WASHINGTON  (TIP): The U.S. Senate on July 10 confirmed 41-year-old Pittsburgh lawyer J. Nicholas Ranjan as a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

1. Nicholas Ranjan, a partner with K&L Gates in Downtown and nominated by President Donald Trump, was confirmed by an 80-14 vote.

Ranjan’s practice focuses on appellate and complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on energy law, class action defense, and domestic arbitration.

He has been selected by Chambers USA as one of the top commercial litigators in Pennsylvania multiple times, with clients commending his “creative approach and responsiveness.” He has also been selected as a fellow with The Litigation Counsel of America, which is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.

Mr. Ranjan is the pro bono coordinator for the firm’s Pittsburgh office. During his time in this position, the Allegheny County Bar Association awarded the firm the pro bono law firm of the year award. He also is the chairman of the Pittsburgh office’s diversity committee and is a member of the K&L Gates global diversity committee. He is active in leading diversity initiatives within the firm and in the community. For these efforts, he was a recipient of the Leadership Excellence Award, awarded by the Pittsburgh Leadership Conference.