K&L Gates > Boston, United States > Firm Profile

K&L Gates > The Legal 500 Rankings

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) Tier 1

K&L Gates is home to 400 corporate lawyers located across five continents and is extremely active on the cross-border front; its lawyers operate across a wealth of industries, with particular accomplishment in the technology, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, energy, transport and manufacturing fields. Robert Zinn splits his time between New York and Pittsburgh and notably serves as global leader of the firm’s global FinTech practice. Elsewhere, Annette Becker has garnered 25 years’ worth of experience in M&A, corporate governance and strategic relationships, operating from the Seattle office, while over in Chicago, Mark McMillan serves a broad client roster, ranging from owners of Fortune 500 companies through to emerging entities. At the more junior end of the partnership spectrum, Calvina Bostick, a New York lawyer, is acclaimed among media and insurance players whereas Charlotte-based Leah Baucom is developing a prominent reputation for spin-offs, LBOs, shareholder defense and special committee representation matters.

Transport > Shipping - litigation and regulation Tier 1

K&L Gates‘ ‘top-flight' team is routinely turned to for its US and international maritime industry and regulatory capabilities, advising clients on arrests, attachments and seizures of vessels and cargo, along with cargo claims, vessel collisions, allisions and groundings. It also covers personal injury and death matters, marine insurance claims, maritime contractual disputes, and piracy. Boston-based practice head Jeffrey King focuses on commercial litigation and arbitration involving maritime and transportation matters, while Emanuel Rouvelas has longstanding experience in advising global shipping companies’ CEOs. Also highly regarded are ‘brilliant strategist‘ Mark Ruge; co-leader of the policy and regulatory practice Michael Scanlon; William Myhre, who has over 40 years’ experience in representing maritime clients; and the ‘strategic and detail-oriented Darrell Conner. Elsewhere, New York-based George Kontakis handles both commercial and criminal matters, Boston’s Luke Reid‘s workload covers maritime investigations and litigation alongside environmental regulatory compliance, while Jorge Romero regularly assists with compliance issues. The associate pool includes Elle Stuart and Luke Steinberger, along with Ifigeneia Xanthopoulou in New York. All attorneys named are the in firm’s Washington DC office, unless otherwise stated.

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 2

K&L Gates‘ e-discovery analysis and technology group (e-DAT) is brought in by companies from numerous industries to act as national or special discovery counsel. In addition to representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings, the firm provides advise on litigation readiness, document production and pre-trial support. In Seattle, Julie Anne Halter advises on discovery issues in proceedings relating to IP, securities and banking, antitrust, products liability and real estate, in addition to assisting with government and internal investigations and public records act requests. Thomas Smith, who co-leads the group from Pittsburgh alongside Halter, is another seasoned litigator, and was responsible for establishing the e-DAT department in 2004.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 2

Noted for its in-depth knowledge of corporate energy sourcing, whereby energy consumers step directly into the energy supply stream, K&L Gates boasts an impressive track record of non-utility buy-side renewable power purchase agreements. The team is particularly well positioned to assist clients in a range of industries with purchasing renewable power, installing on-site distribution generation, and procuring carbon reductions. Energy storage is also among the core areas of expertise for the department, which has been increasingly engaged by clients seeking to pair energy storage resources with new or existing solar and wind assets. In addition, practitioners are seasoned in the entire spectrum of renewable project development, including but not limited to renewable natural gas and hydrogen projects. Based in Seattle, Elizabeth Crouse  is particularly sought after by investors, developers and operators in the renewable and carbon capture industries. Buck Endemann in San Francisco is a ‘recognized leader in the biogas and broader renewable energy project development industry‘.

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 2

K&L Gates advises a diverse range of clients, from traditional electric utilities to grid-edge developers on renewable generation, transmission and storage technologies. The group has a strong focus on energy storage matters, assisting offshore wind and energy storage clients in high-profile FERC litigations and changing capacity market tariffs, as well as advising on interconnection of utility-scale generation facilities. Practice leadership is split between Seattle-based duo Elizabeth Crouse and Teresa Hill and San Francisco-based Buck Endemann. Donald Kaplan (litigation and administrative representation with particular emphasis on economic regulation and pricing issues in regulated industries); April-2021 arrival from Pierce Atwood LLP, Ruta Skucas, and Kimberly Frank (both of whom handle utility regulatory matters before the FERC and state agencies) are all key practitioners. Former department head David Hattery moved in house in April 2021.

Government > Government relations Tier 2

K&L Gates’ public policy group provides strategic counsel and policy advocacy, advancing legislative and regulatory objectives for public and private organisations across a number of industries. Offering a holistic view, the group is notable for its high-level technology expertise, particularly where it intersects in emerging areas such as commercial spaceflight, sustainability, and national defense, helping clients navigate the full policy life cycle, from legislation, to regulation, including dispute resolution. Bipartisan in its practice with a deep bench of expertise, the firm has a global reach, as well as strategic state and local presence. Emanuel Rouvelas  has enjoyed a distinguished career, often working with the executive branch and Congress on international trade and transport matters following his notable maritime law expertise. Michael Scanlon is also a leader in the maritime law space. Karishma Shah Page is the go-to practitioner for Fortune 500 companies, national trade associations, and tax exempt entities with technical policy issues. David Wochner is counsel to and represents a number and wide range of clients in the energy industry, advising on matters where federal policy and regulatory issues impact commodities and infrastructure, particularly in the natural gas, LNG, and hydrogen energy sub-sectors. Alongside the prior three, Darrell Conner is also a leader in the group. Also of note are Bruce Heiman, a cyber security and privacy policy expert; Daniel Crowley who specializes in financial services and capital markets; and emerging technology expert Paul Stimers. All practitioners mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 2

The calibre of clients instructing K&L Gates is testament to the ‘extraordinarily knowledgeable‘ firm’s standing in the registered funds market; Federated Hermes and John Hancock Investment Management are just two of the notable names on this roster. The offering is particularly adept in the transactional and regulatory spheres, and regularly handles key acquisitions, enforcement and litigation both in the US and abroad. The group’s leadership is split between three respected practitioners – the Washington DC office fields Mark Amorosi – whose broad workload also spans fund formation mandates – and Ndenisarya Bregasi, who ‘leads through example‘. Their counterpart in Boston is Michael Caccese, whose team on the ground comprises such recommended attorney as Mark Goshko and Clair Pagnano. The department’s reputation for proving itself ‘smart and creative when confronting new situations‘ ensures that ETFs, open-end, and closed-end funds frequently rely on its expertise when novel and complex issues arise.  

M&A/corporate and commercial > Delaware counsel Tier 2

The group at K&L Gates possesses ‘many years of experience in the Delaware market and an insight into ongoing Delaware legislation and case law’. It leveraged its global network to advise clients on Delaware law long before the Wilmington office was founded in 2013 by practice head Scott Waxman. He regularly acts for financial institutions acting as service providers and counsels on issues relating to statutory trusts. The ‘responsive and knowledgeable‘ Eric Feldman concentrates his practice on alternative entities and general business matters. With nearly 25 years of experience, Nicholas Froio is well-equipped to assist clients with issues relating to structuring, operation, and governance of Delaware alternative entities.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

K&L Gates offers a large global team with practitioners in North America, Europe and Asia, which advises on a broad range of white-collar crime matters and investigations. The team is headed by the Washington DC-based Stephen Topetzes and Brian Saulnier in Pittsburgh. Topetzes is recommended for government investigations, regulatory matters, litigation and internal investigations; Saulnier, who is dual-qualified in the US, and England and Wales, handles corruption matters, such as FCPA and UK Bribery Act (UKBA) issues. Robert Higdon joined from the Eastern District of North Carolina US Attorney’s Office and operates between Research Triangle Park and Washington DC.

Government > Government contracts Tier 3

K&L Gates’ government contracts and procurement policy department is praised by clients for its ‘outstanding support’ and ‘excellent knowledge’. Based in Washington DC, the team offers comprehensive counselling, litigation, and regulatory expertise, and is praised for its competence and track record in pursuing and defending federal bid protests, and internal and agency investigations. The group is adept in advising technology and Fortune 100 companies on IP rights and responsibilities under government contracts, as well as non-procurement agreements. Following her promotion to partner in March 2021, Amy Conant-Hoang co-leads the practice along side renowned bid protest litigator Stuart Nibley, and David Yang, a data rights, cost accounting, and bid protests specialist. Associate Erica Bakies is also of note, particularly in relation to internal investigations and disputes. Sarah Bugart is also recommended.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 3

Full service firm K&L Gates handles M&A, joint ventures, debt and equity offerings, project development and project finance matters related to the conventional power field. Strengths of the practice include corporate energy sourcing issues, as well as acting for institutional investors, including offshore funds, on a range of matters. The team is co-led by Elizabeth Crouse, based in Seattle, who has particular expertise in the carbon capture and renewables industries; San Francisco-based Buck Endemann, who focuses on renewables; and energy and infrastructure specialist Teresa Hill in Seattle.

Insurance > Advice to policyholders Tier 3

David F. McGonigle leads the insurance recovery and counseling practice at K&L Gates from the firm’s office in Pittsburgh, drawing on experience as lead coverage counsel in a variety of forums, from state and federal courts, to bankruptcy courts, arbitrations and private mediations. The team has expertise in aggregating claims against multiple insurers in a policyholder-friendly forum and can also make use of the firm‘s global footprint. Donald W. Kiel in Newark handles primary and excess pollution liability, property damage and business interruption as well as directors and officers insurance coverage claims, while Jonathan M. Cohen in Washington DC focuses on coverage in disputes involving product liability, product recalls, and supply chain issues.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 3

K&L Gates advises global household clients like Abercrombie & Fitch and TripAdvisor on the clearance, prosecution and maintenance of their trademark portfolios. In Boston, IP practice group partner David Byer specializes in trademark, trade dress, advertising and distribution issues. Susan Kayser in Washington DC assists clients in the fashion, luxury, tech, food, and consumer products sectors. Strategic expansion licensing and enforcement expertise is brought by Pam Jacobson in Seattle. Added support is provided by Eric Lee in Boston, whose work spans the e-commerce, music, travel, software, medical devices and pharmaceutical industries. The team is directed in the US by Bob Barrett in Chicago.

Media, technology and telecoms > Fintech Tier 3

K&L Gates has a well regarded fintech practice that approaches the market from several different angles. On the transactional side, key areas of expertise include partnering agreements between banking and fintech clients, where the team regularly assists both sides of the table, as well as advice on M&A and corporate financings. The group also has a strong cadre of financial service regulatory lawyers with good experience of related contentious and non-contentious issues. Another increasingly important plank in the firm’s offering is its experience in digital assets, blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Lead partners include New York’s Judith Rinearson who has an impressive industry background in payments systems and financial services. Robert Zinn, who divides his time between Pittsburgh and New York, is a key contact for related M&A, while Washington DC partner Jennifer Crowder is highly experienced on the regulatory side.

Transport > Aviation and air travel - finance Tier 3

K&L Gates‘ clients range from lenders and lessors, to airlines and aviation sector new technology providers. The team regularly advises on the financing programs for manufacturers of hydrogen fuel tanks, magnetic propulsion, range services, and aircraft and aerospace technology acquisitions. It has also recently assisted with major restructuring matters. Heading the Americas air finance practice from New York, Elizabeth Evans‘ practice covers aviation finance (both fixed wing and rotary). In Charleston, Amanda Darling focuses on asset and project finance, while Miami-based Marie-Pierre Grondin is a former deputy general counsel of GA Telesis, an aircraft engine overhaul and repair station.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 4

K&L Gates‘ dispute resolution offering spans securities, business torts, bankruptcy, banking, antitrust, white-collar crime, product liability, environmental, professional liability, class actions, employment litigation, and intellectual property litigation, among others. The client portfolio includes national and international companies from the software and electronics, financial services, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing, as well as from the construction, food & beverage, and entertainment sectors. Pallavi Mehta Wahi in Seattle specialises in disputes with connection to corporate and technology. The Pittsburgh-based Thomas Birsic is well versed in class actions, business disputes, environmental and toxic torts, and shareholder disputes. Jeffrey Patterson in Boston and Melissa Tea in Pittsburgh lead the practice.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 4

Clients note that the team at K&L Gates is an ‘important resource in understanding and navigating the ever-changing healthcare laws and regulations.’ The team’s regulatory strength is particularly notable, advising on fraud and abuse matters, as well as data-sharing agreements and Covid-19 matters. Mary Beth Johnston and Richard Church co-lead the team from North Carolina, advising on regulatory and transactional matters respectively. It has also expanded its reach, opening a new Nashville office featuring leading partner Ken Marlowe. Dallas-based Joshua Skora is also recommended.

Energy > Energy litigation: electric power Tier 4

K&L Gates represents a diverse range of clients in the electric power industry, from traditional electric utilities to grid-edge developers in renewable generation, transmission and storage technologies. It also regularly advises on the interconnection of utility-scale generation facilities and compliance with FERC and state regulations, as well as assisting on market tariffs and rules in high-profile FERC litigation. Based in San Francisco, Buck Endemann co-chairs the practice with Elizabeth Crouse and Teresa Hill in Seattle. Washington DC-based partner Donald Kaplan is another key practitioner, focusing on representation before courts and administrative agencies. Elizabeth Thomas in Seattle is noted for her renewables expertise.

Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 4

K&L Gates is particularly known for handling upstream oil and gas disputes. The practice group regularly represents lessees before municipal regulatory agencies as well as in litigation concerning the impact of municipal ordinances on oil and gas operations. It also has expertise in hydraulic fracturing litigation and is adept at handling class action cases. Jamie Bryan and Clare Kempkens co-lead the group from Fort Worth and London, respectively. Splitting his time between Fort Worth and Houston, Jeffrey King is another key figure at the practice. Former practice head Sandra Safro moved in house as associate GC at Edison Electric Institute in August 2021.

Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas Tier 4

The team at K&L Gates has extensive experience in the regulation of natural gas pipeline transportation and storage, as well as LNG imports and exports. A key area of focus for the group cncerns the issues impacting the development of the hydrogen market, including siting, economic and safety regulations. David Wochner is the main contact in Washington DC, advising clients on federal regulatory and policy issues relating to energy infrastructure and commodities. London-based Clare Kempkens and Jamie Bryan in Fort Worth co-chair the practice. Sandro Safro moved in house in August 2021.

Environment > Environment: litigation Tier 4

K&L Gates houses a group of environmental and regulatory specialists whose experience cuts across air, waste management, water, wetlands, mining and oil and gas. The team has strong working relationships with federal ad state regulatory authorities, making it well-positioned to assist major businesses and industry groups in administrative proceedings, permitting issues, and remediation claims. Based in the Newark office, Brian Montag ‘has a breadth of knowledge and expertise in environmental litigation‘. He is regularly retained by clients in the construction, manufacturing, telecoms and chemical sectors in mandates involving environmental justice, Superfund sites, and toxic tort. He jointly heads up the environmental practice Craig Wilson in Harrisburg and Seattle-based Ankur Tohan.

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 4

K&L Gates is sought after by mid-size and Fortune 500 companies in matters involving the regulation of air, water, wetlands, waste management, mining and oil gas before state and federal agencies. The team has an established reputation in the market for its expertise in the fields of brownfield redevelopment, environmental justice and natural resources damages. Clients praise Brian Montag for ‘his breadth and depth of not only knowledge but of contacts in New Jersey‘. He often represents clients from the manufacturing, construction, telecoms and chemicals sectors before environmental agencies regionally and nationally. He co-chairs the practice with Craig Wilson in Harrisburg, who serves as global practice coordinator of the environmental, land and natural resources group. Clients turn to Wilson for assistance with environmental permits for energy and industrial projects. Fellow co-leader Ankur Tohan is based in the Seattle office and specialises in compliance counseling and natural resource development.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 4

The team at K&L Gates serves an equally impressive roster of clients on both the sponsor and investor sides, and is well placed to assist notable names across the board with complex business and regulatory issues relevant to the structuring, documentation, and operation of hedge funds in leading fund formation jurisdictions around the world. In the Washington office, Mark Amorosi and Ndenisarya Bregasi are the core contacts, while over in Boston, Michael Caccese is the key name to note. The firm also recently strengthened its asset management capabilities in New York, with the arrival of Jacqueline Duval from Herrick, Feinstein LLP in August 2021.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 4

The nationwide asset management team at K&L Gates regularly assists some of the best-known fund sponsors and investment management firms in the industry with the sophisticated and complex fund formation mandates. The group has particular strength in the emerging manager space, advising new and growing investment managers alike on issues relating to investment vehicles, seed investors and acquisition of GP stakes in more established managers. Two of the joint practice heads – Mark Amorosi and Ndenisarya Bregasi – are based in Washington, while the third – Michael Caccese – oversees matters from Boston. Other recommended attorneys include Scott Bernhart, a real estate fund formation specialist located in Fort Worth, and New York-based Yasho Lahiri, whose broad workload encompasses seed capital, employment and partnership arrangements with key members of investment and operational teams, joint ventures and distribution arrangements, and exits through sales to strategic and financial buyers.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 4

K&L Gates is well-versed in an array of compensation and benefits matters, such as qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation arrangements, including Section 409A compliance issues, defined benefit plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and ESOPs. In the firm’s San Francisco office, Rikki Sapolich-Krol advises public, private and non-profit entities on structuring and administering benefit plans and compensation arrangements, while one client praises Seattle-based Karrie Johnson Diaz for ‘her deep knowledge on the most complicated retirement plan issues’. Also in Seattle, associate Jennifer Addis handles ERISA and tax compliance matters.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 4

K&L Gates advises on a wide variety of outsourcing matters, acting in sectors including travel, pharmaceuticals and energy. In addition to advising on transactions including master service agreements, the practice also provides assistance to companies on outsourcing issues arising from corporate transactions, such as transition service agreements. In Dallas, John Howell is recognized for his deep experience in the structuring of outsourcing agreements, while Susan Altman in Pittsburgh has broad expertise across commercial transactions, including IT and business process outsourcing agreements.

Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 5

In January 2021, K&L Gates hired a four-partner construction law team from Dickinson Wright PLLC, who helped establish the firm’s new office in Nashville, Tennessee. One of the hires, Slade Sevier, now co-heads the practice and has an engineering background that adds ‘a unique perspective to his work‘ on top of 18 years of litigation and contract negotiation experience. Rob Dodson is a seasoned counsel on all aspects of construction law and specializes in healthcare industry projects and their regulatory tangles, while other key names are construction disputes expert Emma Wolfe and Ryan Lee, who has a focus on contract drafting and negotiation in the manufacturing, healthcare, higher education, and hospitality industries. The practice as a whole supports clients through the life cycle of a project and a has particularly notable recent experience in clean energy production facilities. The team closely co-ordinates with its Melbourne and London offices. Previous practice head Timothy Pierce left the firm in March 2021.

Real estate Tier 5

Co-leader of the K&L Gates‘ global real estate practice, Matthew Norton in Charleston is an authority on the sale, acquisition, financing, and development of hotels, resorts, and golf courses. In Seattle, Shannon Skinner is primarily known for her real estate financing and redevelopment expertise. She also routinely represents corporate real estate owners in the acquisition and disposition of their real estate holdings, portfolio transactions, build-to-suit leases, and data center developments.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate