Jacquelyn (“Jackie”) Celender is a partner in the firm's Pittsburgh office, who maintains an active trial and arbitration practice focused on complex commercial disputes, international arbitration, and class action defense. Jackie has extensive first-chair trial experience and has tried numerous international and U.S.-based commercial arbitrations to conclusion, in addition to significant experience managing sophisticated litigations and arbitrations. Jackie also maintains an active counseling practice advising clients on external risk management and resolving disputes through negotiated settlements, mediations, arbitrations or trials. Jackie's complex commercial litigation, international arbitration, and class action defense experience extends to the areas of commercial contract, warranty, indemnification, product liability, and personal injury disputes. Her clients are in a variety of industries and sectors, with a particular focus on metals manufacturing and fabrication, aerospace, specialty chemical, and energy.
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 for work in Commercial Litigation
- Chosen as a 2019 Legal500 “Rising Star” in general commercial disputes.
- Chosen as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine “Rising Star” for the years 2016-2021.
- Co-Chair, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Women in International Arbitration Affinity Group
- Member, ArbitralWomen
- Chair (2019-2022) and Member (current), K&L Gates Pittsburgh Diversity Committee; Member (2019-2022), K&L Gates Firmwide Diversity Committee
- Pittsburgh City Lead (Co-Chair) (2013-2015) and Mentor (current), Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Success in Law School Mentoring Program
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Moderator, “Ask the Arbitrator” Q&A Session, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) International Arbitration Affinity Group, June 2022
- “International Arbitration: A Primer on Core Advantages and Critical Considerations in Drafting an Effective Arbitration Clause,” June 2022
- “International Arbitration: Key Considerations from Clause to Award,” April 2022
- “Arbitrating Smart: Strategies for Success in an International Arbitration,” December 2021
- “Measure Twice, Cut Once: Critical Considerations in Drafting Effective International Arbitration Provisions,” April & November 2021
- “From Clause to Award: International Arbitration in Commercial Disputes,” August 2021
- “A Renewed Look at the International Arbitration Landscape in the Wake of COVID-19 and Geopolitical Headwinds,” May 2021
- “Pre-Litigation Demand Letters and Maximizing Indemnification Rights,” August 2020
- “Best Practices for E-mail and Other Electronic Communications,” August 2020
- “E-mail Best Practices,” November 2018
- “Three Things Inside Counsel Should Know About Insurance: Avoiding Traps and Seizing Opportunities in Several Common Situations,” 27 June 2018
- “Transferring and Mitigating Risk Through Additional Insured Coverage,” 17 April 2017 and 30 May 2017
- “Drones (and Risk) are in the Air: Compliance, Insurance & Privacy Issues,” RIMS Pittsburgh Chapter Session, 15 November 2016
- “Insurance Coverage for Cyber Risks – A Programmatic Perspective,” Cracking the Code: Cybersecurity for Tomorrow, co-hosted by K&L Gates and Carnegie Mellon University, 10 November 2016
- “A Dangerous World: Insurance Coverage and Cybersecurity,” New Horizons for Unmanned Aircraft: Innovation in the Evergreen State, co-hosted by K&L Gates LLP and the Washington State Department of Commerce, 19 September 2016
- “A Dangerous World: Insurance Coverage and Cybersecurity,” Reaching New Heights: An Overview of the Unmanned Aircraft Atmosphere for 2016, co-hosted by K&L Gates and Consumer Technology Association, 3 June 2016
- “Cyber Liability – Hot Topic: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Insurance Implications,” RIMS Pittsburgh Chapter Session, 5 April 2016
- “Modular Construction: Insurance Challenges,” EPC Contracting Issues in the Oil & Gas Industry Seminar, co-hosted by K&L Gates and Marsh, 2 November 2015
- “Wrestling With Retroactive Reinsurance,” Insurance Coverage Training Series (K&L Gates), 19 March 2015
- “Insurance Coverage for Construction Risks,” Insurance Coverage Training Series (K&L Gates), 8 January 2014
- “Cyber Risk and Insurance,” Insurance Coverage Training Series (K&L Gates), 5 September 2012
- Rebutting the “Agency” Defense to Tortious Interference Claims, Insurance Coverage Litigation, Spring 2015, Vol. 25, No. 2, 11 August 2015
- Rebutting the "Agency" Defense to Tortious Interference Claims against National Indemnity Company and Resolute Management, paper submitted for ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Seminar, February 2015
