A team of about 30 lawyers is reportedly leaving K&L Gates’ employment practice in Australia.
This would be one of the largest defections from an international law firm in 2019 and the team is evidently spread across different offices and includes six to 8 partners, according to the reports.
The departures were announced internally about two weeks ago and the team may be looking to form their own practice. K&L Gates has offices in four centres.
“We can confirm there have been some recent partner resignations from our Australian labour, employment and workplace safety team. As we are still in discussions with this team regarding their departure, we are unable to provide additional information at this time,” a firm spokesperson said in a statement.
The firm’s Australian entry occurred with the takeover of Middletons in 2013.
Measured by headcount, K&L Gates was the 12th largest law firm in the United States in 2018.
