Our Survey Says
VAULT'S VERDICT:
With more than 45 offices worldwide and expertise in dozens of practice areas, K&L Gates is a great place for associates to start and grow their careers. Baseline credentials for getting hired include law school attended, grades, and journal experience, but the firm also looks for candidates who get along well with others, as firm settings are laid back and friendly. People work well together, support one another, and take an interest in others’ personal lives. Partners treat associates like colleagues and value their time and contributions. Partners provide feedback and care about professional development, too, which supplements formal trainings and curriculums created for specific practice areas. They’re also good about orienting lateral hires and getting them work assignments when they first start. Associates generally get meaningful and high-quality work, though they also perform more basic tasks like document review. Merit, relationships, and availability impact how work is dispensed, but otherwise, it’s done fairly. K&L Gates’ manageable 1,850-hour billable [target] allows associates to have personal time and enjoy flexible work schedules, and most are willing to trade below-market compensation for quality of life. Helpful IT staff members help mitigate some of the issues with firm technology, and wellness offerings center around mental health and fitness. The firm encourages pro bono work, and pro bono hours count toward the bonus threshold. Diversity efforts, especially regarding women, have improved, but hiring and retention of attorneys of color needs attention. Associates are encouraged to become partners and build careers with K&L Gates; those who don’t have options to go in-house or lateral to other firms.
K&L Gates Center
210 6th Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2613
Phone: (412) 355-6500
Chairman of Management Committee: Michael S. Caccese
Global Managing Partner: James R. Segerdahl
Co-United States Managing Partners: Pallavi Mehta Wahi and Thomas J. Smith
Total No. Attorneys (2024):
1.5K - 2K
No. of Partners Named 2024:
22
First Year: $180k to $225k, depending on practice area and location.
Summer Associate: The average summer associate weekly salary is $3,980 and the range is $3,654 - $4,327.
Amy J. Horn
Chief People Officer
(817) 347-5031
amy.horn@klgates.com
No. of U.S. Offices: 25
No. of International Offices: 23
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Charleston, SC
Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Harrisburg, PA
Houston, TX
Kansas City, MO
Los Angeles, CA
Miami, FL
Nashville, TN
New York, NY
Newark, NJ
Orange County, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, OR
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle Park, NC
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, DC
Wilmington, DE
Beijing
Berlin
Brisbane
Brussels
Doha
Dubai
Dublin
Frankfurt
Hong Kong
London
Luxembourg
Melbourne
Milan
Munich
Paris
Perth
São Paulo
Seoul
Shanghai
Singapore
Sydney
Taipei
Tokyo
Antitrust, Competition and Trade Regulation
Asset Management & Investment Funds
Capital Markets
Corporate
Environment, Land and Natural Resources
Finance
Government Contracts and Procurement Policy
Health Care and FDA
Energy, Infrastructure & Resources
IP Litigation
IP Procurement and Portfolio Management
White Collar Defense and Investigations
Labor, Employment and Workplace Safety
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Private Equity
Payments, Banking Regulation and Consumer Financial Services
Public Policy and Law
Real Estate
Restructuring and Insolvency
Technology Transactions and Data Protection
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.