Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has expanded its energy and commercial disputes practices with the addition of Houston partner Michael T. Murphy. He joins K&L Gates from Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Murphy’s significant trial experience includes having served as first and second chair in numerous jury and bench trials, arbitrations, and administrative hearings. He advises clients in the energy sector and across other industries in connection with complex energy, commercial, construction, and toxic tort disputes. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a 2013 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

“Michael Murphy adds tremendous depth to our rapidly growing energy and commercial trial and arbitration practices at K&L Gates,” said Randel Young, administrative partner of K&L Gates’ Houston office. “Michael’s broad-based commercial disputes experience, representing both U.S. and international clients, is a natural fit within K&L Gates’ multinational practice platform. We are delighted to have Michael with us.”

Lawyers in K&L Gates’ Houston office have deep experience advising clients in a variety of commercial disputes and securities litigation, and on a range of investment and finance, energy law, healthcare, and technology matters. The office is key to the firm’s energy practice and advises private and public companies on U.S. and cross-border upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas projects, transactions, and disputes, including particular capabilities in LNG project development, oil and gas commodity trading, oil and gas finance, and U.S. and international maritime matters.

Murphy’s addition follows the earlier arrival this year of corporate/securities/M&A partner Bryce Linsenmayer to the Houston office and the promotions of two Houston lawyers, David Sweeney and Jonathan Hoff, to partner in the firm’s energy transaction practice this March.

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