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.