Norton Rose Fulbright expands presence in Chicago's Fulton Market District

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced the expansion of its Chicago office, adding approximately 15,000 square feet of space across two additional floors at 1045 on Fulton—the newest and tallest building in the Fulton Market Historic District.

The firm now occupies approximately 32,000 square feet of the twelve-story building, including floors ten through twelve and half of floor nine. Norton Rose Fulbright’s workspace is modern and progressive with a focus on collaboration and innovation. The design includes a significant amount of multifunctional open areas, which can be configured for a variety of work needs as well as client and community events.

Norton Rose Fulbright entered the Chicago legal market in April 2022 with an 11-lawyer team and moved into 1045 on Fulton last summer. Over the last two years, the firm’s presence in Chicago has more than tripled to 34 lawyers serving tech and tech-enabled businesses in transformative sectors across a range of practices, including corporate, M&A and securities, cybersecurity and data privacy, employment and labor, energy, healthcare, intellectual property, litigation, projects, real estate and technology transactions.

Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Managing Partner, said:

“We came to Chicago two years ago with the intention to keep growing, and the opportunity to expand our space is one of the features that made our Fulton Market location attractive. We have enjoyed tremendous growth since moving into our space less than a year ago. Joining our founding partners, Andrew Cripe, employment and labor, Daniel Farris, tech transactions, Sameer Ghaznavi, project finance, and Joe McClendon, cybersecurity and data privacy, we added six impressive partners: litigators Joshua Lee and Ed Casmere, projects-focused real estate practitioners John Young and Christine Fernandez Owen, corporate lawyer Kevin Friedmann and IP litigator John McBride, and there will be more to come.”

The firm’s Chicago lawyers have been involved in groundbreaking and complex work on behalf of clients all over the world. Notably, Ghaznavi led a team of lawyers who advised IRG Acquisition Holdings through the $1.5 billion purchase and closing of a 1,365-megawatt unregulated, contracted renewables portfolio from American Electric Power. The transaction represents one of the largest, fully-operational renewables portfolios to come to market in years.

Ghaznavi, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Chicago Co-Partner-in-Charge, commented:

“The expansion of our office space illustrates the significant growth the firm has experienced in Chicago over the last two years. I am proud of the excellent service we have provided to our clients—particularly in precedent-setting trials and transactions—which is driven by the collaborative and innovative spirit of our office.”

Farris, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Chicago Co-Partner-in-Charge, said:

"We appreciate that 1045 on Fulton gives our lawyers a dynamic workplace and state-of-the-art amenities to maximize our ability to innovate for our clients. Our space reimagines the law firm office experience to focus on technology, flexibility and collaboration, which emphasizes the firm’s mission of offering innovative services and solutions.”

Norton Rose Fulbright was the first major law firm to move into the vibrant Fulton Market District, which is a symbol of transformation in Chicago. 1045 on Fulton is a LEED-certified building with its sustainable design and construction and is also WELL-certified with its positive impact on occupants’ health and well-being.