A team of 28 lawyers that defected from K&L Gates in Australia last month is launching a new law firm specialising in employment and workplace law.

The firm, named Kingston Reid, says it will maintain a strong relationship with K&L Gates. It is simultaneously opening offices on Monday in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, with a founding team of nine partners, all of whom left K&L Gates. All of the other lawyers and some of the support staff also came from the global firm.

News that the team had left K&L Gates was first reported by Law.com International last month.

The team is well known as one of the preeminent legal teams for employment, industrial relations and workplace health and safety work in Australia, servicing top corporate clients and all levels of government on all their employment needs, Kingston Reid said.

"Our name is new but our experience and our collective footprint in the Australian market is anything but," said Alice DeBoos, Kingston Reid's managing partner. "Our new firm is founded by myself and eight other deeply experienced partners who have all been at the forefront of some of Australia's most significant employment, workplace health and safety, and industrial relations matters."

DeBoos said the firm would do the same work and service the same clients as it previously had and will refer clients with nonworkplace matters to K&L Gates, with which it maintains "strong and continuing relationships."

"We've come from one of the best law firms in the country and now want to apply that experience to creating a platform that only focuses on the world of workplaces, with an uncompromising commitment to client service," DeBoos said.

The team has experience working with Australian employers to help them design and implement workplace strategies, navigate safety matters and tackle compliance issues. The lawyers also handle workplace litigation.

Nick Nichola, K&L Gates' managing partner in Australia, said the firm will cooperate with Kingston Reid on some matters.

"We wish our former colleagues well as they commence their new venture. Our discussions with them have highlighted that with their specific focus on workplace laws, where cross-practice advice is required, there will be opportunities to continue to work together to solve client problems and we look forward to doing so," he said in a statement.

Nichola also said K&L Gates' Australian labour, employment and workplace safety team remains strong and continues to be a core service area for clients in Australia and globally.

"K&L Gates remains a full-service firm in Australia with the ability to leverage our extensive and fully integrated global network of offices to the advantage of our clients," he said.

Kingston Reid, the name of the new firm chosen by the founding partners, is inspired by the legacy of legislators Charles Kingston and George Reid, who established a legislative framework for Australia's workplaces in 1904.

"Our brand is unashamedly bold, timeless, colourful and unique. It symbolises unconventional ideas, innovation and our energy, which, combined, will enable us to create a superb culture and an exceptional experience for our clients and our people," DeBoos said.

K&L Gates did not immediately respond to a request for comment.