Robert Sparkes, a partner in the Boston office of K&L Gates, has extensive experience litigating complex civil and commercial matters, with a focus on defending class actions in federal and state courts. Robert is a member of the firm’s financial institution and services litigation, class action litigation defense, and appellate practice groups. He regularly represents banking, mortgage lending, mortgage servicing, and other consumer financial services institutions, as well as all manner of business entities, in consumer class actions, individual litigation matters, and appeals in federal and state courts throughout the United States. These actions frequently involve challenges under federal statutes, including the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as claims under state unfair and deceptive acts and practices statutes and common law. Robert also advises consumer financial services entities and other businesses in navigating complex regulatory and compliance issues.
Robert has additional experience representing corporate and individual clients in contract, tort, products liability, intellectual property, trade secret, consumer protection, and other general business litigation, arbitration, and appellate matters.
Robert has participated in jury and bench trials in state and federal court, has appeared before courts in a variety of proceedings, and has also represented clients in settlement negotiations, mediations, and arbitrations.
Robert has co-authored multiple chapters of the K&L Gates’ treatise entitled Defense of Class Action Litigation in Federal Courts, including chapters on “Class Certification” and “Alternative Dispute Resolution.”