Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed Kate Jefferson as a corporate partner in Sydney, strengthening its Asia-Pacific transactional practice with a lawyer who has more than 20 years of experience advising on complex cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions. Jefferson joins Norton Rose Fulbright from Baker McKenzie.
She was previously Co-Head of Baker McKenzie’s Australian Healthcare and Life Sciences Group and a member of the firm’s Asia-Pacific Healthcare and Life Sciences Steering Committee.
Her practice spans private and public mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, carve-outs, corporate reorganizations, equity capital raisings, and Australian Securities Exchange governance requirements.
Jefferson has particular experience advising clients across the life sciences and healthcare, technology, and consumer markets sectors.
Norton Rose Fulbright expects her appointment to strengthen both its Australian corporate practice and its ability to advise clients pursuing transactions across the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Her background in multi-jurisdictional M&A is also aligned with the firm’s efforts to expand collaboration across its Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific business.
The appointment builds on a series of recent additions to Norton Rose Fulbright’s Australian partnership.
In May 2026, the firm added Daniel Lin, who works across Sydney and Tokyo and focuses on energy and infrastructure transactions throughout Asia-Pacific.
Lin also brings significant experience with Japan outbound M&A and financing transactions.
Norton Rose Fulbright sees the combination of Jefferson and Lin as further strengthening its corporate capabilities for clients making investments across Asian markets.
Jefferson’s life sciences and healthcare expertise is also complementary to Norton Rose Fulbright’s broader international presence in those industries.
Transactions in the sector can involve a combination of M&A, regulatory, intellectual property, commercial, financing, and capital markets considerations, creating opportunities for Jefferson to work across several of the firm’s practice groups.
The technology and consumer markets portions of her practice provide additional overlap with industries where cross-border transactions and capital deployment remain important.
Jefferson said Norton Rose Fulbright’s international platform, existing Australian corporate practice, and growth ambitions in Asia-Pacific were important factors behind her decision to join the firm.
The firm has continued expanding its Australian partnership throughout 2026.
Brad Robinson joined the banking and finance practice in Melbourne in January, while Daniel Lin joined the energy and infrastructure practice in May.
Recent 2025 appointments included Sydney partners Michael Gajic and Ashley Rose in public M&A and equity capital markets, along with Canberra government partner Kristina Mihalic.
Norton Rose Fulbright also promoted Adele Gray, Fridoun Chee, Jiadi Liang, Veronica Seeto, Daniel Posker, and Jeremy Moller to partner in Australia at the beginning of 2026.
The additions reflect continued investment across corporate, finance, infrastructure, intellectual property, government, and risk advisory capabilities throughout the Australian business.
KEY QUOTES:
“Kate’s history of advising clients on complex corporate and M&A transactions across Asia Pacific will strengthen our cross-border corporate offering and our broader Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific (EMEAPAC) business. Her particular focus on the life sciences and healthcare industries dovetails with our strong global presence in these areas, as does her support of clients in technology and consumer markets.”
Peter Scott, Global Managing Partner and Managing Partner for Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific at Norton Rose Fulbright
“I am delighted to welcome Kate to our firm. Kate’s extensive experience as a highly respected M&A and capital markets partner, and vast knowledge of many of our key industries, will greatly assist our clients in Australia and regionally. Together with our recent appointment of Daniel Lin, Kate further strengthens our Asia Pacific corporate team.”
Marshall Bromwich, Australia Country Head at Norton Rose Fulbright
“The combination of Norton Rose Fulbright’s strong global platform, well-established Australian corporate practice and ambition to grow in Asia-Pacific was a major drawcard for me. I look forward to the opportunity to continue my support of clients across the life sciences and healthcare, technology and consumer markets industries, working alongside the firm’s corporate, regulatory and intellectual property partners.”
Kate Jefferson, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright
