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K&L Gates adds 2 partners, marking 13 partner appointments since December
Global law firm K&L Gates has added two partners to its ranks, bringing its tally of partner appointments to 13 since December of last year.
Jess Feyder
K&L Gates has hired or promoted 13 new partners in Australia since the beginning of December 2022, with the number of Australian partners rising to 75.
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Stuart Broadfoot has been added to the firm’s tax practice, and James Durnall is joining the firm’s energy, infrastructure and resources team.
Mr Broadfoot was most recently at King & Wood Mallesons, where he was a special counsel focusing on complex Australian and international corporate and finance tax advisory, transactional and dispute matters.
His experience includes cross-border and international tax issues for both inbound and outbound investors, mergers and acquisitions, restructures, structured finance, and project finance and development.
Mr Broadfoot works across a range of sectors and clients, including large corporates, private equity, international and domestic funds, infrastructure projects, and real estate. He previously worked in the United Kingdom for Clifford Chance LLP, dealing with both UK and international taxation matters for clients across the globe.
Mr Durnall joins K&L Gates from Bird & Bird, where he was a partner in the corporate and project finance team with a particular focus on innovative transactions in clean energy and renewables, from utility-scale solar and onshore wind to waste-to-energy, anaerobic digestion, battery storage and energy efficiency projects.
Mr Durnall advises developers, energy and infrastructure funds, equity investors, EPC and O&M contractors, off-takers and asset managers on a broad range of corporate, commercial, project, investment and finance matters.
Mr Durnall has experience advising on domestic and international investment funds and capital markets. He also has in-house legal and commercial experience, having worked in private equity as well as in project finance for a French aerospace and defence conglomerate in London.
K&L Gates managing partner, Australia, Nick Nichola recently spoke to Lawyers Weekly about the importance of attracting outstanding legal talent to assure firm longevity and how firms must be skilful in adapting to the changes and challenges posed in the coming decade.
Mr Nichola commented on the recent appointments: “We are really pleased to welcome Stuart and James to K&L Gates. Stuart and James join practice teams that are in high demand by our clients.
“Taxation is an ever-evolving area of law, and we believe there will be an even greater focus on taxation as governments at all levels face economic uncertainty that will place pressure on their budgets.”
He continued: “James brings enormous capability around clean energy projects, which is a real focus of not only Australian governments and the private sector, but of high interest around the world.
“He adds to our existing renewable energy experience across both our Australian offices and our global platform.”
Chris Nikou, a co-leader of the firm’s global corporate practice area, said: “Stuart brings extensive experience working on complex cross-border taxation matters with both Australian and international clients across a broad range of sectors. Both Stuart and James bring extensive international experience and will fit in seamlessly at K&L Gates.”
Mr Broadfoot and Mr Durnall are the seventh and eighth new lateral partners to join the firm’s Sydney office since December 2022.
They join James Lonie, Natalya Hards and Naomi Philp in the corporate practice (hired from HWL Ebsworth), Lisa Lautier (hired from HWL Ebsworth) and Matthew Watts in the asset management and investment funds practice, and Jennifer McCosker in the real estate practice.
