Stephanie E. McCleery
Partner
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 2005
- Harvard Defenders; Harvard Mediation Program
- Harvard Journal of Law & Technology
- B.A. in English, Stanford University, 2002
- Writer, The Stanford Daily; Stanford-in-Oxford Program
Admissions
- State of Oregon
- State of Washington
- Pro hac vice experience in federal and state courts nationwide, including New York and California
Stephanie E. McCleery is a Partner with over two decades of experience as a trial litigator handling complex civil litigation, intellectual property, and internal investigations. An expert in navigating regulatory and corporate compliance matters, Stephanie brings a rare combination of Big Law depth and in-house strategic judgment to every engagement.
Career Overview
Stephanie E. McCleery joins the firm following a distinguished career spanning top-tier Am Law 100 firms and major corporate legal departments. As a Partner at K&L Gates, Stephanie served as a trusted advisor to senior executive teams and boards of directors, focusing on high-stakes commercial disputes, offensive and defensive trade secret and intellectual property litigation, securities, and data privacy.
Her unique perspective is further informed by her tenure as Corporate Counsel for Litigation at T-Mobile, where she directed the defense of high-exposure consumer class actions, regulatory complaints, and led enterprise-wide risk management policies.
Stephanie began her private practice career as a litigation associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York, representing corporate clients in all phases of complex antitrust inquiries, professional liability actions, and commercial contract claims.
Selected Areas of Expertise
Complex Commercial & Securities Litigation: Over twenty years of experience directing high-value contractual, financial, and partnership disputes for Fortune 500 companies and institutional entities.
IP & Trade Secret Protection: Deep technical and legal expertise managing both offensive and defensive intellectual property claims, trademark disputes, and high-stakes trade secret misappropriation cases.
Internal Investigations & Government Enforcement: Trusted by corporate leadership to conduct rigorous internal investigations and handle complex regulatory inquiries involving the DOJ, FTC, and international compliance frameworks, including sensitive matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), tax, antitrust, and employment law.
Pre-Litigation Strategy & Crisis Management: Recognized for delivering thoughtful, risk-balanced counsel designed to resolve exposure and avoid protracted litigation entirely when aligned with client objectives.
Early Career & Public Service
Stephanie began her trial career while still in law school, serving as a Special Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office. In that role, she managed a heavy criminal caseload, prosecuted bench trials, argued pre-trial motions, and handled arraignments, bail hearings, and plea negotiations.
She also actively engaged in trial advocacy and alternative dispute resolution through the Harvard Defenders and the Harvard Mediation Program.