K&L Gates’ Charleston team helps expand state’s economic development

Local office of global law firm provides legal expertise in many areas of business operations

Charleston’s business-friendly climate and the interest of many companies to operate or expand into the region are among the reasons K&L Gates LLP opened its first South Carolina office in Charleston almost 10 years ago.

Since then, the office has grown to more than 30 Charleston-based lawyers from a variety of practices to accommodate the increasing demand of the business community and firm clients. The firm provides experienced legal counsel at the intersection of globalization, regulation, and innovation throughout all industries. 

“Our rapid and continued growth has been fueled by our unique ability to handle every conceivable legal need or issue faced by South Carolina-based companies with multinational operations and foreign companies with operations in South Carolina, whether those legal needs or issues arise domestically or abroad,” said Walker Coleman, Charleston office managing partner.

The Charleston office focuses on practices including economic development, corporate, energy, health care, environmental, labor and employment, immigration, real estate, transportation, insurance coverage, and international trade — all of which tie to the Lowcountry’s strong economic sectors and reflect the state’s growth in areas like life sciences, automotive and aerospace.

“Having contacts and offices on the ground in the countries in which economic development efforts are focused has been immensely helpful to the state’s recruiting effort,” Coleman said.

With approximately 1,800 lawyers in more than 40 offices across the globe, K&L Gates is uniquely poised to play a role in the state’s success, particularly for South Carolina-based businesses that operate globally and foreign businesses that operate — or hope to operate — in the state. The firm can handle virtually any legal need these businesses have or could have and its governmental and business contacts throughout the world make K&L Gates an ideal economic partner.

Walker Coleman, Managing Partner, can be reached at walker.coleman@klgates.com