K&L Gates Partner Theo Angelis Appointed to Washington State Supreme Court

Theo Angelis, a partner in the Seattle office of K&L Gates LLP, has been appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Governor Bob Ferguson, succeeding Justice Barbara Madsen, who announced her retirement on February 2. Angelis is the most recent in a long legacy of K&L Gates lawyers demonstrating their dedication to public service.

“Theo’s impressive qualifications and accomplishments speak for themselves,” Governor Ferguson said. “His colleagues praise his legal expertise, humility and integrity. Even opposing counsel who faced him in court describe Theo as ‘the smartest lawyer I’ve ever faced,’ and a decent, honorable person. He will serve the people of Washington well on our highest court.”

Angelis is an accomplished lawyer with 25 years of legal experience. He currently focuses on appellate work, intellectual property litigation, and general litigation as a partner at K&L Gates. Angelis also engages in extensive pro bono work, for which he has received numerous awards, including the American Civil Liberties Union’s Humanitarian Award for his work on behalf of unrepresented minors in immigration proceedings, as well as Northwest Immigrant Right’s Project’s Amicus Award, the King County Bar Association’s Mentor of the Year Award, and the Kids in Need of Defense Founder’s Award.

“Throughout my career, I have worked to promote access to the courts, a genuine commitment to the rule of law, and to use the law to help those in need,” Angelis said. “I thank Governor Ferguson for the opportunity to continue my service on our state’s highest court and Justice Madsen for her pioneering work making the courts more equitable for all Washingtonians.”

With roots in Seattle dating back to 1883, K&L Gates has long served the Puget Sound community and beyond, advising emerging companies, global businesses, nonprofits, and public sector clients across a full range of legal matters. K&L Gates also has a long tradition of alumni pursuing distinguished careers in public service in the state of Washington, across the United States, and around the globe.

In Washington state, the firm’s notable public servants include Washington Governor Bob Ferguson; the late Betty Binns Fletcher, who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for more than three decades; former US Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington Michael C. Ormsby; former US Senator Slade Gorton; and the late civic leader Jim Ellis.

More broadly, K&L Gates alumni have served as legislators, judges, senior government officials, and leaders of the legal profession. Among them are former US Senator Rick Santorum and longtime US Representative James T. Walsh; US District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan; former US Attorney General and Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh; and former American Bar Association President Michael S. Greco.

“Theo is a remarkable leader and public servant. We are incredibly proud of him and his contributions to our firm and to the local legal community over the past two and a half decades,” said Julie Anne Halter, Seattle Office Managing Partner at K&L Gates. “We will miss him terribly around the office, but his commitment to the people of Washington and the rule of law is unmatched. We wish him the very best as he begins his next chapter in public service.”

“While we will miss Theo as a colleague, we are immensely proud that he will continue his legal career in service to the people of Washington at the highest level,” said Stacy Ackermann, Global Managing Partner at K&L Gates. “Throughout his career, Theo has exemplified legal excellence, an unwavering commitment to public service, and a deep dedication to access to justice. These values are central to who we are as a firm, and we are confident he will bring the same integrity, judgment, and fairness to the Washington State Supreme Court.”