Gerry Johnson is a partner in the international law firm of K&L Gates.  His law practice focuses on major community building projects, particularly those involving the participation of both the public and private sectors.  Mr. Johnson has been counsel to projects ranging from initial development and recent expansion of the Seattle Art Museum; the recovery of the downtown Seattle retail core anchored by the Nordstrom flagship store and corporate headquarters and Pacific Place; Safeco and Qwest Fields; the Museum of Flight; and the Pike Place Market.  He is currently working on the Museum of History & Industry's move to Lake Union Park; waterfront redevelopment projects in Tacoma and Bellingham; and the transfer of the Washington State Convention Center from state control to a county public facilities district.

Mr. Johnson is a past president of the (Pike Place) Market Foundation and the Cascade Land Conservancy, both of which he helped to form.  For years, Mr. Johnson has been prominent within regional leadership of numerous initiatives to preserve open space and natural areas and create and support public parks.  He also is past chairman of the Woodland Park Zoological Society board, and was instrumental in the transition of the management of the Zoo from the Seattle Parks Department to the Society.  Mr. Johnson served 12 years as a trustee of the Bullitt Foundation, a substantial regional foundation focused on the environment.  He currently serves on the boards of the Seattle Parks Foundation and the Downtown Seattle Association.  He chairs the Cascade Land Conservancy's Council of Advisors and is providing leadership for the implementation of CLC's Cascade Agenda, a far-sighted and ambitious 100 year vision to preserve natural areas and reinforce growth in successful urban communities.  He also serves on the Seattle Central Waterfront Partnerships Committee advising the Mayor and City Council.

Mr. Johnson completed a five year term as managing partner of Preston Gates & Ellis, a predecessor firm to K&L Gates, at the end of 2004.  Mr. Johnson co founded and served as board chair of Attenex, a successful Seattle-based legal services software developer, that was acquired by FTI in 2008.  He served as legislative assistant to the Seattle City Council (1973 74), and legislative assistant (1974 77) and administrative assistant/chief-of-staff (1977 79) to former U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson.  Mr. Johnson earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, 1977 (cum laude) and A.B. from Dartmouth College, 1973 (summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Senior Fellow).

He was the recipient of the Municipal League of King County’s James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award in 2005.