Norton Rose Fulbright is expanding its US business practice with the addition of five partners across Chicago and St. Louis, bolstering the firm’s corporate, private equity, healthcare, leveraged finance, and transactional tax capabilities.
The firm said Andrew Smolik and Michael Flood have joined its St. Louis office, while Seth Aigner, Virginia Duong, and Gordon Klein have joined its Chicago office. Norton Rose Fulbright positioned the hires as part of a broader push to deepen its core transactional platform in key US markets, with particular emphasis on private equity and healthcare deals, leveraged finance, and sophisticated tax structuring.
Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global and US Managing Partner, said the group aligns with the firm’s corporate growth priorities, particularly in North American private equity and healthcare, and brings experience advising across a range of healthcare transactions in a regulatory environment that continues to evolve. Sheldon Nussbaum, the firm’s US Head of Business Practice, said the additions fit with the pace and complexity of modern dealmaking and the firm’s expectation for increased M&A activity in 2026, including cross-border matters.
Norton Rose Fulbright also linked the additions to its ongoing Midwest expansion and its integrated US-Canada offering, underscoring its ability to support complex cross-border transactions across North America. Andrew Smolik said the move gives the team a larger global platform and deeper resources, and highlighted the firm’s Canadian capabilities as a strength for clients executing US-Canada transactions.
The firm cited the hires as the latest step in a broader growth effort over the past year, noting other recent partner additions in areas including leveraged finance, private equity leadership, insurance transactions, tax, and energy-focused M&A.
KEY QUOTES
“This group checks all the boxes for what we are growing in the corporate space, particularly when it comes to our North American private equity and healthcare practices. Our clients will appreciate the team’s track record advising on a wide range of healthcare transactions and their in-depth knowledge of the sector’s fast-changing regulatory landscape.”
Jeff Cody, Global And US Managing Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
“Our clients rely on us for highly skilled advisors who can guide them through increasingly complex transactions in this everchanging deal landscape. This group’s experience aligns with the uptick in M&A activity we expect in 2026, including specifically in cross-border matters, and helps our ability to support clients in moving quickly on exciting opportunities.”
Sheldon Nussbaum, US Head Of Business Practice, Norton Rose Fulbright
“Joining Norton Rose Fulbright gives our team access to a global platform, deeper resources and a truly full service offering to serve clients more swiftly and seamlessly than ever before. The firm’s robust Canadian offering is a significant strength, as we advise on complex cross border deals between these two countries with regularity.”
Andrew Smolik, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
