Tokyo and Moscow Open Their Doors to K&L Gates

US giant K&L Gates, which this month smashed the $1bn fees barrier for the first time, has announced it is launching offices in Russia and Japan.

The Moscow branch is being led by new corporate partners Robert Langer and William Reichert together with four other lawyers. The team covers corporate, finance and capital markets matters and joins from law firm Haynes and Boone.

The Japanese launch comes via the hire of Ryan Dwyer, Takahiro Kawaguchi and Robert Melson from Latham & Watkins. The new office adds to the firm’s 200-strong Asia network that includes offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei, Shanghai and Singapore.

“With our new Tokyo and Moscow offices, we will enter nations and parts of the world that are strategically important to K&L Gates’ global clientele,” said Peter Kalis (pictured), K&L Gates’ chairman. “We are delighted by the quality, experience, and client focus of our new colleagues in Japan and Russia.”

The launches, in two of the world’s most competitive markets, follow an 8% jump in the firm’s 2009 turnover allowing K&L Gates to break the $1bn fees barrier. Last year revenue increased to $1.034bn.