Kenneth L. Stewart ’79, a corporate partner in Norton Rose Fulbright in Dallas who is the firm’s nonexecutive chair in the United States, is serving as the firm’s global chair for a one-year term that began May 1.
Similar to a nonexecutive chairman of the board of a corporation, the role of the global chair of Norton Rose Fulbright rotates among the chairs of the firm’s five regions. Stewart, who is chair of the firm’s U.S. operations, replaced Sbu Gule, chair of Norton Rose Fulbright in South Africa, whose term as global chair ended April 30.
In a written statement, Peter Martyr, the firm’s London-based global chief executive, said the appointment of Stewart to the global chair role “demonstrates the importance of the United States to the development of our global business.”
Stewart said his goals for the year are to continue to serve clients worldwide in a “better and deeper way” and to learn more about the firm and its lawyers around the world. He expects to travel a lot during the year. “I will spend a good bit of time with clients and spend some time in different regions around the world,” Stewart said.
Norton Rose Fulbright has more than 3,700 lawyers. The firm was created in June 2013 when Houston-based Fulbright & Jaworski combined with U.K. firm Norton Rose. Stewart was involved in the negotiations.