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Duo drives change at K&L Gates

The promotions form a new leadership team within the firm.

International law firm K&L Gates announced yesterday (27 May) the promotions of Stacy Ackermann and Rick Giovannelli to senior leadership roles within the firm.

Ackermann has been with the firm since 2012 and currently leads its global finance practice in New York. She advises lenders and stakeholders on a variety of financial and credit market transactions. She has been appointed global managing partner, effective 1 July, succeeding Jim Segerdahl.

Giovannelli joined K&L Gates in 1996 and currently heads the firm’s global corporate practice from the Charlotte office. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and other financing transactions, and has been a member of the management committee since 2014. Giovannelli has now been appointed co-chair of the management committee and will sit alongside the present chair Michael Caccese. On 30 June, Caccese will step down as chair after which Giovannelli will continue on as sole chair of the committee.

Of her new position, Ackermann commented: “It is a privilege to succeed Jim as Global Managing Partner and I’m ready to build upon the solid foundation he helped establish to deliver new opportunities for our global team and clients. I am committed to strengthening our position in the marketplace, developing and empowering our vast array of talent, and exploring new ways to bring value to our client relationships. I am deeply appreciative of the trust placed in me to lead this ambitious firm into its next era.”

Giovannelli said of his own promotion: “K&L Gates places our clients at the centre of everything that we do while simultaneously fostering a culture of collegiality and opportunity. I am excited to work with Stacy and Mike to build on this legacy while moving boldly forward – in this moment of accelerated global change – to serve and inspire both our clients and our globally-integrated workforce.”

Segerdahl and Caccese will continue as practicing partners within the firm.