Global law firm K&L Gates has opened an office in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing on more than 18 partners from several area firms, across a variety of practices with a focus in health care and the financial sector.

K&L Gates’ new Nashville team includes 27 attorneys, recruited from Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, Butler Snow, Dickinson Wright and Bass, Berry & Sims. But that number is almost sure to increase before the end of the week and in the coming months, said Mary Beth Johnston, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, office, who is temporarily serving as the office managing partner for Nashville until a local managing partner is placed.