Decibels and drinking: why this global law firm loves Aussies

afr.com:

Decibels and drinking are two things that Australians are renowned for at global law firm K&L Gates, according to its US-based managing partner, Jim Segerdahl.

Mr Segerdahl and chairman Michael Caccese have been in Australia for the past week to mark 10 years in the country for the firm that carries the name of Bill Gates senior, the father of the founder of Microsoft.

K&L Gates’ global managing partner, Jim Segerdahl, with local managing partner Jason Opperman. Louise Kennerley

Mr Segerdahl had a smile on his face when asked what the locals brought to the table.

“Lots of laughter, I can tell you that,” he said.

“We had a dinner last night, and I was telling somebody: ‘We measure utilisation, we measure revenue and so forth. We’ve got to start measuring decibel levels at these meetings because the partners are having a really good time.’

“They’re just great people, and they’re great lawyers. They connect well with our clients. They embrace what we’re trying to do as a platform.”

The visit coincides with a local change of leadership, with insolvency lawyer Jason Opperman taking over from Nick Nichola as regional managing partner.

K&L Gates was part of the rush of global firms that arrived in Australia after 2011. It linked with mid-tier firm Middletons in 2013 as part of a growth spurt that started in 2007 when Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, of Pittsburgh, merged with Preston Gates, of Seattle.

“We were, as a firm, on a mission to become a global firm,” Mr Segerdahl said.

“We saw Australia as a logical extension of all that. We had clients doing deals that had Australian touches.

“They were coming to us, and they were asking for recommendations in terms of referral sources here. You only need to hear that so many times.”

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