In an update to a story we previously covered, the law firm of K&L Gates from Pittsburgh is preparing to merge with the Australian firm of Middletons. The merger is set to take effect in the month of January. The merger will create a law firm with over 2,000 lawyers in 46 offices, according to Global Legal Post.
The merger is going to operate using the name K&L Gates and it will add the 300 lawyers and four offices from Middletons. The four Middletons offices are in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
In a joint statement, K&L Gates chairman and global managing partner Peter Kalis and Middletons national managing partner Nick Nicholas said the following:
“By their resoundingly affirmative votes, our partners have boldly seized the future by aligning our business with the businesses of clients in an era of intense consolidation and globalisation. With the largest integrated network of law offices and law partners of any global law firm, our clients will be able seamlessly and efficiently to access top-notch legal resources around the corner and around the world.”
This merger comes not long after the merger between the law firm of Herbert Smith from London and Freehills from Australia. That merger occurred this past summer.