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K&L; Gates LLP is a United States law firm with over 1900 attorneys worldwide and is ranked as the 9th largest lawfirm in the United States by the National Law Journal and as the 11th largest among law firms worldwide by The American Lawyer. It was formed on January 1, 2007, by the merger of Pittsburgh-based Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham with Seattle-based Preston Gates & Ellis, co-founded by William H. Gates, Sr.. This merger proved beneficial for both firms because Kirkpatrick and Lockhart Nicholson Graham had not previously had offices in Asia; likewise, Preston Gates & Ellis had not previously had offices in Europe. In January, 2008, K&L; Gates combined with Hughes & Luce, a Dallas, Texas-based firm of 150 attorneys with offices in Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth. In July, 2008 K&L; Gates combined with Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP, a North Carolina-based firm of 200 attorneys with offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Research Triangle Park. On March 1, 2009, K&L; Gates merged with Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, a Chicago based firm with approximately 215 attorneys with offices in Chicago, San Diego and Washington, D.C.

Source: Wikipedia