Norton Rose Fulbright Expands Consumer Litigation Bench with Chicago Hire
Event summary
- Norton Rose Fulbright added Jason Stiehl as a partner in its Chicago office, focusing on product liability and consumer disputes.
- Stiehl joins from Crowell & Moring, where he served as Managing Partner of its Chicago office.
- The firm's product liability and consumer disputes team has grown over 100% in the past five years, with a strong focus on food and beverage clients.
- Stiehl is the fifth lateral hire in Norton Rose Fulbright's Chicago office in 2026, bringing the total to 46 lawyers, including 18 partners.
The big picture
Norton Rose Fulbright's latest hire underscores the growing complexity of consumer litigation, particularly in the food and beverage sector. The firm's aggressive expansion in Chicago reflects broader industry trends of legal market consolidation and the increasing need for specialized litigation capabilities. With over 1,200 lawyers globally, Norton Rose Fulbright is positioning itself as a dominant player in high-stakes consumer disputes.
What we're watching
- Practice Growth
- Whether Norton Rose Fulbright can sustain its rapid expansion in consumer markets litigation through additional high-profile hires.
- Client Demand
- The pace at which hybrid product liability-style class actions will continue to rise, driving further need for specialized litigation services.
- Market Positioning
- How Norton Rose Fulbright's strategic investments in Chicago will impact its competitive standing against other global law firms.