Norton Rose has announced tie-ups with Canadian firm Ogilvy Renault and South African firm Deneys Reitz.

The unions see the firm become a top 10 global practice by number of lawyers, with more than 2500 lawyers in 38 offices, and with combined revenue or more than $1 billion (AUD$1.01bn).

Both mergers will go live on 1 June 2011.

Don Boyd, group deputy chief executive of the Norton Rose Group, who remains in his current role, said: “We are now part of a one billion dollar firm with the global reach to service the needs of major corporations as they seek acquisitions and do deals all around the world - particularly in our key areas of energy, resources and financial institutions.

“Emerging countries want resources and plenty of them. There are only a few nations in the world that can deliver resources on the scale required by Asian and particularly Chinese companies alone which puts resource rich nations like Australia, Africa and Canada in powerful positions and which influence how legal services are going to be delivered.”

Ogilvy Renault managing partner John Coleman and Deneys Reitz deputy chairman Rob Otty will join the Norton Rose executive committee. Peter Martyr will continue as chief executive and Stephen Parish will remain group chairman.

“As our Canadian clients become increasingly successful on the international stage, we need to be able to support their international growth,” said Coleman.

“As soon as the initial discussions were underway it became clear that we shared a common global vision particularly as it relates to emerging markets such as Asia Pacific. We have strong synergies with the Group, including practice areas, industry sectors and geographic expansion. This is a tremendous development for the firm and our clients.”

Reitz commented on the rapidly growing economic region Africa, saying Norton Rose Group’s increasing involvement in African business will provide the Group with a springboard to become the premier legal practice in Africa.

“As part of Norton Rose Group, we expect to be at the forefront of developing Africa’s business ties with the rest of the world and in particular with Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.”