K&L Gates continues expansion with Tokyo and Moscow launches
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K&L Gates has opened offices in Tokyo and Moscow one week after the firm’s chairman vowed to continue with its strategic growth.
The US firm has hired a trio of corporate lawyers from Latham & Watkins in Tokyo to launch its new office, its sixth in Asia.
The three, who all held the position of counsel at Latham, but join K&L Gates as partners, are Ryan Dwyer, Takahiro Kawaguchi and Robert Melson.
“The absence of Tokyo was a conspicuous omission from our strategic platform,” said K&L Gates’ chairman Peter Kalis (pictured).
“Equally, with the European offices we already have, Moscow was clearly the next strategic destination. It’s very meaningful for our clients and in particular for our London office.”
K&L Gates is launching its Moscow office with six lawyers from Texas firm Haynes and Boone, including corporate partners Robert Langer and William Reichert.
Last week the US firm reported it had broken through the $1bn revenue barrier for the first time, posting a total turnover of $1.034bn for 2009, an increase of 7.8 per cent on 2008’s $959.5m.
At the time Kalis said the firm would continue to be open to strategic growth as well as lateral opportunities (15 January 2010).
