Michael Scanlon > K&L Gates > Washington DC, 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.

Providing strategic counsel and policy advocacy services to both public and private organizations, K&L Gates‘ public policy group demonstrates substantive experience across financial services, energy, environment, healthcare, tech, and education. Leadership of the team is shared between: Michael Scanlon, who has a significant practice in domestic and international maritime matters; David Wochner, an energy expert with strong credentials in the natural gas and hydrogen industries; Karishma Page, who manages a diverse portfolio of tax, financial services, healthcare, and employee benefits clients; and Andrew Wright, who is well-versed in congressional oversight, executive compliance, and enforcement actions. Emanuel Rouvelas is another maritime law giant, and often works with the US and foreign governments on international trade and transport matters. Bruce Heiman is a recognized authority on cybersecurity and privacy policy issues, while Daniel Crowley focuses on financial services and capital markets. Tax expert and Of Counsel Leonard Bickwit, and energy, environment, and natural resources specialist Matthew Leggett joined the firm in February 2023, from Miller & Chevalier Chartered and the Senate, respectively. Senior counsel to former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Jamie Jackson joined in April 2023, expanding the group’s reach in national security and emerging technologies.