In Times of Russian Conflict, What Should Big Law Say?

You can’t have your blini and eat it too.

That seems to be the lesson that Norton Rose Fulbright is learning with its recent effort to protect its Russian practice as President Vladamir Putin continues his relentless invasion of Ukraine. On Monday, multiple media outlets reported that the firm, which has a Moscow office, was banning its lawyers from commenting about sanctions against Russia.

At a time when Russia looms as the pariah of the world, and an increasing number of law firms are ditching their Russian clients (are they making a moral statement or doing so because they won’t ...