The Houston office of global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Bruce A. Blefeld and Trey A. Monsour as partners in the firm’s antitrust and restructuring & bankruptcy practices, respectively. Blefeld joins K&L Gates from Jackson Walker L.L.P., while Monsour joins from Haynes and Boone, LLP.

Blefeld advises health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, energy companies, and joint ventures on a variety of antitrust matters. He also represents clients in ERISA cases involving putative class action claims and in connection with complex commercial litigation matters concerning breach of contract, fraud, and tortious interference as well as patent infringement claims arising out of domestic and international transactions.

Recently, Blefeld advised a global health care device and supply company in a $1 billion antitrust suit; defended the largest health group purchasing organization in a $600 million antitrust matter; and was part of a team that prevented a specialty chemical company from terminating a $6.5 billion purchase agreement. He also was among a trial team that represented several international insurers in an $850 million claim arising from the Exxon Valdez oil spill, one of the largest insurance coverage cases ever tried.

With more than two decades of experience representing lenders, creditors, investment funds, debtors, committees, trustees, and directors both in pre-filing workouts and bankruptcy cases, Monsour brings to the firm a strong Texas presence in business restructurings and commercial bankruptcies. He advises clients in the energy, retail, restaurant, supplier, and manufacturing sectors.

Monsour is national bankruptcy counsel to one of the Fortune Global 500 Top Companies as well as a court-appointed mediator in bankruptcy disputes. Additionally, he has served as on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations, including the Children’s Advocacy Center.

“With the addition of these two outstanding lawyers, we are pleased to grow our litigation and bankruptcy capabilities in this strategic market for our firm,” said Eugene C. Pridgen, K&L Gates’ Managing Partner, U.S.

K&L Gates opened its Houston office in February with the hiring of corporate partner Charles Strauss, and has since added Steven Sparling as an energy partner in both the firm’s Houston and Washington, D.C., offices and Arthur Howard as a corporate/M&A partner.

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