With two litigators as parents, New York associate Brian Koosed grew up well-versed in the legal world; he cites arguing with his parents to extend his curfew as an early lesson in being an advocate. Brian started with the firm as a summer associate in 2004, and since then, K&L Gates has seen tremendous growth, expanding to five continents. What’s been interesting for Brian to observe – and experience first-hand – is how this growth has happened in a cohesive way.

“The firm’s growth has been an adjustment, but a good one. I now have cases that come to me because a partner in the Chicago office has a client who’s involved in a dispute in New York that needs some New York expertise. That kind of interoffice connectivity wasn’t really there when I started and it’s been surprising to see how it’s developed – it’s developed well.”

Brian’s mentors have helped him grow into the lawyer he is today, and he still relies on them for support.

“I have a formal partner mentor, who has been great as a sounding board. Over the course of day-to-day practice, I work with a number of partners that have guided me, taught me the right way and the wrong way to practice litigation. It’s good to know that I have people that I know I can trust if I need advice or make a mistake. Having people you can rely on for that is invaluable.”

For young lawyers looking for good experience, Brian thinks the choice to work at K&L Gates is an easy one.

“It’s a very dynamic environment. You get to work on a lot of really interesting matters that are often issues of first impression and cutting-edge law. In my experience, the people are great. To be able to get that kind of legal experience right out of school and to be able to do really substantive work right out of law school – as opposed to spending two years in a room doing document review – and to have all that work experience with a great culture and great group of people is pretty unique.”