New York, NY and London – LAWFUEL – UK—Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (“K&L Gates”) today announced the launch of its first Continental European office in Berlin, Germany. The office will be staffed by partners who formerly practiced in the Berlin office of Taylor Wessing, an international firm of British and German origins.
The expansion into Germany follows the landmark combination between the international firms Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham and Preston Gates & Ellis, announced last month.
K&L Gates’ German practice will offer expertise in a variety of disciplines and industries, including corporate counseling, mergers and acquisitions, securities, private equity, real estate, media, technology, entertainment and labor. The office will open with 11 partners and a full complement of associates.
The K&L Gates German team will include corporate and M&A partners Rüdiger von Hülst, Eberhardt Kühne, Thomas Lappe, and Stefan Kimmel; media and entertainment partner Martin von Albrecht; real estate partners Georg Foerstner, Felix Greuner, Christoph Wagner, Christoph Mank, and Christian Hullman; and labor partner Manfred Hack.
Peter J. Kalis, K&L Gates’ Chairman and Global Managing Partner, said: “The opening of our Berlin office is a natural expression of our relationships with many clients doing business in Europe and around the world. We are fortunate to welcome such a distinguished group of practitioners into the firm.”
Michael Johns, a senior partner in K&L Gates’ London office, said: “Clients of the London and U.S. offices have increasing activities in Germany, and many German companies are active in the U.S. and U.K. We believe that we will be producing many opportunities to work together with our new colleagues in Germany.”
Rüdiger von Hülst, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Berlin office said: “The German team is excited to work in a truly integrated and well-focused firm, and we believe that our clients will also benefit from the firm’s presence throughout the U.S. and in Asia.”
The parties have been advised on this transaction by Tony Williams of Jomati Ltd., London.
K&L Gates comprises approximately 1,400 lawyers in 22 offices located in North America, Europe and Asia, and represents capital markets participants, entrepreneurs, growth and middle market companies, leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations and public sector entities. For more information, visit www.klgates.com.
