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John C. Blessington  Partner
Boston  +1.617.261.3108
Fax +1.617.261.3175
john.blessington@klgates.com Add to Outlook Contacts


Areas of Practice • Representative Experience • Professional Background • Professional/Civic Activities • Court Admissions • Bar Admissions • Education • Achievements

Areas of Practice

Mr. Blessington is a trial lawyer in federal and state courts.  He has represented a broad range of clients on a wide variety of litigation matters, including those involving business, securities fraud, intellectual property and land use disputes.  He has experience in mediations and arbitrations as well and has argued before the First Circuit court of appeals.

Representative Experience
  • Represented plaintiff in a breach of fiduciary duty claim over the valuation of partnership interests in a reinsurance company.  Won $6 million jury verdict.
  • Defended life sciences company against a $13.5 million claim over the improper conduct of a Phase II clinical trial and breach of related licensing agreement.  Following a two week arbitration, the tribunal zeroed out plaintiff and awarded the company damages and a return of its intellectual property.
  • Represented large paper manufacturing company in a multi-million dollar breach of contract case.  Successfully settled case for plaintiff on the second day of trial.
  • Defended international bio-pharma company and its officers in a federal securities fraud class action alleging that the company had deceived investors about the Phase II results of its leading drug candidate.  Won voluntary dismissal of action.
  • Defended international bio-pharma company and its officers in a federal securities fraud class action alleging that the company had deceived investors about the commercial prospects of its then leading drug candidate.  Won dismissal of action.
  • Represented investment advisory firm in a multi-million dollar claim against its D&O carrier for breach of contract.  Won summary judgment on interpretation of key policy language.
  • Represented investment advisor in NASD arbitration arising out of the breach of a Finder's Fee Agreement.  Obtained favorable result for claimant.
  • Represented manufacturing facility in an eminent domain trial.  Won a jury award doubling amount awarded by taking authority.
  • Defended German manufacturing corporation in a dispute over an asset purchase agreement.  Successfully settled breach of contract dispute.
  • Represented the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority ("MTA") against the construction manager, design consultants and contractors of the so-called "Big Dig" Project in Boston in a case arising out of the collapse of the I-90 Tunnel.  Obtained a favorable settlement for the MTA.
  • Currently representing the Republic of Ecuador and the Central Bank of Ecuador in a $150 million bank fraud case that resulted in the failure of Banco Continental in 1996.
  • Represented State Farm Fire & Casualty Company and State Farm General Insurance Company in connection with processing and payment by the United States government of approximately $50 million in subrogation claims associated with the Cerro Grande fire that occurred on or about May 4, 2000 in northern New Mexico. 
  • Represented property owners in three separate land damage cases arising out of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority's takings to make way for the Medical City development in Worcester.  Settled all three cases with favorable results for plaintiffs.
  • Defended downtown property owner in state and federal actions by conservation commission to rescind permits for commercial development.  Won dismissal of both cases.
  • Represented Fortune 200 company in an arbitration arising from a licensing dispute before the American Arbitration Association and Japan Commercial Arbitration Association.  Successfully settled arbitration for claimant.

Professional Background

Mr. Blessington has been a lawyer with K&L Gates since 1993 and partner since 1998. 

Professional/Civic Activities
  • Boston Bar Association
  • Massachusetts Bar Association

Court Admissions
Admitted in all state and federal courts of Massachusetts and by pro hac vice to federal courts throughout the United States.

Bar Admissions
  • Bar of Massachusetts
Education
  • J.D., Boston College Law School (1986)
  • B.A., Boston College (1982) (magna cum laude)
Achievements

Recipient of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts 2009, S. Jeanne Hall Pro Bono Award for outstanding contribution to the arts community.


PRACTICES & INDUSTRIES
Arbitration -- International and Domestic
Commercial Disputes
Construction and Engineering
Life Sciences
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