KWM investment management partner Hilger von Livonius will launch the office, bringing with him counsel Philipp Riedl and Michael Harris. As the eleventh new partner or of counsel addition to K&L Gates' growing investment management practice worldwide in the past year, Mr von Livonius' arrival bolsters a key investment area for the US firm. His practice focuses on the areas of banking, capital markets, asset management, and regulatory matters with a particular focus on investment funds and structured products.

IT and corporate expansion

In addition to helping to grow the firm’s German investment management practice, the launch of the Munich office also will allow it to expand its services in such other areas as corporate, IT, and IP litigation. 'Munich is a remarkable city and one of Germany's most influential commercial centres, an outstanding location for further growth, and an ideal complement to our K&L Gates offices in Germany,' commented K&L Gates German head Rüdiger von Hülst.

Building German practice

Munich becomes the firm's 46th office and expands its footprint in Germany, where it also practices in Berlin and Frankfurt. Since K&L Gates entered the German market in early 2007 with the launch of its Berlin office, followed two years later with the addition of a Frankfurt office, the firm has built a 70-lawyer German practice.