K&L Gates, Kennedy Covington Partners Approve Combination of Firms
Effective July 1, combination will give K&L Gates the largest Carolinas presence among global law firms
June 23, 2008
Pittsburgh and Charlotte, N.C. — Partners from the law firms of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates) and Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, LLP (Kennedy Covington) today voted to combine the two firms, effective July 1, 2008. The combination creates a firm of more than 1,700 lawyers in 28 offices located throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, including the largest Carolinas presence of any global law firm. The firm will maintain North Carolina offices in Charlotte, Raleigh and Research Triangle Park.
“Our combined firm is now positioned to serve as the Carolinas’ legal bridge to the globalized economy of the 21st Century,” said K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis and Kennedy Covington Managing Partner Eugene C. Pridgen.
The combined firm, which will have the K&L Gates name, will have offices in Anchorage, Austin, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Worth, Harrisburg, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, Orange County, Palo Alto, Paris, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Spokane/Coeur d’Alene, Taipei and Washington, D.C.
Among the strategic advantages resulting from the combination are:
Unparalleled Carolinas Presence Among Global Firms: With 175 lawyers in the Carolinas, K&L Gates will have the region’s largest presence among global law firms. The combined firm will offer clients unsurpassed legal capabilities in one of the foremost business centers in the United States, including the nation’s second-largest financial center in Charlotte and the dynamically growing Triangle area of North Carolina. As home to 30 Fortune 1000 companies, entrepreneurs, growth companies, middle market companies and several globally significant research universities, the Carolinas are an integral part of the global economy and are thus a destination for major investments by both domestic and foreign business enterprises which need subtle and reliable legal representation in the region.
Global Reach for Carolinas Businesses: With one of the few credible three-continent platforms in the legal profession, K&L Gates offers its clients access to global financial and commercial centers and world capitals. Through offices and lawyers in cities that include New York, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Paris, Berlin, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., among others, the combination will enable the new firm to address the legal needs of Carolinas clients both across the nation and around the world.
Superior Practices: Kennedy Covington’s practice capabilities in such areas as real estate, corporate, employee benefits, health care, litigation and private equity will complement and strengthen K&L Gates’ existing capabilities in these and other practices. At the same time, the existing menu of practices at K&L Gates will allow the Carolinas lawyers to offer truly comprehensive and seamless representation to clients across the entire spectrum of legal disciplines.
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About Kennedy Covington
Founded in 1957, Kennedy Covington is one of the largest law firms in the Carolinas. Our more than 175 attorneys use their diverse experience and knowledge to counsel clients in varied industries such as banking and finance, real estate, technology, health care, manufacturing and the services sector. For more information, please visit www.kennedycovington.com.
About K&L Gates
K&L Gates comprises approximately 1,500 lawyers in 25 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.
Contact:
Peter J. Kalis, K&L Gates, +1.412.355.6562,
Eugene C. Pridgen, Kennedy Covington, +1.704.331.7476,