BakerHostetler announced that Sean Knowles has joined the firm’s Seattle office as a partner in its Litigation Practice Group. He will also be a member of the firm’s Securities and Governance Litigation team.
Knowles joins BakerHostetler from an Am Law 100 firm, where he served as firmwide chair of the securities litigation practice. His arrival strengthens BakerHostetler’s securities litigation capabilities on the West Coast and expands the firm’s bench in Seattle.
Knowles has nearly 30 years of experience representing clients in securities class action litigation, shareholder derivative lawsuits, mergers and acquisitions litigation, and SEC enforcement proceedings and investigations. He has been recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America.
His practice focuses on helping public companies, officers, and directors navigate high-stakes shareholder and regulatory matters. Clients turn to him for defense in securities class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, M&A disputes, SEC matters, Washington State Securities Act claims, and corporate governance issues.
Knowles has significant federal court experience defending securities class actions, including matters tied to the mortgage-related financial crisis. He has also represented clients in SEC and state attorneys general investigations, shareholder books-and-records demands, and FINRA inquiries.
Before moving to Seattle in 2007, Knowles began his legal career in New York. He now represents clients in litigation and regulatory matters across the country.
BakerHostetler said the addition reflects its continued investment in strategic growth and client service on the West Coast. Since 2020, the firm has added more than 120 attorneys across the region.
Knowles received his A.B. from Brown University and his J.D. from Columbia Law School. BakerHostetler’s Litigation Practice Group includes more than 420 litigators across the U.S.
KEY QUOTES:
“Having led his prior firm’s national securities litigation practice, Sean will be a tremendous addition to our Securities and Governance Litigation team. He is a seasoned attorney with the type of sophisticated judgment, experience and strategic focus clients need when the stakes are highest. His arrival boosts our Seattle team and advances our strategy of investing in more top talent on the West Coast.”
Steven Dettelbach, Chair of BakerHostetler’s Firmwide Litigation Practice Group
“Sean’s arrival strategically enhances the depth and profile of our Securities and Governance Litigation team. He is a standout securities litigator with a strong track record in high-stakes matters, and his addition strengthens our position as the go-to securities and governance litigation team.”
Doug Greene, Leader of BakerHostetler’s Securities and Governance Litigation Team
“Sean’s arrival is a meaningful investment in our Seattle office and in a market where companies need sophisticated counsel on fast-moving securities and governance matters. He brings a strong record in bet-the-company litigation and regulatory proceedings, and his presence strengthens our ability to serve clients in Seattle, across the broader Pacific Northwest and the West Coast.”
Timothy D. Casey, Partner-in-Charge of BakerHostetler’s Seattle Office
