10/04/14

K&L Gates bolsters European Policy Practice with addition of former parliament member

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Ignasi Guardans as a partner in its Brussels office. A former member of the European and Spanish parliaments, Guardans boosts the firm's growing European policy and regulatory practice.

With nearly 20 years of experience in government and public affairs, Guardans served as a member of the European (2004-09), Spanish (1996-2004), and Catalan (1995-96) parliaments as well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (1997-2004), playing leading roles in the monitoring of European Union legislation and treaty negotiations at a national and EU-wide level. He served in the Spanish government as Director General of its Film & Audiovisual Agency and Fund (2009-11) and most recently was a policy consultant and project manager for several large European companies and organizations. Before becoming an elected official, Guardans spent more than a decade in legal private practice, concentrating on international trade and contracts, foreign investments, and intellectual property law.

"I am proud to join K&L Gates on the eve of a new European Parliament and a new European Commission, and while a renovated transatlantic relationship is being forged," said Guardans. "These are challenging times, and I found that the firm's strong public policy traditions and its ambition to further develop Global Government Solutions for its clients are a great match for the combination of my legal and policy experience."

Martin Lane, K&L Gates' Managing Partner, Europe, stated: "Ignasi is a valuable addition to K&L Gates and further bolsters our growing Brussels office. His experience in public policy and governmental affairs as well as in the telecom, media, and technology sector will be of great benefit to the firm's clients based in and doing business throughout the EU."

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