K&L Gates Enhances Litigation Practice With Seattle Partner Addition

Seattle – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes John Bender as a partner in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Bender joins the firm’s Seattle office from Corr Cronin LLP.

Bender focuses his practice on high-stakes commercial and complex litigation and investigations. He has represented public and private companies and individuals in high profile cases involving exposure amounting to tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Bender routinely litigates cases involving securities, partnership and shareholder disputes, corporate governance, trade secrets, intellectual property, fintech, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets. 

Bender also has deep experience defending cases brought by regulatory agencies including the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington State’s Department of Financial Institutions, and state attorneys general. He has also overseen complex securities fraud litigation in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts, including representing official and ad hoc creditors’ committees in bankruptcy. 

Pallavi Mehta Wahi, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Seattle office, commented: “John represents an exceptional opportunity for K&L Gates to add a talented, entrepreneurial litigator to our Seattle office. His diverse experience in complex litigation aligns well with the firm and office's strategic goals. We are very excited to have him join the office and further augment the office's offering to our clients and our presence in the local legal community.”

Melissa Tea, a leader of the firm’s global Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice, stated: “John brings to K&L Gates a breadth and depth of litigation experience that will further strengthen our West Coast capabilities, support the practice’s strategic growth priorities, and add tremendous value to our clients. We are excited to have him join our team.”

Bender’s arrival follows the addition of Chicago of counsel Alicia Hawley to the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice earlier this year. 

With lawyers in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America, K&L Gates’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice is uniquely positioned to assist clients in resolving their disputes at the local, national, and international levels. The firm’s litigators are some of the foremost practitioners in their field, with many ranked nationally and internationally and including fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Law Institute, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, among others.