K&L Gates announced last month that it is going to open a twenty-fourth office in the United States–and its fortieth office worldwide–by launching a location in Charleston, South Carolina, with the addition of a seven-partner team from the Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein company.

“South Carolina has one of the most business-friendly public policy climates in the United States…and we expect it to be, increasingly, a destination for national and international business,” according to Peter Kalis, K&L Gates’s chairman and global managing partner.

Joining K&L Gates to open the new office are the former Parker Poe partners Matthew Norton, J. Walker Coleman IV, Joshua Dixon, Theodore Manuel, Bryan Walpole III, Jason Walton, and James Bruce. Norton is going to join the new firm’s global resort and hospitality practice, while Coleman and Dixon will work over in the employment and commercial litigation areas. Manuel, Walpole, and Walton will all join K&L Gate’s banking and tax group; Bruce is a big corporate transactional attorney. All of the seven departures leave Parker Poe, which will maintain the six offices that are scattered throughout the Carolinas, with half as many partners in the Charleston office as before.

Kalis says that he expects an unspecified number of staffers and lower-level attorneys to try and make the move to K&L Gates from Parker Poe, but that there is no specific certain number target for the Charleston offices as of now. Instead, he says that the firm is going to grow ”opportunistically and strategically” over a certain amount of time.

In welcoming in the new additions, Kalis touts their regional and international experience, especially in the resort and hospitality companies. This group is K&L Gates in a perfect position to pick up any additional assignments if, as many of the observers have suggested,the city see some growth of corporations in the manufacturing, aviation and automobile industries.

The widening of the Panama Canal–which is scheduled for completion in 2014–is being viewed as a boon to the various East Coast port cities, also including those over in South Carolina. The Port of Charleston is already the fourth-business port in this entire country, and the city is looking for more ways to secure financing to make itself more accessible to large ships. Back in April, it was noted that the predicted a surge in shipping activity has already attracted one law firm to Charleston: Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, which acquired 44-lawyer firm Buist Moore Smythe McGee over in Charleston. Kalis says that in addition to trying to help the Charleston office attract a new business, and expansion of port activity ”harmonizes nicely with an existing practice of the firm”: it’s maritime practice. While is firm’s maritime group that already exists is based in Washington, D.C., Kalis says that he expects maritime specialists there to work in concert with the ones that are based inside of Charleston.

• Morning Roundup
• Merchant & Gould Opens New York Office, Adds Partners
• DLA Piper Places its Flag in Turkey
• Morning Roundup
• K&L Gates Bolsters London Corporate Practice

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP announced that it has established its fortieth office worldwide with the launch of a Charleston office. This also marks the firm’s 24^th location in the United States.

The office launch follows the addition of seven partners, all from Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. The partners are Matthew J. Norton, J. Walker Coleman IV, Joshua W. Dixon, Theodore B. Manuel, Bryan L. Walpole III, Jason P. Walton, and James S. Bruce.

The new Charleston office will strengthen the firm’s regional, national, and international capabilities in practices including resort and hospitality, labor and employment, litigation, banking, tax, corporate/M&A, and real estate, among others.

K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “With its expanding port and with South Carolina’s distinctive business-friendly climate,Charleston is uniquely well positioned to continue to attract U.S.and international businesses. The practices of our new partners, moreover, nicely complement our firmwide resources and add leadership-caliber lawyers to our firm. As but one example, we expect that Matt Norton will be a leader in our global resort and hospitality practice.”

With a practice focusing on commercial real estate, resort development, hotels, golf, and real estate financing, Norton advises clients on projects and transactions throughout the southeastern United States, Caribbean, and Latin America.

Norton was quoted as saying: “K&L Gates is the first law firm to establish an office inSouth Carolinathat also has significant offices in world financial centers such as New York, London, Frankfort, Tokyo, Dubai, Hong Kong, and São Paulo. As a result, K&L Gates is the ideal platform for Charleston and South Carolina’s growing and dynamic economy and our international resort and hospitality practice.”

Coleman is an experienced litigator, focusing his practice on complex, high-stakes litigation with an emphasis on employment, intellectual property, commercial disputes, and class actions. He represents regional, domestic, and multinational companies in industries ranging from athletic equipment and aviation to banking, health care, manufacturing, telecommunications, and textiles.

Coleman is joined in the employment and commercial litigation areas byDixon, whose practice also includes white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and appellate litigation.

Coleman was quoted as saying: “The breadth and depth of K&L Gates’ practices, in combination with its global reach in a single integrated firm, uniquely suits the broader needs of our existing clients doing business around the world, as well as the firm’s multinational clients doing business inSouth Carolina.”

Manuel, Walpole, and Walton work in the banking and tax group, where they represent lenders, servicers, and borrowers in a variety of financing transactions and agreements; banks, investment funds, and private equity firms in the acquisition, workout, and disposition of distressed assets; and real estate and resort developers in the financing, sale, and acquisition of properties, in addition to advising on the tax aspects of such transactions.

Bruce is a corporate transactional lawyer, and represents Fortune 500, middle-market, and emerging growth companies across a variety of industries in transactions including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions, and strategic joint ventures. He also has substantial experience handling distressed debt acquisitions and representing real estate developers and owners and operators of golf, hotel, and resort properties.

Global law firm K&L Gates has over 2,000 attorneys in 40 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and theMiddle East. The firm counts as clients numerous GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 100, and FTSE 100 corporations, as well as growth and middle market companies, entrepreneurs, capital market participants and public sector entities.

• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil
• Baker & McKenzie Adds Ricardo S. Martinez to Latin American Finance and Transactional Practice
• King & Spalding Announces Plans to Open Office in Moscow; Hires Five Attorneys
• Revenue Director Joins Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
• Morning Roundup

In recent days, law firm K&L Gates added attorneys to both its Dallas and Spokane offices.

In Dallas, Jason D. Krieser and Shawn C. Helms join as partners in the firm’s outsourcing and commercial transactions practice. Both join K&L Gates from Jones Day.

Krieser is internationally recognized for his work on business process and information technology outsourcing transactions, particularly offshore outsourcing. He has represented some of the most prominent financial services, energy, communications, transportation, technology, and manufacturing companies on complex licensing and services arrangements, cloud computing matters, and joint ventures, as well as privacy and data security issues.

Helms focuses on complex transactions involving technology and intellectual property, with broad experience in the areas of information technology, telecommunications, and outsourcing. As a leader in the technology and outsourcing fields, he has written numerous articles on technology law and related topics. Previously, he served as in-house counsel at Sprint Corporation.

Craig Budner, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Dallas office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Jason and Shawn are energizing additions to our outsourcing and technology practices and add strength to our industry-leading capabilities in these areas. We are thrilled that they chose to join K&L Gates.”

Krieser and Helms recently co-authored a legal treatise on outsourcing law titled “Outsourcing: Law and Business” (Law Journal Press).

In K&L Gates Spokane office, Christian M. Lucky joins as a corporate partner. Lucky joins from the office of Stoel Rives LLP.

Lucky has experience in such areas as corporation and project finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, and project development. He is a corporate transactional lawyer with a wide-ranging practice, and He represents a broad array of domestic and international clients, publicly-traded and private, in the financial services, venture capital, energy development, clean technology, and food production sectors, among others.

Philip J. Carstens, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Spokane office was quoted as saying: “We are excited to have Christian join K&L Gates and believe that his background in corporate finance will be of much benefit to the firm’s clients both regionally and internationally.”

Global law firm K&L Gates has over 2,000 attorneys in 39 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. The firm counts as clients numerous GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 100, and FTSE 100 corporations, as well as growth and middle market companies, entrepreneurs, capital market participants and public sector entities.

The firm’s delivery of legal services is supported at both the individual office level and through seven firmwide practice areas: Corporate and Transactional; Energy, Infrastructure and Resources; Financial Services; Intellectual Property; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; and Regulatory and Policy. Within each of these practice areas are subject matter and industry-based practice groups.

In 2009 and 2010, the firm’s revenues exceeded $1 Billion. According to the July 2010 issue of the UK publication Legal Business, the firm “has further cemented its position as the Global 100’s fastest growing firm.”

• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Brussels and Washington, D.C. Offices
• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Palo Alto and Paris Offices
• Squire Sanders Adds Pair of Attorneys to Frankfurt Office
• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil
• Polsinelli Shughart Adds Two Attorneys to Growing Dallas Office

In recent days, K&L Gates LLP announced the opening of an office in São Paulo, Brazil.

The office is the firm’s first in South America, and its 39th worldwide. New York finance partner Marc J. Veilleux and Washington, D.C./London corporate and securities partner Alan J. Berkeley will lead the launch of the office. Per the requirements of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), the São Paulo office is licensed as a foreign legal consultancy.

K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Through the growth and diversification of its robust economy, Brazil has been propelled to the forefront of the 21st century marketplace for legal services. Our São Paulo office is a notable and distinguished addition to our global client offering.”

K&L Gates’ São Paulo office will enable the firm to counsel clients in establishing, developing, and managing their operations in Brazil. At the same time, the firm will be able to expand its long-established work for major Brazilian and international industrial and financial services clients around the world. The firm has significant expertise in the areas of international finance and capital markets, investment management, construction and project development, intellectual property, tax, and arbitration.

In addition, the São Paulo office and its clients will benefit from the resources of a fully integrated global law firm and especially from the firm’s worldwide energy, infrastructure and resources (EIR) and Asia-based business and investment practices.

Marc J. Veilleux was quoted as saying: “Brazil is a dynamic and growing economy, home to many of Latin America’s most significant companies, its largest stock market, and in recent years, its most ambitious infrastructure projects. Many of our clients have identified Brazil as central to their global operations and strategy and we fully expect the country to be a continued recipient of significant inbound investment. We also believe that the trend of Brazilian companies investing abroad will only continue to accelerate in future years. We are excited that our São Paulo office will allow us to better serve our clients in this important economy and throughout Latin America.”

Veilleux concentrates his practice on international finance, infrastructure, mergers and acquisitions, technology outsourcings, and other strategic alliances. He provides counsel on a regular basis to Brazilian and other Latin American financial institutions and companies on matters including structured trade and commodity financings, asset-based loans, and project financings, as well as debt capital markets offerings.

Berkeley is a corporate and securities regulatory lawyer with over forty years of experience. He has counseled corporations and their managements and Boards of Directors on both commercial and transformative matters (including mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions for privately-held and public companies), crisis response, and regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other securities regulatory bodies. Berkeley is a frequent lecturer on corporate and securities law, and has previously served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown and George Washington law schools. For many years he has been primary outside counsel to the Partners of the Americas, a bilateral non-governmental organization founded in 1964 as a private ancillary to President Kennedy’s “Alliance for Progress” and which has extensive programs in Brazil and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

K&L Gates has 39 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

• K&L Gates Launch of South Carolina Office is 40th Worldwide
• Allen & Overy Announces Launch of Office In Istanbul
• Allen & Overy Expands Australian Practice
• DLA Piper Announces Launch of New International Securities Group, Along With New Partner
• Former Linklaters Managing Partner Tony Angel to Join DLA Piper as Co-Global Chairman?

In recent days, global law firm K&L Gates LLP added Jeroen Smets as a corporate partner in its Brussels office. In addition, Fatima S. Sulaiman joined as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. investment management, hedge funds and alternative investments practice. Prior to her joining as a partner, she practiced from 1997 to 2009.

Smets, who joins K&L Gates from Taylor Wessing LLP, advises clients on a broad range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and structured and leveraged finance transactions, with a focus on management buyouts and acquisition finance. He has practiced in Brussels for over fifteen years.

Martin Lane, K&L Gates’ Managing Partner, Europe was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted that Jeroen has joined our growing Brussels office. His experience and deal track record will add a further dimension to our transactional practice there, which assists international businesses and institutional investors seeking to grow their operations in Belgium.”

Smets was quoted as saying: “It is a unique opportunity for me to join K&L Gates’ success story and strengthen the corporate and regulatory team in Brussels. The resources this firm can mobilize across the globe are impressive and the integrated corporate and M&A practice is recognized as one of the legal industry’s leading practices. It is a very exciting prospect to be able to be part of the further development of the practice in Belgium and internationally and to provide a first class service to our clients through this platform.”

Smets is the second new partner to join K&L Gates’ Brussels office. In recent months, Flavia Distefano joined as a competition and regulatory partner.

Sulaiman advises clients, including investment companies and advisory firms and independent directors, on a variety of transactional, regulatory, and compliance matters. These include mergers and acquisitions, fund reorganizations, contract advice, federal securities law disclosure, and compliance program review and development.

David T. Case, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C., office was quoted as saying: “Fatima’s experience in the financial services sectors will be a tremendous asset to K&L Gates’ clients. We’re delighted to have her back.”

Global law firm K&L Gates has over 1900 lawyers practicing out of 38 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and represents numerous GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 100, and FTSE 100 corporations, in addition to growth and middle market companies, entrepreneurs, capital market participants and public sector entities. The firm has seven practice areas, which are Corporate and Transactional; Energy, Infrastructure and Resources; Financial Services; Intellectual Property; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; and Regulatory and Policy. 

It is ranked as the ninth largest law firm in the United States by the National Law Journal. The firm is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Palo Alto and Paris Offices
• K&L Gates Adds Partners to Dallas and Spokane Offices
• Global Law Firm K&L Gates Adds Retired U.S. Congressman Bart Gordon to D.C. Office
• Gibson Dunn Launches New FDA Practice
• K&L Gates Launch of South Carolina Office is 40th Worldwide

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added partners to both its Paris office, as well as its Palo Alto office in recent weeks.

Etienne Drouard joins as an intellectual property partner in the firm’s Paris office. Associate Claude-Etienne Armingaud joins Drouard. He has worked with Drouard for six years, most recently at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Drouard focuses his practice on intellectual property, information technology, and data protection law. He has significant experience in transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters at the French, European, and international levels.

Martin Lane, K&L Gates’ Managing Partner, Europe was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted to welcome Etienne to K&L Gates’ Paris office, where he introduces a new and important practice dimension.”

Drouard was quoted as saying: “I am thrilled to join such a well-established practice at K&L Gates, notably in Europe, and to assist in making the Paris office a part of the firm’s global IP/IT platform.”

The addition of Drouard is the second this year to K&L Gates’ Paris office. The firm welcomed real estate partner Edouard Vitry as part of a team from Simmons & Simmons LLP in March.

Michele Floyd joined K&L Gates Palo Alto office as a partner in the firm’s commercial disputes practice. She joins from Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo LLP.

Floyd has significant experience defending companies in class actions involving antitrust, unfair competition, and false advertising claims, with a particular focus on complex business litigation. She has also provided representation for telecommunications, pharmaceutical, retail, medical, financial services, and Internet companies in state and federal courts across the United States, before the Federal Communications Commission, and in dealings with the Department of Justice. Often, she advises her clients on the development of advertising campaigns, promotions, and pricing programs to minimize the risk of litigation. Previously, Floyd served as a Senior Legal Director for Commercial Litigation at Yahoo! Inc.

Jon Michaelson, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Palo Alto office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Michele brings another dimension to the firm’s practice in Silicon Valley. Her knowledge and experience in the class action arena across a wide range of industries will be of great benefit to clients here and throughout our firm.”

In addition, earlier this year, Susan Hollander, Britt Anderson and Jerrold Petruzzelli joined the firm’s Palo Alto office.

K&L Gates LLP has over 2,000 lawyers practicing in 38 offices located on three continents. The firm represents leading global corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals. Clients include numerous GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 100, and FTSE 100 corporations. In 2009 and 2011, Legal Business included the firm on the short-list for “US Law Firm of the Year”.

• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Brussels and Washington, D.C. Offices
• K&L Gates Adds Partners to Dallas and Spokane Offices
• K&L Gates Adds Partners to Los Angeles and Palo Alto Offices
• Reed Smith Launches European and Middle East Private Equity Practice
• Morgan Lewis Picks Up New Energy Projects Partner from Simmons

Polsinelli Shughart has added two highly experienced and recognized attorneys to its growing Dallas office – shareholders John C. Cox and Rick A. Daniel.

Both join from K&L Gates, and will assist clients with financial services matters.

Polsinelli Shughart Chairman Russ Welsh was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Dallas has been a good move for our firm and clients. The community has welcomed and accepted our firm, and we’re excited to be a part of the growing economy of Dallas. With the addition of John Cox and Rick Daniel, we continue to expand our firm’s presence in Dallas with experienced practitioners.”

Cox focuses his practice on representing lenders, including regional and national financial institutions, in a wide range of commercial and asset based loans across industries secured by virtually every type of collateral, including real estate and oil and gas. As well, Cox represents real estate developers and investors. Notably, his real estate clients include the largest residential developer in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Recently, he represented a developer in closing over $100,000,000 in equity investments and multi-layered financing for a 2000+ acre master planned, mixed use development. This was the largest development of its kind in the country this year. In addition, he represents oil and gas exploration and production companies and mineral owners.

Daniel focuses his practice on representing lenders and borrowers in local, national and international commercial lending transactions which are secured by all types of real property and personal property collateral. He negotiates and documents new loans, loan refinancings, and workouts and restructurings of troubled loans. In addition, he has experience representing clients in real estate transactions and in connection with general commercial contracts.

Cox and Daniel join Jonathan K. Henderson, William E. Swart and Chad K. Knight, who opened the Dallas office in May. Henderson specializes in transactional regulatory matters for physician groups and health care providers. Swart focuses his practice on private equity transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, finance, commercial lending and board of director representations. Knight is experienced with mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and securities law, and concentrates on health care, including transactional and regulatory issues related to recent reform legislation.

Cox was quoted as saying: “We liked the national resources of Polsinelli Shughart with offices in Chicago, Denver and Phoenix, which matched our clients’ needs. We are pleased to join one of the most respected and fastest-growing law firms in the country and look forward to helping grow the Dallas office.”

Daniel was quoted as saying: “The Midwestern rate structure was attractive to our clients. We liked the people we met at Polsinelli and the level of high-quality practitioners. It’s a good match for our clients.”

With more than 540 attorneys, Polsinelli Shughart is a national law firm with offices around the country. In July, the firm acquired Quateman LLP, which was formerly California’s biggest women-owned municipal bond counsel firm.

• K&L Gates Adds Partners to Dallas and Spokane Offices
• Polsinelli Shughart Merger Finalized
• Ex-Congressman Joining Polsinelli-Shughart Firm
• K&L Gates Adds On Seven Partners From Parker Poe To Launch In SC
• K&L Gates Launch of South Carolina Office is 40th Worldwide

June 2011 would forever remain a remarkable period for Gary Qualls as he is welcomed into the prestigious society of Arbitrators, which means he is now free to display the AAA (American Arbitration Association) tag. This is highest honorary title that can be conferred on any alternative dispute resolution provider (ADR). The association has prominent and respectable personalities in its roster.

Read the full article here:
K&L Gates Health Care Litigator named AAA Neutral

• K&L Gates Adds On Seven Partners From Parker Poe To Launch In SC
• K&L Gates Launch of South Carolina Office is 40th Worldwide
• K&L Gates Adds Partners to Dallas and Spokane Offices
• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil
• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Brussels and Washington, D.C. Offices

The team joins from K&L Gates, as Fulbright opens an office in Western Pennsylvania, the center of activity for Marcellus Shale natural gas production.

Partner Ken Komoroski, a recognized shale gas leader and advocate, will head Fulbright’s new office in the Southpointe Energy Complex near Pittsburgh. Former K&L Gates partners, including Amy Barrette and Jeremy Mercer, along with two associates and a counsel also join.

Steven B. Pfeiffer, the Chair of Fulbright’s Executive Committee was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “The development of unconventional natural gas reserves has transformed the energy landscape. We believe Ken’s team is the strongest energy and environmental legal team advising energy companies in shale gas development in the Marcellus Shale. Energy is a core practice for our firm, and we are committed to expanding strategically to serve the clients who look to us for advice on high stakes transactional, litigation and environmental work. This group of talented lawyers fits squarely within our national and global strategy.”

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP is one of the largest law firms in the United States with nearly 900 lawyers and more than 60 integrated practice areas. There are seventeen Fulbright offices world-wide, with international locations in Beijing, London, Munich, Hong Kong, Dubai and Riyadh.

• Former Federal Trade Commissioner Joins Fulbright & Jaworski
• Fulbright Names New Executive Director and Office Heads
• Wednesday Morning Roundup
• Fingers Crossed at Fulbright
• K&L Gates Adds On Seven Partners From Parker Poe To Launch In SC

Seth A. Gold will join the firm’s Los Angeles office as a member of the firm’s intellectual property litigation group, and Jerrold F. Petruzzelli will join the Palo Alto office as part of the firm’s corporate practice.

The pair joins K&L Gates from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, and focus their practices on the representation of emerging technology and new media enterprises.

Paul W. Sweeney, Jr., Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Los Angeles office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted to expand the IP litigation capabilities in the Los Angeles office, and add depth to our entertainment and media practice.”

Gold has signigicant knowledge about the business models and software applications used for online advertising. He provides legal counsel to both public and private companies on issues involving trademark and copyright infringement, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, as well as issues involving internet continuity programs, keyword advertising, the Communications Decency Act, and Federal Trade Commission inquiries.

Petruzzelli is well known for his corporate representation of technology-based emerging and public companies, as well as venture capital and private equity firms. He has practiced in the Silicon Valley for nearly thirty years.

Jon Michaelson, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Palo Alto office was quoted as saying: “Jerry’s first-rate lawyering skills, extensive experience, and sterling reputation in Silicon Valley add strength to our growing corporate practice in Northern California.”

K&L Gates LLP employs nearly 2,000 lawyers in 37 offices on three continents. The firm represents leading global corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals.

• Nationally Recognized Advertising Attorney Joins Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
• Cooley LLP Announces Opening of Office in Shanghai, China
• Leading Patent Litigator Joins Sheppard Mullin as Co-Chair of IP Practice Group
• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Palo Alto and Paris Offices
• Lowenstein Sandler Adds 8 Person IP Team to Palo Alto Office

From 2007 to 2010, Gordon served as Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology. He was also a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and served on the Financial Services, Budget, and Rules Committees.

Having spent 26 years in Congress, Gordon possesses significant experience and deep understanding of the legislative and regulatory process that will enable him to advise clients on a wide range of matters, including innovation and technology-related issues, including clean technology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and nuclear energy.
 
Peter J. Kalis, K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Bart’s Committee service in the House was extraordinary by any measure and will add considerably to our policy practice’s capabilities in the technology-dense 21st Century and especially in the energy sector.”

Among Gordon’s numerous and notable achievements during his congressional career include his 2007 support of the landmark legislation, America COMPETES Act, which encourages federal investments in innovation in order to make the U.S. more competitive. Additionally, in 2010 he was instrumental in the passage of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. Gordon was consistently a strong supporter for nanotechnology, and played a large role in developing and passing the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, which encouraged the federal government to promote the transfer of nanotechnology breakthroughs from laboratories to commercial products. Gordon also has extensive working relationships throughout the European Union.

Gordon joins 50 plus other lawyers and policy professionals in K&L Gates’ bipartisan public policy and law practice, which is among the five largest law and lobbying firms in the United States.

• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Brussels and Washington, D.C. Offices
• Morning Roundup
• K&L Gates Launch of South Carolina Office is 40th Worldwide
• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil
• Law Firm Kirkland Ellis Commits $2.75 Million to Stanford Law School to Fund Scholars’ Program and Annual Forum

Milbank added lateral partner Dieter Yih to launch a practice in Hong Kong in 2011… 

A federal judge in New Orleans appointed a 15-member plaintiff’s steering committee that will oversee the hundreds of lawsuits filed against BP…

A former director of the Federal Highway Administration and Environmental Protective Agency joined K&L Gates as an advisor in the firm’s public policy practice in Washington D.C…

• Federal Judge Appoints Steering Committee in BP Oil Spill
• K&L Gates Adds Rothenstein to D.C. Public Policy Practice
• Milbank Readies For Expansion in Hong Kong
• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil
• Morning Roundup

Rothenstein served on Capitol Hill and in various federal agencies for more than 30 years. He most recently was director of the Office of Legislative Affairs and Policy Communications with the Federal Highway Administration.

David T. Case, administrative partner of K&L Gates Washington D.C. office, said Rothenstein’s “insider’s view” of how policy initiatives move through Congress “makes him a tremendous asset to our clients.”

K&L Gates is one of the five largest law and lobbying firms in the U.S. and serves a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies.

• Morning Roundup
• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil
• Morning Roundup
• Crowell & Moring Adds Two Attorneys to Environmental Practice
• Morning Roundup

Opportunity For Firms To Re-learn and Re-market Real-Estate Practice…

Legal Heavyweights Speak About Arizona Immigration Legislation…

Clifford Chance To Deepen Bankruptcy Practice Group…

Firms Hire MDs to Combat Government Suits Over Medicare Billing…

Lucado Law Firm Opposes BP’s Motion To Have All Lawsuits Involving Gulf Oil Spill to Houston…

Nevada School District Hires Littler Mendelson…

• Opportunity For Firms To Re-learn and Re-market Real-Estate Practice
• Legal Heavyweights Speak About Arizona Immigration Legislation
• Firms Hire MDs To Combat Government Suits Over Medicare Billing
• Nevada School District Hires Littler Mendelson
• Morning Roundup

Albeit that the real-estate business in the last two years has taken a turn for the worst, the business of real-estate related law has not, according to the post.  Firms have been actively restructuring their practices to deal with the recent fall out in the real estate market.

The post focuses particularly on firms in Pennsylvania, one of the markets hit hardest by the real-estate bubble bust. Although the firms highlighted in the post, which include Ballard Spahr, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and K&L Gates, showed a decline of nearly $30 million in revenue in the years 2008 and 2009 in their real-estate related practices, the post also emphasized that these firms, among others in both Pennsylvania and the nation, are on the cusp of launching initiatives to tackle the new real-estate market landscape.

• Morning Roundup
• Morning Roundup
• K&L Gates Adds Partners in Palo Alto and Paris Offices
• Law Firms Dealing With Mandatory Retirement Policies
• March 9th Worst Day for Law Firm Layoffs So Far

American Lawyer

Taking a closer look at the four categories we find that Baker & McKenzie was the highest revenue-grossing firm last year with just over $2.1 billion. It supplants Skadden to take the top spot for the first time since 1994. Eleven firms topped $1 billion in gross revenue, including K&L Gates, which reached the level for the first time.

Overall, total revenue was off by 3.4 percent, with the firms grossing a total of $64.8 billion, down roughly $2.3 billion from the prior year.

More than half, 56 firms, showed drops in revenue per lawyer, which the report notes is “our best measure of a firm’s financial health.” Debevoise & Plimpton had the biggest decline at 19.1 percent, which dropped them out of the top 10.

Revenue per lawyer was down $15,697, to $802,381, a 2 percent fall. This was the second consecutive year in which RPL fell.

A total of 54 firms reduced their head counts last year, cutting more than 3,000 lawyers overall.

As for profits per partner, 16 firms had PPP exceeding $2 million in 2009. That is the same number as 2008, though that group has seen some changes. Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and Davis Polk & Wardwell replaced Debevoise & Plimpton and Dechert in that group.

The Top 10 firms based on revenue:

Baker & McKenzie, $2.11 billion

Skadden, $2.10 billion

Latham & Watkins, $1.82 billion

Jones Day $1.52 billion

Kirkland & Ellis $1.43 billion

Sidley Austin, $1.35 billion

White & Case, $1.3 billion

Weil Gotshal, $1.23 billion

Greenberg Traurig $1.17 billion

Mayer Brown, $1.12 billion

• Morning Roundup
• Skadden Follows Cravath’s Lead for Bonuses
• Morning Roundup
• Media Company ALM Alters Operations
• Wachtell Again Atop Vault Law 100

In the story, Greenberg Traurig partner Leslie Corwin called the provision “one of the biggest issues facing the legal profession and other professional service firms today.”

When the American Bar Association recommended law firms end mandatory retirement policies back in 2007, several firms heeded the advice, according to the report, including Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Pillsbury, and K & L Gates. Kelley Drye joined the ranks last week when it announced it had dropped its mandatory retirement policy in the face of the EEOC lawsuit.

According to the report, only 38 percent of firm leaders who have set retirement ages felt it should be enforced. The story goes on to note industry experts believe firms are liable “to pay the price when partners forgo retirement benefits to defect to competing firms and take their clients with them.”

The New York Law Journal lists several New York firms that still have mandatory retirement. They include Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which has a retirement age of 65; Weil Gotshal & Manges has 68 as its mandatory retirement age; Paul Weiss lists the age at 70; and at Willkie Farr, the age is 65.

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According to TheLawyer.com,  revenue for the top 10 U.S. firms in London fell by an average of 12 percent and among the top 30 firms revenue was down by 5 percent.  Latham & Watkins, which saw its revenue increase by a mere $1.1 million, was in fact the lone firm out of the top 20 to increase revenue.

White & Case again garnered the most revenue among U.S. firms in London, but even it saw its revenue plummet by 20 percent to $197-million.  Runner-up Baker & McKenzie’s revenue fell by 24 percent to $184.5 million.

The biggest drops in revenue percentage-wise were felt by Mayer Brown and K&L Gates. Both firms dropped 28 percent, with Mayer Brown down to $146.3 million and K&L Gates to $43.3 million.

The biggest increase last year came from WilmerHale, which moved from 23^rd in 2008 to 17^th in 2009 through an $8.2 million increase in revenue.

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The 50 highest-grossing lobbying practices took in more than $1.1 billion in fees in 2009, according to the study. Overall revenue for the firms on the list was up 5.5 percent, which followed an increase of just 2.3 percent in 2008. No fewer than 33 of the firms on the list posted an increase in gross revenue in 2009.

“Clearly, this was a great year to be a Democratic lobbying firm,” said David Brown, editor in chief of The National Law Journal. “In the decade that we’ve been producing this survey, I can’t recall a time when so many firms saw such significant increases in revenue over the prior year. There’s no recession on K Street.”

Law firms took in about 66 percent of all lobbying revenue, which is about the same percentage as 2008. A major catalyst for the increase in lobbying revenue was the overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Big winners included the Podesta Group, which publicly reported $8.2 million in fees from clients lobbying on health issues in 2009; Alston & Bird with $3.9 million; Holland & Knight with $4.2 million; and Capitol Tax Partners with $3.6 million.

The top ten firms on the “Influence 50” were:

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“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that after more than 100 years in continuous operation, Darby & Darby will begin the process of winding down the firm in anticipation of an orderly dissolution…While we continue to have exceptional clients, from individual inventors to Fortune Global 500 Companies, and remain profitable, many of the factors frequently cited in other firms’ demise have similarly impacted us.”

Media and PR manager Mike Rick has also stated that reports of a merger with K&L Gates are not true nor was there any confirmation or indication that K&L Gates was planning to hire Darby lawyers.

Darby & Darby has approximately 200 attorneys and offices in New York, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Palm Beach Gardens and Frankfurt.

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Akerman Senterfitt opens a Las Vegas office…

Arent Fox names Mark Katz it’s new chairman…

The Massachusetts Bar Association will honor Fish & Richardson for their pro bono work…

Greenberg Traurig defends their firing of an alleged thief…

K&L Gates bolsters it’s London practice with a pair of partners…

Dewey & LeBoeuf lay off 30 staffers…

Loeb & Loeb create a new video game practice…

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K & L Gates

Liederman has experience in cross-border transactions and counsels on a wide range of corporate and transactional areas, including mergers and acquisitions, complex joint ventures, capital market, and technology and outsourcing agreements. He has advised clients on matters throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, according to a firm press release.

“Both Carl and Keith’s considerable experience in dealing with pan-European, complex M&A assignments perfectly complement K&L Gates’ existing multinational corporate practice,” said Tony Griffiths, administrative partner of the firm’s London office.

K&L Gates has 35 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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Revenue and profits are down, while PPP is up at Dickstein Shapiro…

Steptoe & Johnson open a new office in Beijing…

According to Am Law Daily’s “Diversity Scorecard” diversity at major law firms declined in 2009…

The NALP settles on a heavily scaled back recruitment plan…

Kaye Scholer opens a new office in Silicon Valley…

Hogan & Hartson’s Warsaw office moves to K&L Gates…

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K&L Gates opened a Moscow office in January and is represented in Western Europe with offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, London and Paris.

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Steve Epstein joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson as a partner…

Albert P. Halluin, Senior Counsel at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, passed away in a plane crash last Friday…

Kirkland & Ellis reported increases in  profits and revenues in 2009…

Mayer Brown reported decreases in profits and revenues in 2009…

British law firm Ashurst asked more partners to leave and closed it’s India office…

Northwestern University School of Law topped The National Law Journal’s annual rankings…

K&L Gates global development partner Janice Hartman has overseen the rapid expansion of the firm…

Winston & Strawn outlined associate salaries in a memo…

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear were named one of the top intellectual firms in the nation by MIP Magazine…

Rosemary Becchi joined Patton Boggs Washington, D.C. office as a partner…

Revenues and profits decreased at Howrey in 2009…

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In an interview published Sunday in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Hartman explains the firm’s recent growth and what could be coming next for the Pittsburgh-based firm.

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“This was and will continue to be both a buyer’s and a seller’s market,” the report reads. “Firms with cash and daring continue to shop for new talent. Partners with business and a sense of unease put themselves in play. That’s the bright side.

“The sad side is that some of the partners with their resumes on the street are being pushed out by their current firms. And a whole swath of partners moved last year because their firms died.”

According to the report, the global recession likely contributed to the increase in the lateral market. Some firms tried to upgrade their talent pool in what they considered a buyer’s market, “while others used the crisis as an opportunity to clean house at the partner level.”

Litigation partners topped the list with 17 percent of all lateral moves. Banking and finance lawyers accounted for 15 percent of the moves, followed by corporate attorneys (10 percent) and intellectual property attorneys (nine percent).

K&L Gates had the most lateral hires for the second year in a row, while Sonnenschein posted the largest percentage of partner departures.

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Jones Walker picks up a former US Attorney…

Gibson Dunn has launched an E-Discovery practice…

Patton Boggs expanded its international arbitration group…

Drinker Biddle announced its new merit based compensation plan…

Mischon de Reya opened its doors in NYC…

Jackson Lewis added six attorneys in Phoenix…

LG Electronics has sticker shock after losing in court…

Eckert Seamans expanded in Richmond…

K&L Gates opened offices in Tokyo and Moscow…

Walkers has new leader in its investment funds group…

Clifford Chance snagged a senior partner from Millbank Tweed…

and Sidley Austin has a major new client…

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The Tokyo office will focus on corporate and international finance, mergers and acquisitions, banking private equity, licensing and distribution arrangements and general corporate and employment law areas. J. Ryan Dwyer III and Takahiro Kawaguchi were hired at the Tokyo location.

Corporate partners Robert Langer and William Reichert, Counsel Marina Lebedeva and three associates will work at the Moscow office. The Moscow office will focus on general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, private equity, capital markets and securities transactions, banking, real estate, energy, infrastructure, telecommunications and information technology.

K&L Gates has over 1900 attorneys in locations including Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, New York, London, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Berlin. K&L Gates formed on January 1, 2007 by the merger of Pittsburgh-based Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham with Seattle-based Preston, Gates & Ellis.

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• William E Wallace III Joins Clifford Chance
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Employment law firm Ogletree Deakins opens an office in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the help of six new attorneys…

Seyfarth Shaw is laying of approximately 40 people, 20 lawyers and 20 staff…

K&L Gates tops $1 billion in revenue…

and as a result of a change in partnership, the firm previously known as KamberEdelson is now EdelsonMcguire…

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K&L Gates is one of the first major firms to report its 2009 revenues and the picture it paints stands in stark contrast to the doom and gloom on the nightly news. Revenues for the firm were up 8% to $1.034 billion and profits per partner were up by 1%.

The growth was driven by K&L Gates aggressive expansion which included the March merger will Bell Boyd & Lloyd, and new offices overseas in Singapore, Frankfurt and Dubai. Although the firm laid off 36 associates in March, overall the attorney nose count grew by approximately 150 to just over 1,700 total.

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Nine IP lawyers from Fish & Richardson head for Bracewell & Giuliani…

Bloomberg is set to unveil its new legal search engine…

A new law makes it easier for foreign firms to open in South Korea…

and Kenneth Glazer has joined K&L Gates…

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K&L Gates LLP employs over 1900 attorneys worldwide. It was formed in January 2007 by the merger of Pittsburgh-based Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham with Seattle-based Preston Gates & Ellis, co-founded by William H. Gates, Sr.

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K&L Gates LLP is a US law firm with over 1700 attorneys worldwide, and is ranked as the 10th largest law firm in the world.

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His JD is from the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Vincent Pisano joins from Paul Hastings as a partner in New York. He focuses on securities and mergers & acquisitions matters. He has significant experience representing corporations and investment banks in their public and private offerings, US & international transactions, initial public offerings, high yield debt offerings, special product development and leveraged buyout and other acquisition financings.

He is a graduate of the St. John’s University School of Law.

K&L Gates LLP is a US law firm with over 1700 attorneys worldwide, and is ranked as the 10th largest law firm in the world.

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