John T. Bender

John T. Bender is a partner in the Commercial Disputes and White Collar Defense and Investigations practice groups in Seattle. He helps companies, boards, and executives handle complex legal and business issues. His work covers major disputes, crisis matters, and high-value cases involving serious financial and reputational risks.

John earned an LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, a J.D. from the University of Washington, and a B.A. from Seattle University. His academic background supports his broad legal practice and strong understanding of business, finance, and regulatory matters across many industries.

John focuses on disputes involving venture capital, technology, securities, corporate governance, and intellectual property. He also handles claims of fraud, embezzlement, unfair competition, and real estate matters. He represents clients in enforcement actions before the SEC, WA DFI, and state attorneys general, and manages internal investigations and crisis response matters.

John has worked on cases involving tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. He served as court-appointed Special Counsel and lead trial lawyer in two major investment fraud cases in the Pacific Northwest. In those matters, he helped prove large Ponzi schemes involving nearly US$1 billion in claimed losses.

John has received several honors for his work. He earned the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Outstanding Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer of the Year Award in 2025. He was named to Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under list in 2024 and 2025 and has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2021.

John T. Bender continues to build a strong reputation for handling complex disputes and high-stakes investigations. His experience across litigation, regulatory matters, and emerging technologies allows him to guide clients through difficult challenges with clear advice and practical solutions in fast-changing business environments.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, K&L Gates LLP
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Member, King County Bar Association

Licensed State

• Washington

Education

• University of California, Berkeley School of Law
  Master of Laws (LLM)
• University of Washington
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Seattle University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges