Norton Rose Wins RollOnFriday UK Firm of the Year 2010

8 January 2010

It was today announced that international legal practice Norton Rose LLP has won the RollOnFriday UK Firm of the Year 2010 award.

In addition to coming top overall, Norton Rose LLP also came first in the specific categories for its handling of the downturn and also its treatment of staff. In particular, the practice won “high praise for its Flex programme that managed to stave off redundancies and clearly succeeded in making associates feel a valued part of the firm”.

Flex, a flexible working scheme, was introduced at Norton Rose LLP as an alternative to redundancies during the recession. An overwhelming 97 per cent of staff voted in favour of the scheme, which was then introduced on 1 May 2009. Since then, over 100 jobs have been saved as a result of the initiative.

Peter Martyr, Group Chief Executive of Norton Rose Group commented:

“What is particularly rewarding about this award is that the partnership and employees have voted us into the winning position. We highly value their overwhelming support, in an exceptional year which has seen both the introduction of Flex and Deacons Australia joining the Norton Rose Group”.

For further information please contact

Sean Twomey, Head of public relations

+44(0)20 7444 3740

+44 (0)7921 604 892

sean.twomey@nortonrose.com

Sarah Webster, Public relations manager

+44(0)20 7444 5942

+44 (0)77 2535 0425

sarah.webster@nortonrose.com

Notes for editors:

About Flex

On 12 March 2009, Norton Rose LLP announced to the partnership and employees that, in preparation for the economic uncertainties of next financial year, it would introduce a contingency scheme called Flex.

The Flex scheme asked all eligible staff to agree to a temporary change in their terms and conditions for employment for a period of 12 months from 1 May 2009. Under the terms of the proposed temporary flexible working scheme, staff who signed up to the scheme could then be asked at some point in the next 12 months to take a reduction from a 5 day to 4 day week at 85 per cent of base salary and/or to take a sabbatical of 4-12 weeks at 30 per cent of base salary. In any event, the reduction in annual salary for the financial year will be capped at maximum of 20 per cent of base salary.

Staff benefits remained unaffected and adoption of the scheme was dependent on a majority of employees agreeing to the scheme. In the event, 97 per cent of staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of the scheme and Flex was introduced on 1 May 2009.

Editors note

Norton Rose LLP is a constituent part of Norton Rose Group, a leading international legal practice offering a full business law service from offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Knowing how our clients’ businesses work and understanding what drives their industries is fundamental to us. Our lawyers share industry knowledge and sector expertise across borders, enabling us to support our clients anywhere in the world. We are strong in financial institutions; energy; infrastructure and commodities; transport; and technology.

We have over 1800 lawyers operating from 30 offices in Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Athens, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Brussels, Canberra, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Perth, Piraeus, Prague, Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Warsaw and from associate offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Riyadh.

Norton Rose Group comprises Norton Rose LLP, Norton Rose Australia and their respective affiliates.