K&L Gates and Middletons to combine from 2013

The partnerships of Middletons and U.S. firm K&L Gates have voted unanimously to combine firms effective January 1, 2013

The combined firm will take the K&L Gates name and from the outset the new firm will feature full financial, operational, and technological integration, as well as unitary global governance and a single approach to partner compensation.

Through the combination K&L Gates enhances its Asia-Pacific regional coverage to 400 lawyers and 11 offices, of which Middletons accounts for 300 lawyers, including 70 partners, and four offices.

"By their resoundingly affirmative votes, our partners have boldly seized the future by aligning our business with the businesses of clients in an era of intense consolidation and globalisation,” said
K&L Gates chairman and global managing partner Peter Kalis.

Middletons national managing partner Nick Nichola, who will become K&L Gates managing partner Australia, added: “It is tremendously exciting to have a senior role in a global legal firm.” It has been a very important year for Nichola and the firm having first secured the Brisbane office through a merger with Flower & Hart in March and now the combination with K&L Gates. “I think this is a tremendous opportunity for our staff and clients,” he said

Nichola told ALB the decision to adopt the K&L Gates brand wholly was decided relatively early in the discussions as an attempt to combine the firms’ names would have made it “confusing” and “complicated”. However, the combination with K&L Gates will not affect the firm’s rates or local operations according to Nichol. “A couple of the practice groups will be re-aligned but we don’t expect any significant changes,” he said.

The firm, under the new brand, will also continue to be involved with the Australian Open Tennis Championship in January.

Middletons announce merger talks with K&L Gates 17 August 2012