K&L Gates takes Corrs’ Melbourne real estate chief

K&L Gates has attracted the former head of Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s real estate practice in Melbourne.

Randall Gerkens has joined the global firm as a partner in the Victorian capital. He brings to the firm extensive experience in major complex projects and high-profile transactions. Prior to Corrs, he was the head of the Melbourne real estate practice of legacy Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

Most recently, he acted on some of the largest head-office accommodation and development projects in Melbourne, including serving as lead adviser to the developers of the largest precincts in Docklands, K&L Gates said.

Gerkens said he is excited to join a firm with impressive national and international credentials.

“I was immediately impressed with the strategy, vision and, most of all, the collegiate, global approach of K&L Gates’ people. Continuing in a purely domestic environment after being exposed to this seemed hard to justify,” he said.

Gerkens’ considerable experience will add to the strength and depth of the firm’s national and international real estate practice, said Nick Nichola, K&L Gates’ managing partner in Australia.