Jackie Celender is a partner and trial attorney whose practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, class action defense, and international arbitration. She is a practice group coordinator of the firm’s Commercial Disputes group.
Jackie has extensive experience litigating disputes arising from commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and partnership breakups, and corporate governance claims in a variety of industries and sectors, with a particular focus on manufacturing, specialty chemical, aerospace, and energy.
Jackie also has significant experience defending product liability, mass tort, and class actions in state and federal courts across the country. Jackie has assisted clients in the wake of catastrophic emergency and industrial incidents, such as explosions, fires, chemical releases, and other events. Her practice covers all aspects of litigation and dispute resolution, including lead counsel advocacy, and she has tried numerous cases to conclusion. Jackie has represented clients in a variety of high-stakes domestic and international arbitrations governed by the rules of leading arbitration institutions, such as the ICC, SCC, ICDR, AAA, and CPR.
Jackie works actively with her clients to develop and implement innovative and cost-effective strategies and solutions to mitigate risks. She has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation for the last three years.
- Recognized by Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, 2025
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States for General Commercial Disputes
- Recommended Lawyer, 2025
- Leading Associate, 2019
- Recognized in Thomson Reuters' Stand-out Lawyers List, 2025
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation in Pittsburgh, 2023-2025
- Recognized in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America guide, 2024-2025
- Board Member and Fellow, The Wendell G. Freeland Society
- National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Women in International Law and Dispute Resolution Affinity Group
- Member (current)
- Co-Chair (2022-2023)
- Member, ArbitralWomen
- United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Women’s Leadership Council
- Firm Service
- Practice Group Coordinator, Commercial Disputes (2020-present)
- Chair, Pittsburgh office Associate Development Committee (2024-present)
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Member of Host Committee for American Society of International Law (ASIL) Mid-Year Meeting, Pittsburgh (2023)
- “International Arbitration and Construction Disputes,” April 2024
- “A Look at Practice Areas with Historic Underrepresentation of Women,” Allegheny County Bar Association, Women in the Law Division, March 2024
- “International Arbitration 101”, March 2024
- “Careful Communications and Attorney/Client Privilege,” February 2024
- Moderator, “International Arbitration of Insurance Disputes: A Primer and Practical Considerations” Discussion, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) International Arbitration Affinity Group, December 2023
- Co-host, K&L Gates “Women in Manufacturing: Navigating 2023 Disruptors” Event, May 2023
- “Arbitrating Smart: Strategies for Success in an International Arbitration,” December 2021, May 2023
- Moderator, “Expert and In-House Perspective on the Unique Features of International Arbitration” Panel Discussion, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) International Arbitration Affinity Group, December 2022
- “International Arbitration: Critical Considerations in Drafting an Effective Arbitration Clause and Trends in Institution and Seat Selection,” September 2022
- 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
- “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
- "Exploring opportunities, trends and risks in the manufacturing industry: Q&A with women leaders at K&L Gates LLP," Pittsburgh Business Times, 1 August 2023
- "ALI's Medical-Monitoring Proposal May Encourage Claims,” Law360, 28 June 2023
- 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
