Best Lawyers, a peer review guide to the legal profession, has recognized more than 300 K&L Gates lawyers in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for outstanding professional excellence, and 90 of the firm’s lawyers in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, a list which recognizes lawyers who are earlier in their careers. For almost 40 years, the Best Lawyers guide highlights top legal talent as selected by their peers through millions of votes each year.

Also among these recognitions are 17 “Lawyer of the Year” awards for K&L Gates, an accolade received by only one standout lawyer in each practice area and region across the country. Congratulations to the lawyers listed below who received a Lawyer of the Year award as well as to all of the lawyers recognized in the 2024 edition resulting in nearly 650 total recognitions for the firm. To view the full list of individuals recognized in The Best Lawyers in America*, please click here.

LAWYERS OF THE YEAR

Austin

• Brian Graham – Immigration Law

Charleston 

• Ernie Cochran – Corporate Law

Charlotte

• Rick Giovannelli – Corporate Law  
• Sean Jones – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law

                            – Securities / Capital Markets Law

Harrisburg

• Grainger Bowman – Construction Law
• Craig Wilson – Litigation – Environmental

Nashville

• Slade Sevier – Construction Law

Pittsburgh 

• Jeffrey Acre – Corporate Compliance Law
• Stephen Barge – Litigation and Controversy – Tax
• Patrick McElhinny – Litigation – Intellectual Property

Portland 

• William Holmes – Energy Law
• Philip Van Der Weele – Litigation – Antitrust

Raleigh

• Stanford Baird – Environmental Law
• Gary Qualls – Health Care Law

Seattle

• Hugh Bangasser – Antitrust Law

Wilmington

• Scott Waxman – Securitization and Structured Finance Law

* does not include Ones to Watch