A leading energy disputes team from Ince & Co has headed to K&L Gates.  Jeremy Farr who was global head of Ince's energy practice, Charles Lockwood, and Clare Kempkens join the US law firm as the latest lateral hires to its global energy practice. The team has broad experience across the energy sector, including upstream and midstream oil and gas matters such as offshore construction; engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracting; renewables; rig/FPSO construction; floating production; drilling; pipelines; oilfield services; and associated maritime and insurance issues. The group has particular experience dealing with clients in the North Sea, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

Broader focus

'K&L Gates’ global platform offers us the ideal chance to broaden our focus and offer a fuller service to a wider range of participants in the sector including contractors, oil companies, and other upstream/midstream businesses,' said Mr Farr. 'Charles, Clare, and I are looking to forward to complementing the firm’s ambitious energy and leading litigation/international arbitration practices.'

Surge in energy disputes

Tony Griffiths, K&L Gates’ managing partner for Europe and the Middle East, stated: 'With the challenges being faced by the energy sector, we have already seen a surge in oil and gas related disputes and pre-litigation advice both in London and across our global network. The recruitment of this team is an important move for K&L Gates and will enable us to offer a greater level of services to our existing clients as well as to attract new clients to the firm.'

Latest recruits

The group is the latest in a series of recent additions to K&L Gates’ energy, infrastructure and resources practice area, including Houston partner Daniel LeFort in December; Fort Worth/Houston partners Joseph Regan and Adam Plumbley; Houston of counsel Zachary Ferreira; New York/Houston partner Toshi Yoshida; and Washington DC partner Elias Hinckley and counsel James Wrathall.