K&L Gates has announced its intention to split from Singapore firm Straits Law after a seven-year partnership, with the separation expected to take place in January 2027.
The firms, which merged in 2018, are splitting at a time when Singapore’s Ministry of Law and the Legal Services Regulatory Authority are reviewing collaborations between international and local law firms.
Despite this, Ryan Dwyer, K&L Gates’ regional managing partner, Asia, told Asia Business Law Journal the decision was not driven by any particular factor.
“No single event prompted this change,” he said. “The combination with Straits has been highly successful over the past seven years.
“We closely monitor key markets to ensure we are best positioned to meet our clients’ evolving needs, and concluded that operating as a foreign law practice will significantly enhance our ability to do so while supporting our long-term growth strategy.”
Dwyer remained tight-lipped on whether K&L Gates would pursue a new partnership with another local firm in Singapore, but said that the separation from Straits Law would not alter the firm’s strategy in the jurisdiction.
“Singapore remains an important market for us,” he said. “While the jurisdiction offers a range of models for collaboration between international and Singapore law firms, we have nothing further to announce at this time.
“As we move forward, we will continue to assess the collaborative options that best support our clients’ needs and our long-term business strategy in Singapore and across the region.”
