5 January 2005 – LAWFUEL – Best for law news – New York and London-U.S. law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP and English firm Nicholson Graham & Jones announced that, effective January 1, 2005, they have combined forces to become Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP (K&LNG). The firm comprises 950 lawyers practicing in 10 U.S. offices
and London.
In describing the rationale for the combination, Peter J. Kalis, Chairman of
the Management Committee of the combined firm, explained: “A law firm that
fails to meet the trending needs of its clients does so at its own peril.
Our clients increasingly operate across national boundaries and expect their
law firms to be positioned to do the same.”
Kalis continued: “K&L decided some time ago to develop an international
platform. We first worked to improve our U.S. coverage with offices across
the country-including significant presences in New York, Washington,
California, Boston and elsewhere-before approaching the U.K. market.”
After K&L conducted extensive research on the U.K. market, it was clear that
NGJ stood out, Kalis said. He noted in particular NGJ’s historical presence
in the City of London, extraordinary clientele, reputation for outstanding
legal counsel and client service, strong leadership, ethical probity, and
conservative financial management.
London Senior Partner Michael Johns added: “We both sought to take advantage
of the synergies between our practices as we positioned our firms in the
international marketplace. Indeed, since starting discussions we have worked
together on dozens of client engagements.” As examples, Johns noted
international transactions for Kellogg Brown & Root, a subsidiary of
Halliburton Company, U.K.-based litigation for World Wrestling Entertainment
and London-based insurance coverage claims approaching US$1 Billion for
various clients.
Johns continued: “We see this trans-Atlantic partnership as critical to our
business and a direct response to our clients’ challenges. Clients expect us
to respond across borders quickly, effectively, and dynamically, and we
intend to do so.”
Both firms concluded early on that the other represented a strong cultural
fit. As discussions progressed, their leaderships saw enthusiasm for the
combination grow at all levels within the two firms. Tony Griffiths, K&LNG’s
London Administrative Partner, confirmed: “We quickly found that K&L shared
a similar outlook and placed a tremendous value on commitments to client
service and professional development of its personnel. Everything that went
into the makeup of NGJ’s culture was reflected in K&L. K&L also had a
strategic view of its future, which was very compelling and exciting.”
K&LNG represents entrepreneurs, growth and middle market companies as well
as leading global corporations in every major industry group and has
particular strengths in:
investment management and related funds work
real estate, construction, and environmental
corporate, securities and mergers and acquisitions
securities enforcement and special investigations
litigation and dispute resolution
insurance coverage disputes
intellectual property
mortgage banking, property finance and other financial services
Among the firm’s industry strengths are manufacturing, financial services,
media and entertainment, leisure and hospitality, life sciences,
transportation, and information technology.
K&LNG is led by a Management Committee chaired by Peter Kalis and including
representatives of each of the firm’s 11 offices, including three
representatives from London. Kalis, who is resident in the firm’s New York
and Pittsburgh offices, also chairs the Executive Committee. Other
Executive Committee members include Janice Hartman of Pittsburgh, Michael
Johns of London, Chuck Miller of Washington, and Paul Sweeney of Los
Angeles. With an international membership including a woman and an
African-American, the five-person K&LNG Executive Committee is among the
most diverse governance bodies in the legal profession.
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP comprises 950 lawyers who
practice in offices located in Boston, Dallas, Harrisburg, Los Angeles,
London, Miami, Newark, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Washington.
K&LNG represents entrepreneurs, growth and middle market companies and
leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations in every major
industry, nationally and internationally. For more information, please visit
www.klng.com.
