Jeffrey King > K&L Gates > Boston, United States > Lawyer Profile

K&L Gates‘ ‘pragmatic, ethical and very knowledgeable’ maritime practice is consistently mandated to advise on arrests, attachments, and seizures of vessels and cargo. The team also assists with cargo claims, limitation of liability proceedings, vessel collisions, allisions, groundings, and personal injury and death-related matters. The firm additionally houses experts in marine insurance claims; and charter party, bill of lading and other maritime contractual disputes, as well as piracy-related issues. On the environmental side, the group regularly defends ship owners, operators, managers, charterers and crew members facing civil fines or criminal prosecution under domestic and foreign environmental regulations. In Boston, Jeffrey King focuses on commercial litigation and arbitration involving maritime and transportation. In Washington DC, Michael Scanlon‘s maritime practice involves both domestic and international maritime work, Mark Ruge ‘has an incredible handle on policy’, Darrell Conner is a government affairs counselor in the firm’s public policy and law group, and Elle Stuart assists with transportation-related federal regulatory, policy and legislative matters. In the firm’s New York office, George Kontakis is ‘a very bright, knowledgeable and easy-to-reach partner’. Jorge Romero retired in April 2024, and Luke Reid left the firm in June 2024.

K&L Gates represents midstream and upstream clients in a wide range of judicial and administrative proceedings related to crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids royalty payment issues, as well as disputes over gas sales contracts, personal injury, municipal regulation of oil and gas development and storage rights disputes. Jeffrey King is based in Fort Worth and act for a number of oil and gas producers, gas marketing companies and pipeline companies in complex litigation before federal and state courts. Another key member is Elizabeth Tiblets, an expert in putative class action litigation, who handles disputes over non-payment of royalties, title issues and a wide range of other contractual matters. Dallas’ Chris Brown and Pittsburgh’s Thomas Ryan are also recognized as experts in oil and gas litigation. Jamie Lavergne Bryan has left the firm.