Norton Rose Fulbright expansion   

Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF), the international law firm with more than 4000 lawyers based in 33 countries across the globe, has taken further space in Northumberland Estates’ Quayside House, Newcastle.

Over a year ago NRF decided on Newcastle as a base for its Legal Process Hub because of the firm’s growing reputation for digital innovation and technology.

The firm first took a 6950 sq ft suite at the iconic Quayside House and has now added a further 5100 sq ft in a ground floor suite. The NRF Hub delivers legal process efficiencies, trials the use of new innovative legal technology and collects and analyses data for research for the benefit of clients and the firm.

Kiran Radhakrishnan, head of NRF’s Newcastle Hub, says: “Our team consists of conscientious, motivated, and hard-working people who all contribute to the success of our firm.  We have to be an organisation where people feel valued, respected and able to develop themselves.

“Newcastle is an ideal location for Norton Rose Fulbright, for a variety of reasons, including the strength of the region’s universities, access to high-quality and skilled talent, and high-quality infrastructure.

“The work carried out in our legal process and business services centre benefits from Newcastle’s position as a centre of innovation and technological advancement. Generally, there is also very much a can-do attitude to business.  Add to that, a great environment both for work and leisure and it ticks all the boxes.  We’re proud to be an integral part of the local economy.”

Newcastle has the fastest growing tech sector outside of London and legal firms such as Norton Rose Fulbright are using this to their advantage when it comes to optimise resourcing. Having grown from a team of four to a 70-strong Hub on one floor at Quayside House, the firm has taken a second floor to double its capacity, with a view to doubling its staffing levels over the course of the next 12 months.

Jeremy Coleman, NRF’s innovation manager (EMEA), adds: “The Hub was set up to keep us ahead of the curve. It’s a great example of the sort of innovative thinking that allows us to find smarter ways of delivering high-quality service to our global clients.

“We have the space to trial new ways of working and technologies – some that work and some that don’t. We can then provide something new or something unexpected; a bit of tech or a solution that makes a difference to our clients and our service offering. The Hub is growing and the opportunities are broad.  Through the Hub we are re-engineering our legal processes and trailing new technologies. Quality and innovation are at the forefront of everything that we do.”

Norton Rose Fulbright has made the move following several meetings and city-led guidance from Invest Newcastle, a service delivered by Newcastle Gateshead Initiative on behalf of Newcastle City Council. Gavin Black & Partners advised Northumberland Estates.