial institutions lawyers provide a full business law service to many of the world’s leading banks, asset managers, financial investors and insurance companies, both domestically and internationally.
From more than 50 offices in the world’s key business centers and the fastest growing markets, our lawyers are equally skilled at helping clients navigate the challenges resulting from disruptive technology and regulatory change, with extensive knowledge of digital risk, cryptocurrencies, distributed ledgers and smart contracts. We also offer clients a global cyber-crisis response team, with experience representing some of the world’s largest banks in regulatory investigations.
Global life sciences and healthcare careers
The view from the firm: Our global life sciences and healthcare team provides a full range of legal advice to innovative pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies and industry investors at every stage of the product life cycle, from intellectual property protections to commercial transactions and M&A. We also provide our clients with a broad range of regulatory advice, covering such diverse topics as marketing authorizations and post-market surveillance, competition matters, governmental healthcare and procurement programs, trade controls, and anti-bribery and corruption compliance.
Our lawyers also act for healthcare clients around the world, including hospitals and health systems, clinics, health insurers, academic medical centers and retail pharmacies on a wide variety of regulatory, transactional and litigation matters.
Global life sciences and healthcare clients: CVS Pharmacy, Bausch Health, McKesson.
Recent work highlight: Representing Takeda Pharmaceutical Company as lead counsel in connection with a national RICO economic loss putative class action.
Global consumer markets careers
The view from the firm: Our global consumer markets lawyers offer clients market-leading legal advice across the consumer, retail, automotive and leisure sectors. Our team is comprised of lawyers from across our global practice, bringing together leading practitioners with deep experience ranging across all legal disciplines, including corporate, M&A and securities, antitrust and competition, litigation and disputes, employment and labor, environmental law, tax, regulation and investigations, intellectual property and real estate.
We advise clients on a range of consumer areas, including supply chain efficiencies, from manufacturing and logistics to distribution and sales; intellectual property, including innovative brand strategies, trademark enforcement and portfolio management; corporate ventures; environmental and product liability issues; cyber breaches; and real estate agreements, investments and developments. Our lawyers also advise on new technologies and innovation strategies to meet the growing demand for multi-channel and omni-channel retailing.
We act for many of the world’s most prestigious brands, luxury goods and automotive manufacturers, food and beverage producers and consumer goods manufacturers as well as wholesalers and retailers.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
15 |
1 : 1 |
83% |
||
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
76% |
66% |
74% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: The firm has a robust mentorship and sponsorship program for our non-partner lawyers. Currently sponsorship programs are aimed at sponsoring development for individuals as they work towards partnership. The Legal Talent Management team has a keen focus on setting up lateral hires for success through a targeted 6-month integration process. In addition to these opportunities, the Talent Development team also provides regular trainings through our master classes and acclaimed international academies, designed to bring non partner lawyers together and foster development within their level and classification.
Hours & Compensation
|
no requirement |
10 |
50 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
76% |
62% |
86% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
Salaries
1st year: $190,000-$225,000
The view from the firm: Associate compensation in all US offices is reviewed annually and comprised of three facets – base compensation, productivity bonus and discretionary bonus. Base compensation is lockstep and based on the market in each region. Up to 50 hours of credited non-billable time, inclusive of pro bono, counts toward productivity bonus thresholds. For associates in their first year of practice, the firm credits reasonable and appropriate hours spent on shadowing opportunities towards the client-chargeable hours expectation up to a maximum of 50 hours. Discretionary bonus awards are focused on exceptional contributions, particularly in the areas of matter origination and strong client billable hours. Non-partner lawyers remain eligible for discretionary bonuses in addition to any productivity bonus.
The firm also offers a Vacation Incentive Program. This program provides time, space and funds towards taking time away from the firm. The firm offers a vacation award to all non-partner lawyers who record exceptional client billable hours or more in a consecutive three-month period within a calendar year. Along with the award, the Legal Talent Management team will support the lawyer taking leave to ensure there is appropriate coverage while they are away.
Is Norton Rose Fulbright the right firm for you?
|
69% |
88% |
76% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
felt comfortable being themselves at work |
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“People are friends with one another; we care about one another, and everyone wants you to become a great lawyer.”
“Everyone is very friendly, encourages work-life balance while also understanding the demands of client service industry. Partners are approachable.”
“I appreciate NRF for embracing a people first mentality and reminding everyone that we work to live. I also really appreciate the managing partner's efforts in connection with transparency.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
76% |
27% |
37% |
||
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
||
The view from the firm: Diversity, equity and inclusion is a core value and a business imperative at Norton Rose Fulbright. Our councils are driven by the firm’s overall business plan and serve to promote racial and gender equity at the firm by actively working with the firm leadership to refine, encourage and support the recruitment, development, retention, and advancement of diverse personnel. The councils include the: Racial Equity Council, Multicultural Equity Council and Women in Norton Rose Fulbright Council.
Our networks provide and promote education, engagement and awareness initiatives that serve and/or represent the firm’s personnel. One way in which our networks foster an inclusive culture is through educational programming and the celebrations of various heritage months. The networks include the: Pride Network, Asian Affinity Network, Black Affinity Network, Latinx Affinity Network and Veteran’s Network.
Additionally, Norton Rose Fulbright has established formal sponsorship programs. Our sponsorship programs help foster relationships in which partners serve as ‘sponsors’ and provide experience, exposure, and professional guidance to associate ""protégés”. The sponsorship programs are as follows: the Racial Equity Council Sponsorship Program the Mid-Level Development Sponsorship Program; and the Leadership Development Program. These programs support the protégés through formal trainings, but mostly with the pairing of a sponsor.
Pro Bono
|
undisclosed |
66% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: immigration, elder law, housing, veterans rights, wills and estate planning.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Alice Bolander, Senior Manager, Lateral Recruiting
Leslie Rice, Director, Partner Recruiting