Deacons Australia Joins Norton Rose Group

Creating one of the best resourced legal practices in Asia Pacific

LONDON, January 4 - International legal practice Norton Rose Group today announced that
Deacons Australia has joined Norton Rose Group with effect from 1 January
2010. This follows the announcement on 23 June of successful votes by the
respective partnerships. The new international legal practice will be called
Norton Rose Group and Deacons Australia will now be known as Norton Rose
Australia.

The new Norton Rose Group will have a turnover of more than GBP420m
(AUD864m) and in excess of 1800 lawyers, based in 30 offices in Europe, the
Middle East and Asia Pacific. In the Asia Pacific region, the Group has more
than 700 fee earners operating from 13 offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane,
Canberra, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai,
Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Norton Rose Group is led by Group Chief Executive Peter Martyr. Don Boyd,
the Managing Partner of Norton Rose Australia is Group Deputy Chief
Executive, and Stephen Parish is Group Chairman of Norton Rose Group.

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

"Asia Pacific is a strategically important market for Norton Rose Group
and we intend to continue to expand our business and improve the depth and
breadth of our service to clients in the region, focusing on our key
strengths of financial institutions, energy, infrastructure and commodities,
transport, and technology."

Don Boyd, Group Deputy Chief Executive, Norton Rose Group commented:

"We share the same global ambitions to develop our business and improve
the depth and breadth of our service to clients. The increased capability of
the Group throughout Asia Pacific will enhance our international reach and
create one of the best-resourced legal practices in the region."

Information about the client services offered by our Asia Pacific
practice is set out at www.nortonrose.com/asiapacific.

Notes to Editors:

Norton Rose Group is a leading international legal practice. We offer a
full business law service from our 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.

    For further information please contact:

    Sean Twomey, Head of public relations and campaigns, Norton Rose LLP
    +44-(0)20-7444-3740 sean.twomey@nortonrose.com
    +44-(0)7921-604892

    Sarah Webster, Public relations manager, Norton Rose LLP
    +44-(0)20-7444-5942 sarah.webster@nortonrose.com
    +44-(0)77-2535-0425

    Lorraine Lee, regional business development manager, Norton Rose Hong
    Kong
    +852-3405-2324
    lorraine.lee@nortonrose.com
    +852-3405-2300

    Paul McKeon, Communications manager, Norton Rose Australia
    +61-(0)2-9330-8650 paul.mckeon@nortonrose.com
    +61-(0)414-596-266

For further information please contact: Sean Twomey, head of public relations and campaigns, Norton Rose LLP, +44(0)20-7444-3740 sean.twomey at nortonrose.com, +44 (0)7921-604892; Sarah Webster, public relations manager, Norton Rose LLP, +44(0)20-7444-5942 sarah.webster at nortonrose.com, +44(0)77-2535-0425; Lorraine Lee, regional business development manager, Norton Rose Hong Kong, +852-3405-2324 lorraine.lee at nortonrose.com, +852-3405-2300; Paul McKeon, Communications Manager, Norton Rose Australia, +61-(0)2-9330-8650 paul.mckeon at nortonrose.com, +61-(0)414-596-266