K&L Gates

K&L Gates LLP
Company type	Limited liability partnership
Industry	Legal services
Predecessor	Kirkpatrick & Lockhart; Preston Gates & Ellis
Founded	2007; 19 years ago
Headquarters	Pittsburgh, United States
Area served	Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, South America, United States
Key people	James Segerdahl (Global Managing Partner), Michael Caccese (Chairman of the Management Committee)
Products	Legal services
Number of employees	Not specified
Website	www.klgates.com

K&L Gates LLP is a global law firm based in Pittsburgh, operating 45 offices throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The firm was created in 2007 following the union of Pittsburgh’s Kirkpatrick & Lockhart and Seattle’s Preston Gates & Ellis.

In 2018, K&L Gates was the 12th largest U.S. law firm by number of attorneys. Its practice is organized into nine main sectors: Corporate and Transactional; Energy, Infrastructure and Resources; Finance; Financial Services; Intellectual Property; Labor, Employment and Workplace Safety; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; and Regulatory and Policy. These sectors encompass specialized industry groups and subject-specific teams.

As of March 2017, James Segerdahl serves as global managing partner, while Michael Caccese holds the position of chairman of the management committee. In 2017, the firm reported revenues near US$990 million, underscoring its extensive market reach and diversified international presence.

History

1883: Harold Preston launches a legal practice in Seattle, which later becomes Preston Gates & Ellis.
1946: Formation of Kirkpatrick, Pomeroy, Lockhart & Johnson in Pittsburgh.
2005: Kirkpatrick & Lockhart merges with Nicholson Graham & Jones (established 1858), resulting in Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham.
2007: The merger of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham with Preston Gates & Ellis creates Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis, subsequently shortened to K&L Gates.
2008: Expansion occurs through integration with Hughes & Luce, a Dallas-based firm with offices in Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth.
2008: Further growth by merging with Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP, a North Carolina firm with locations in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Research Triangle Park.
2009: Merger with Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in Chicago, San Diego, and Washington, D.C.
2013: Global footprint extended by joining forces with Australian national firm Middletons, adding offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane.

Ratings and rankings

U.S. News and World Report has granted K&L Gates "Tier 1" national rankings in 42 practice areas, placing it among the top three firms for Tier 1 distinctions. The firm also received 129 first-tier regional or city ratings across 59 practice groups. Chambers ranks it Tier 1 nationally for Shipping & Maritime Transportation and regionally for Corporate/Commercial (WA), Environmental (NJ), Bankruptcy and Healthcare (NC), Insurance, Litigation, and Corporate (PA).

As of 2024, Vault.com positions K&L Gates at #49 among the Top 100 most prestigious U.S. law firms based on peer evaluations. Between 2017 and 2019, U.S. News recognized it as the leading U.S. law firm for environmental litigation. Above the Law includes K&L Gates within its "Pacific Northwest Elite" category and acknowledges its strong lobbying capabilities.

In revenue terms, K&L Gates ranks #41 on the American Lawyer "Global 200" list and was #71 on Above the Law's "Power 100" for 2018. The Financial Times has named it one of the "Most Innovative North American Law Firms" for compliance and technology initiatives.

The firm achieved a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2018 Corporate Equality Index. Additionally, Yale Law Women placed it among the top ten family-friendly law firms in 2016. Vault.com praises K&L Gates for its positive workplace culture and work-life balance while noting some limitations regarding transparency.

Projects

In 2012, K&L Gates served as legal counsel for Carnegie Mellon University in a patent infringement case that culminated in a jury awarding $1.17 billion, ranking among the highest verdicts of its type at that period.

The firm initiated the "Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project" in September 2014, mobilizing approximately fifty attorneys on a pro bono basis to support individuals affected by "revenge porn." This pioneering effort, considered the first of its kind by a major U.S. law firm, had assisted hundreds of victims and played a role in multiple arrests by 2016. In April 2017, the project achieved an $8.9 million jury verdict for a couple from King County, representing one of the largest awards granted to non-celebrity plaintiffs.

In 2016, K&L Gates contributed $10 million to Carnegie Mellon University to create the "K&L Gates Endowment for Ethics and Computational Technologies," emphasizing ethical issues in artificial intelligence and sponsoring a biennial conference. The firm’s enduring partnership with CMU includes providing legal counsel and leadership involvement, with Chairman Emeritus Charles J. Queenan Jr. having chaired CMU’s Board of Trustees.

In 2017, K&L Gates revealed plans to develop a proprietary private blockchain platform, demonstrating its commitment to advancing emerging technological innovations.

Political contributions

Data from OpenSecrets indicates that during the 2012 federal election cycle, K&L Gates ranked among the leading law firms in political donations, contributing $1.09 million with 52% allocated to Democratic candidates. By comparison, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld donated $2.56 million (66% to Democrats), and ExxonMobil gave $2.66 million (88% to Republicans). Since 1990, K&L Gates has contributed nearly $12.9 million to federal campaigns and expended $1.25 million on lobbying efforts since 1999.

Lawsuits and Controversies

K&L Gates has encountered litigation from former clients alleging breaches of fiduciary duty, excessive billing practices, and legal malpractice.

In January 2020, a former staff member filed a lawsuit accusing the firm of disability discrimination and retaliation after requesting remote work accommodations due to anxiety and ADHD; this matter was subsequently resolved through an out-of-court settlement. Later in November 2020, ex-partner Willie E. Dennis initiated legal action claiming his dismissal was connected to grievances regarding racial discrimination and sexual harassment within the firm.

In May 2025, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Wilner imposed sanctions on K&L Gates during litigation against State Farm for submitting inaccurate case law generated by artificial intelligence tools without adequate verification. Alongside Ellis George LLP, the firm was ordered to pay $31,100 in sanctions to the opposing defense.

Notable lawyers and alumni

The following distinguished attorneys have been associated with K&L Gates or its predecessor entities such as Preston Gates & Ellis, Nicholson Graham & Jones, Kennedy Covington, Hughes & Luce, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, and Middletons:

Bart Gordon, twelve-term former U.S. Representative from Tennessee
Betty Binns Fletcher, first female partner at Preston Gates & Ellis and U.S. Circuit Judge on the Ninth Circuit (1979–2012)
Ignasi Guardans, former member of both Spanish and European Parliaments
J. Nicholas Ranjan, Judge for the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania
Bill Neukom, past president of the American Bar Association and managing partner for the San Francisco Giants
Dick Thornburgh, former U.S. Attorney General and two-term Governor of Pennsylvania
Eric Schneiderman, previous New York Attorney General
Jerry McDevitt, personal counsel for Vince McMahon and WWE spokesperson frequently appearing in media
Jack Abramoff, former lobbyist and author
James T. Walsh, long-serving U.S. Representative from Syracuse, New York
John Michael McHugh, former U.S. Secretary of the Army
Michael S. Greco, ex-president of the American Bar Association
Michael C. Ormsby, U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Washington
Neal Brendel, founder of K&L Gates’ Dubai office and former USA Rugby chairman and athlete
Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and Republican presidential candidate in 2012
Robert William Davis, longtime U.S. Representative from Michigan
Slade Gorton, three-term U.S. Senator representing Washington state
William H. Gates Sr, founding partner of Preston Gates & Ellis and philanthropist; father of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates
Thomas W. Pomeroy Jr., founding partner of Kirkpatrick, Pomeroy, Lockhart & Johnson and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice (1968–1978)
Lloyd Meeds, former U.S. Representative for Washington’s 2nd district and partner at Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds

These prominent figures have played significant roles in shaping K&L Gates’ reputation and guiding its global strategic initiatives.

External links