A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a handle assembly. The end effector includes a movable jaw and a cutting element slidably movable within the end effector. The handle assembly includes an energy button configured to deliver energy to at least one electrode located in the end effector, a trigger plate operably coupled to a jaw closure mechanism, the trigger plate configured to close the movable jaw, a firing plate operably coupled to a cutting element drive mechanism. The firing plate is configured to drive the cutting element independently of the jaw closure mechanism. The cutting element drive mechanism is configured to close the movable jaw when the cutting element is driven. The handle assembly further includes a trigger operatively coupled to the trigger plate and the firing plate. The jaw closure mechanism and the cutting element drive mechanism are configured to simultaneously close the movable jaw.
