LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – Continuing the firm’s European expansion, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates) has opened an office in Paris, France. The new Paris location, which is poised for immediate growth, complements K&L Gates’ significant London presence and growing Berlin office, which the firm established in January 2007. With the Paris opening and the firm’s recent combination with Texas law firm Hughes & Luce LLP, K&L Gates now encompasses more than 1,500 lawyers in 24 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia.
“The opening of our Paris office is another important step in our buildout in Europe,” said Peter J. Kalis, K&L Gates’ Chairman and Global Managing Partner. “We plan to grow this office at a rapid pace to be able fully to serve the requirements of clients that need legal resources on the ground in France.”
K&L Gates Paris partner Diane Hedary is a member of both the New York and Paris bars, and advises on real estate, corporate and M&A transactions. Partner Olivia Lê Horovitz focuses on private equity, M&A transactions, corporate and environmental law. Both former partners of Kahn & Associés, Diane Hedary and Olivia Lê Horovitz hold graduate degrees in law from United States universities in addition to their French legal credentials.
“Our international platform, as demonstrated by our growth in Berlin, is strategically crafted,” commented Martin Lane, Managing Partner, Europe, at K&L Gates. “Paris is one of the legal markets that significantly contributes to the economic development of Europe. Combining this with the enormous experience that Diane and Olivia have in working with international clients, we are ideally placed to develop a significant presence in Paris.”
Paris partners Diane Hedary and Olivia Lê Horovitz added, “It is a great opportunity and an exciting challenge for us to contribute to the European presence and expansion of such an impressive and large international law firm. Having established the office, we are looking forward to growing our team in the coming months, particularly in the transactional area.”
K&L Gates comprises more than 1,500 lawyers in 24 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.
K&L Gates comprises multiple affiliated partnerships: a limited liability partnership with the full name Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP qualified in Delaware and maintaining offices throughout the U.S., in Berlin, and in Beijing (Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP Beijing Representative Office); a limited liability partnership (also named Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP) incorporated in England and maintaining our London and Paris offices; a Taiwan general partnership (Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis) which practices from our Taipei office; and a Hong Kong general partnership (Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis, Solicitors) which practices from our Hong Kong office. K&L Gates maintains appropriate registrations in the jurisdictions in which its offices are located. A list of the partners in each entity is available for inspection at any K&L Gates office.
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