Firms

K&L Gates

Web:  www.klgates.com 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Web:  www.klgates.com 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Survey results

Survey results

 

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 

 ''Firm with a good reputation and good quality of work and clients'; 'the friendliness of the firm'; 'ambitious/opportunity to grow'; 'wide range of practice areas, small intake, friendly atmosphere'; 'friendly vibe on the assessment day'' 

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 

 ''I think that the training we receive at K&L Gates is a lot better than the training my friends at larger firms are receiving'; 'you do feel like a valued and necessary member of the team and therefore the quality of work that you get is better'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''Hours are much more civilised than other US/City firms'; 'partners are approachable'; 'trainees treated well'; 'good client contact'; 'the work/life balance and friendly atmosphere'; 'I get more interesting work to do and more responsibility'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''The firm's social life could be better'; 'current offices are a bit dated'; 'the only downside is that the brand is not that well known in the UK'; 'some of the systems are a little old, as is the inside of the offices'' 

Best moment? 

 ''The most exciting time was to hear a judicial review in the Royal Courts of Justice'; 'deal completion'; 'the satisfaction of completing a matter which you started'; being heavily involved in a number of completions all of which included a large amount of client contact'; 'working on the competition side of a huge international JV'; 'having real responsibility within the team throughout the deal'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Not having enough to do'; 'working very late nights for days in a row and the deal then being postponed'; 'producing a large file of compliance information for a client - very laborious and repetitive'; 'working late on one occasion when everyone in the department had gone home except me''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

With 37 offices worldwide, K&L Gates has nearly 2,000 lawyers, and has established itself as a reliable full-service player in London. It has particular strength in corporate law (notably M&A in the £50m-£100m range), financial services and real estate, and niche practices in electoral law and sports law. 

The star performers

Brand management; Commercial property; Construction; Corporate restructuring and insolvency; Electoral law; Environment; Flotations: small and mid-cap; IT and telecoms; Intellectual property; M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m; Partnership; Private Finance Initiative (PFI); Property finance; Sport.

The deals

Advised Liberum Capital Limited on its role as nominated adviser and broker on the £48.5m placing and AIM IPO of Waterlogic Plc; advised leading charity Action for Children on the sale of its former headquarters; advised on the securing of more than $50m from a strategic investor for the development of a California solar power project; advised a subsidiary of Jordan Energy & Mining Limited on the signing of a $1.8bn oil shale retort concession agreement with the Jordanian Government.

The clients

Clean Power Group; Energy & Mining Limited; Groupe Le Duff; HaloSource, Inc; Liberum Capital Limited; Warsaw Stock Exchange.

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

The winners (Legal Business Awards 2011)Highly commended US law firm of the year. 

The Verdict

US firm K&L Gates impresses trainees from day one with its 'friendly vibe' on the assessment day. Whilst you may be part of a relatively small intake in the London office, the firm has a large global presence and focus. Attracted to the 'ambitious' firm, current trainees see plenty of 'opportunities to grow', and find themselves immediately involved in some 'good-quality work'. They are also actively encouraged to have plenty of client contact. Unsurprisingly then the firm is a Lex 100 Winner for job satisfaction. Highlights for current trainees include 'hearing a judicial review in the Royal Courts of Justice' and many deal completions. Training at the firm is described as 'a lot better' than that of peers at larger firms and the 'approachable' partners and 'supportive' staff mean that you 'feel like a valued and necessary member of the team' from the outset. The firm's social life 'could be better' and the current offices are looking 'a bit dated' but trainees in general find it quite difficult to be negative about their firm. Scoring well for manageable stress levels (helped by its 'more civilised hours', confidence in being kept on and the firm living up to expectations), K&L Gates is a great choice for those looking to work in a City firm with a significant international presence but with a friendly and comfortable atmosphere and a smaller intake.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Emma Hickman, trainee solicitor (second seat) 
Departments to date:  Construction (including a four-month client secondment), real estate (current seat)
University: University of Birmingham 
Degree: Law, 2(1) 

---

8.15am: I begin my walk to work, checking my BlackBerry before the pavements become too densely populated with commuters. I see responses to emails on various matters from agents, property managers and clients. I form my mental to-do list.

9.00am: I arrive at my desk and am able to start dealing with various emails before the post arrives at 9:30. I am expecting to receive an electronic copy of a document from an offshore client, signed by the fund trustees. This has not arrived so I call the client, the first of several calls today.

11.00am: While I deal with the post, forwarding documents for signature and completing a licence, an associate from real estate comes into the office that I share with my supervisor, a partner at the firm. As a result of their discussions I am asked to carry out some searches. It is useful to hear their approach to the complex matter and know that questions are acceptable at all levels. There is a strong sense of collegiality at the firm which seems to have been heightened by our office move to One New Change. The firm's lawyers are all located on one (very large) floor of offices.

12.30pm: The inevitable 'lunch location' emails circulate amongst the trainees. I make a quick call to the offshore clients. The documents have still not been signed so, BlackBerry in hand, I make my way to meet the other trainees. In an attempt to avoid the temptations of the shopping centre below, we make our way to the roof terrace and take in the view of St Paul's.

2.00pm: An associate from the construction team comes to discuss a matter she is working on with my supervisor. After attending a client meeting with them last week, I was asked to carry out some research on the companies involved which I am able to report to them. Meanwhile, I receive a call from the offshore client confirming that we have one trustee signature but require a second.

5.00pm: I receive a call from the other side's solicitor eager to complete. As I speak to her I see an email notification in the right-hand corner of my screen. The electronic-signed documents have arrived. I confirm that I will call the solicitor as soon as I have checked the documents with my supervisor. We finally complete.

5.30pm: The firm is presenting a construction seminar which I am able to attend. As well as touching on topics relevant to research I am undertaking in real estate, it gives me the opportunity to catch up with clients I met on secondment in my previous seat.

8.00pm: After the seminar, I return to my desk to check my inbox before making my way to one of the associates' birthday drinks.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: One New Change, London EC4M 9AF

Telephone: 020 7648 9000

Fax: 020 7648 9001

Website: www.klgates.com

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Managing partner: Antony Griffiths

 

Other offices: Anchorage, Austin, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Fort Worth, Frankfurt, Harrisburg, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, Moscow, Newark, New York, Orange County, Palo Alto, Paris, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Spokane/Coeur D'Alene, Taipei, Tokyo, Warsaw, Washington. 

Who we are:  K&L Gates comprises nearly 2,000 lawyers who practise in 37 offices located on three continents and represents leading global corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organisations and individuals.

What we do: K&L Gates is active in the areas of AIM, M&A, restructuring and insolvency, banking and finance, investment management and related funds work, anti-trust, competition and trade regulation, private equity, real estate, environmental matters, travel and leisure, intellectual property, digital media and sport, construction, PFI projects, insurance coverage, securities enforcement, regulatory work, tax, labour and employment, pensions and incentives, litigation, international arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution.

What we are looking for: We are looking for highly motivated, intellectually curious individuals with an interest in commercial law, looking for comprehensive training.

What you'll do:  We have a thorough induction scheme consisting of weekly legal education seminars, workshops and a full programme of skills electives. Emphasis is placed on early responsibility and involvement. Pro bono and CSR activities are also encouraged.

Perks: Permanent health insurance, season ticket loan, 25 days of holiday, private health insurance, life insurance, subsidised gym membership, pension.

Sponsorship: GDL fees paid, plus £5,000 maintenance grant, LPC fees paid plus £7,000 maintenance grant.

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: TBC

Applications received pa: 1,000 

Percentage interviewed: 10% 

Salary

First year: £35,000

Second year: £38,000

Newly qualified: £60,000

 

Total partners: 62

Other fee-earners: 75

Total trainees: 16

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to: Hayley Atherton, Legal Recruitment & Development Officer.

How: Apply online via www.klgates.com 

When to Apply: Apply by 31 July 2012. 

What is involved: Full day assessment centre. 

 

 Vacation schemes

Summer: July 2012 (apply by 15 February 2012).