Nortons ups Paris stakes

London and international law firm Norton Rose is moving its Paris office to larger premises following an increase in staff from eight to 18 lawyers in the past three years.

Francis Chronnel, head of the Paris office, said it was established in 1990, with one partner and one assistant, to draw up financing deals for French banks lending money to the aviation industry, particularly Airbus. That work has grown, as has work in ship and project finance and French corporate practice.

The Paris office currently has four French and 14 English lawyers and is aiming to recruit a further four or five French lawyers. In the long term, Chronnel said he wants an equal number of French and English lawyers.