A surgical instrument comprising: (a) an end effector , wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw , (ii) a second jaw pivotably coupled with the first jaw , wherein the second jaw is operable to transition between an open position and a closed position, (iii) a knife configured to actuate between a pre-fired position to a fired position, and (iv) an electrode assembly configured to apply RF energy to tissue; (b) a handle assembly , wherein the handle assembly comprises: (i) a housing associated with the first jaw , (ii) an arm associated with the second jaw , wherein the arm is pivotably coupled with the housing , wherein the arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between the open position and the closed position; (c) a knife drive assembly configured to actuate the knife between the pre-fired position and the fired position; (d) an electrode activation assembly configured to activate the electrode assembly ; and (e) a lockout assembly configured to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly is configured to prevent activation of the electrode assembly and prevent actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the locked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly is configured to allow activation of the electrode assembly and allow actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the unlocked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly comprises a translating body resiliently biased toward the locked configuration, characterised in that the translating body comprises a lockout ledge configured to abut against a portion of the knife drive assembly in the locked configuration. (a) an end effector , wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw , (ii) a second jaw pivotably coupled with the first jaw , wherein the second jaw is operable to transition between an open position and a closed position, (iii) a knife configured to actuate between a pre-fired position to a fired position, and (iv) an electrode assembly configured to apply RF energy to tissue; (i) a first jaw , (ii) a second jaw pivotably coupled with the first jaw , wherein the second jaw is operable to transition between an open position and a closed position, (iii) a knife configured to actuate between a pre-fired position to a fired position, and (iv) an electrode assembly configured to apply RF energy to tissue; (b) a handle assembly , wherein the handle assembly comprises: (i) a housing associated with the first jaw , (ii) an arm associated with the second jaw , wherein the arm is pivotably coupled with the housing , wherein the arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between the open position and the closed position; (i) a housing associated with the first jaw , (ii) an arm associated with the second jaw , wherein the arm is pivotably coupled with the housing , wherein the arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between the open position and the closed position; (c) a knife drive assembly configured to actuate the knife between the pre-fired position and the fired position; (d) an electrode activation assembly configured to activate the electrode assembly ; and (e) a lockout assembly configured to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly is configured to prevent activation of the electrode assembly and prevent actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the locked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly is configured to allow activation of the electrode assembly and allow actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the unlocked configuration, wherein the lockout assembly comprises a translating body resiliently biased toward the locked configuration, characterised in that the translating body comprises a lockout ledge configured to abut against a portion of the knife drive assembly in the locked configuration. <EOS>