To borrow an expression, Australia’s Slater & Gordon was not and is not your father’s law firm. It’s originally an Australian plaintiff’s firm. The firm went public through a 2007 IPO and continues to use the securities markets to raise cash for acquisitions. See Wikipedia for some history and links.
Over the years, Slater & Gordon acquired over 40 other law firms. The firm currently is on tear of acquiring UK law firms. The acquired UK firm’s include a significant asbestos litigation practice at John Pickering and Partners, the personal injury firm Fenton’s and regional firms Taylor Vintners (Cambridge) personal injury practices and Goodmans (Liverpoool). According to this article, Slater & Gordon stock is the 9th best performing stock on the Australian exchange.
The firm’s web site includes the following statement about its international practice; note the mention of asbestos litigation:
"International agency and client services
Slater & Gordon provides international agency and client services in a broad range of practice areas including commercial disputes and litigation, enforcement of foreign judgments, business advisory services, holiday incident claims, asbestos law, workplace compensation, transport incidents, general compensation, medical law, family law, wills & probate.
Incident Claims
If you have been involved in an incident whilst on holiday, travelling or working abroad you may be able to recover substantial compensation. Slater & Gordon’s International Claims & Services Group advise and pursue claims for Australians involved in incidents overseas, and international visitors and tourists who have been involved in incidents whilst in Australia.
Our International Claims & Services Group is able to help with the complex issues that can arise when you have been involved in an incident, and work with a panel of international specialist compensation lawyers to make sure that in every case, you receive comprehensive and specialist advice."
One take away? Globalization keeps happening to the litigation industry, and will continue.
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