Mr. Allensworth focuses on complex civil litigation and started K&L Gates' Mortgage Banking and Consumer Financial Services Class Action Litigation practice in the firm's Boston, Massachusetts office. He has served as lead counsel in litigation matters pending in federal and state courts in 31 of the 50 states and in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, including as lead counsel in more than 150 class actions.
Mr. Allensworth's practice focuses substantially on the defense of federal and state class action litigation brought against banking, mortgage lending and consumer financial services institutions. These class actions, brought throughout the country, have concerned challenges under federal statutes including the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Truth in Lending Act (including the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act and the Consumer Leasing Act), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act; under state statutes (including state unfair and deceptive acts and practices statutes, state motor vehicle sales finance acts and state statutory analogs to various federal consumer protection statutes) and common law claims. He also has represented consumer financial services institutions in government enforcement proceedings and individual litigation matters.
Mr. Allensworth also defends mobile wireless companies in class action and government enforcement litigation in various federal and state courts around the country. These actions concern issues arising under the federal Communications Act and state unfair and deceptive acts and practices statutes, including actions involving state tax billing disputes, contract disputes and alleged violations of the number porting requirements of the Federal Communications Commission.
In addition, Mr. Allensworth has litigated a wide variety of federal and state securities law matters, complex commercial disputes, and corporate insurance coverage matters. He has tried jury and jury-waived cases in state and federal trial courts and has appeared and argued in various state and federal appellate courts. Mr. Allensworth has tried matters in arbitration and represented clients in alternative dispute resolution forums. He has represented clients before federal and state securities agencies and the NASD.
Before entering private practice, Mr. Allensworth served as law clerk to the Honorable Walter J. Skinner on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.