K&L Gates in Merger Talks with Australian Firm Middletons
K&L Gates confirmed Thursday that it is in merger talks with the 200-lawyer Australian firm Middletons.
In a joint statement published Thursday by the Am Law Daily, K&L Gates chair Peter Kalis and Middletons national managing partner Nick Nichola said, “Our leadership teams believe that the client-driven consolidation and globalization evident in the market for legal services will continue unabated and the potential synergies that would arise from the combination of our firms deserve (and are receiving) serious consideration.”
The firms have been discussing a possible merger for several months and expect to present formal proposals to partners by the end of the year, the legal publication reports.
K&L Gates, which currently has 1,800 lawyers, has reportedly been looking to expand its position in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Am Law Daily says Australia is a “hotbed of merger activity” as of late, with Norton Rose, Linklaters and Ashurst among the major U.K. firms establishing roots in Australia over the past two years.
Also see:
ABAJournal.com: “Herbert Smith and Freehills OK Megamerger; 2,800-Attorney Firm Plans to Open New York Office in 2012”
ABAJournal.com: “UK Megafirm Linklaters Forms Alliance with Australia’s Allens Arthur Robinson”
