The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a peer-review publication in the legal profession, has recognized more than 350 K&L Gates lawyers in 24 offices as top legal talent across various industries and practice areas. In addition, close to 50 of the firm's lawyers were named in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, a list that recognizes lawyers early in their careers. For more than 40 years, the Best Lawyers guide highlights outstanding legal professionals selected by their peers through millions of votes each year.
This year, 17 K&L Gates partners were recognized with 18 "Lawyer of the Year" awards, an accolade received by only one lawyer in each practice area and region across the country, resulting in a total of nearly 620 recognitions overall for the firm.
Congratulations to the Lawyer of the Year award recipients below, as well as to all of the lawyers recognized in the 2026 edition. To view the full list of individuals recognized, please click here.
LAWYERS OF THE YEAR
Boston
- Jeffrey King – Admiralty and Maritime Law
Charleston
- James Bruce – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Charlotte
- Rick Giovannelli – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Sean Jones – Corporate Governance Law
- Sean Jones – Securities / Capital Markets Law
Harrisburg
- David Fine – Appellate Practice
- Craig Wilson – Litigation - Environmental
Miami
- April Boyer – Labor Law - Management
Nashville
- Slade Sevier – Litigation - Real Estate
Pittsburgh
- Stephen Barge – Litigation and Controversy - Tax
- David Lehman – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Patrick McElhinny – Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Anna Shabalov – Copyright Law
- John Sylvester – Insurance Law
Raleigh
- Stanford Baird – Environmental Law
Seattle
- Charles Royce – Banking and Finance Law
- Ankur Tohan – Energy Regulatory Law
Wilmington
- Scott Waxman – Securitization and Structured Finance Law