denotes premium content | Sep 8 2008 
News
posted 22 Jul 2008
K&L Gates keeps in touch
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates) has devised a scheme to help lawyers leaving the firm for personal reasons to maintain their connections to both the firm and the profession.
The ‘K&L Gates Connects’ program gives lawyers the opportunity to continue participating in the firm’s business, social and professional-development functions, to access the website with information on functions and educational events, and to receive reimbursement for one bar membership.
It is the latest in a number of work/life balance initiatives to be introduced at the firm, which also include the ‘Balanced Hours’ program, instituted in January 2006.
“While K&L Gates’ Balanced Hours program allows our lawyers great flexibility in the form of individually-tailored working arrangements, often involving reduced hours or remote-working opportunities, the firm recognizes that there are times when our lawyers may need to devote themselves more fully to a personal or family situation than any part-time option may allow,” said Roslyn Pitts, director of legal recruitment and professional development at the firm.
“It is for this reason that we have added the K&L Gates Connects program, and believe that the program will benefit not only the departing lawyer, but also the firm, in allowing us to maintain our relationship with these lawyers.”
K&L Gates has also appointed Philip M. Cedar as a partner in its financial services practice.
Cedar was previously a senior managing director of investment bank Bear Stearns, which was bought by JPMorgan Chase in May 2008. The bank was forced to seek emergency funding from the US Federal Reserve after a collapse in confidence linked to mortgage-backed investments.
