US firm K&L Gates has hired a four partner-strong renewables team from Husch Blackwell to strengthen its energy practice, with the firm opening a Kansas City office as part of the move.

The new recruits include partners John Crossley, Jim Goettsch and Brogan Sullivan, who join in Kansas City, and Maria Faconti, who joins the firm’s existing office in Austin. The team bring with them vast experience in M&A, real estate and project development related to the renewables industry. They are also joined by two associates, with the firm adding that additional lawyers are likely to be added in the coming weeks.

Jim Segerdahl, the firm’s global managing partner, said: “We are pleased to continue building on our firm’s recent strategic growth by bolstering our already strong capabilities in the renewable energy sector with the addition of this elite group. As leading practitioners in the renewables industry, the team’s arrival advances the firm on a key industry and practice level.”

Crossley brings with him more than two decades of experience, having joined Husch back in 1999. He advises both traditional and renewable energy companies on M&A and project development, construction and financing. Goettsch – a deals lawyer – spent even longer at Husch, joining back in 1995. 

Sullivan, meantime, joined Husch in 2006 from former Kansas City-based energy company Aquila, where he was assistant general counsel before it was broken up and sold. His practice focuses on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and other commercial arrangements. Faconti also joined Husch from an in-house role, working at the Public Utility Commission of Texas for three years before arriving at Husch in 2015. She advises energy and renewables clients on regulatory, compliance and litigation matters. 

Steven Sparling, co-leader of K&L’s energy, infrastructure and resources practice area, said: “This team practices at the highest level of the renewable energy industry. We are excited to integrate them into our firm and energy practice, and very much look forward to the enhanced knowledge and advice they can offer K&L Gates’ clients in this important area.”

The Kansas City opening is K&L Gates’ 25th US office and takes it to 47 worldwide.

Also this month, Skadden Aprs Meagher & Flom hired DLA Piper’s US energy practice co-chair Drew Baldinger as a partner in Houston. 

And last month Latham & Watkins made a twin partner hire from White & Case to bolster its energy and infrastructure financing capabilities, with Christopher Peponis joining the firm in Houston and Hamad Al-Hoshan moving over in New York.