Norton Rose Fulbright has hired veteran corporate lawyer Rajiv Khanna from US national firm Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney to bolster its cross-border transactions team.

Khanna joins as a partner in the firm’s New York office where his practice will focus on M&A deals and special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) work. He regularly advises clients in the tech and life sciences sectors on cross-border M&A, securities offerings, corporate finance matters, project finance and real estate.

Jeff Cody, NRF’s US managing partner, said: “Rajiv is a fantastic lawyer with impressive experience advising clients on complex cross-border deals. With more lawyers in New York than any other US office, we are committed to continued growth in this important market, especially in our corporate practice.”

Khanna arrives after about four years at Buchanan Ingersoll, having joined from Baker & Hostetler in 2018. He was previously a partner at Seyfarth Shaw and K&L Gates, and also had earlier stints at Greenberg Traurig, Sidley Austin and legacy firm Dewey & LeBoeuf. 

Scarlet McNellie, NRF’s US head of corporate, M&A and securities, said: “Global corporations who rely on us for guidance on international transactions will appreciate Rajiv’s knowledge and experience. His global M&A capabilities, and particularly his focus on India, will be instrumental in meeting clients’ evolving business needs.”

The firm has been stepping up its focus on its US business this year. Last month, it boosted its West Coast projects team with the hire of renewable energy lawyer Elizabeth Sluder from Morrison & Foerster. Sluder joined as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. That followed the arrival of a team of 11 lawyers in April to launch the firm’s Chicago office – including five partners – who joined from a mix of firms including K&L Gates, DLA Piper and Polsinelli. The Windy City opening was the latest phase of the firm’s Midwest expansion, having also opened in Minneapolis earlier in April with another 11-strong team from boutique trial law firm Blackwell Burke.

Underscoring the firm’s North American focus, 35 of the 54 lawyers who were promoted to partner in January were either based in the US or Canada.