Brigid E. Kennedy

Brigid E. Kennedy: Attorney with Williams Barber & Morel Ltd.
Attorney Awards
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating
About Attorney Awards

Biography

Brigid E. Kennedy is a partner at Williams Barber & Morel LTD. and a member of the firm's commercial litigation and professional liability practice groups. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation, including professional liability and insurance coverage cases.

Ms. Kennedy is 'AV Preeminent' peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for both ethical standards and legal ability. Martindale-Hubbell has also recognized her as one of the few 'Women Leaders in Law.' She has been selected by her peers for inclusion in Illinois Leading Lawyers for commercial litigation, insurance, insurance coverage and reinsurance, and professional malpractice defense law and has been selected as one of the 'Top 100 Women in Illinois' for business litigation.

Ms. Kennedy has litigated, mediated and arbitrated commercial and professional liability cases in courts and ADR forums throughout the country. Her extensive experience includes commercial litigation, construction litigation, legal and financial professional liability matters, and insurance coverage matters.

Ms. Kennedy has represented law firms throughout the country in malpractice cases involving patents, securities fraud, conspiracy, RICO, lender liability, medical malpractice and wrongful death. She also has arbitrated complex commercial matters involving power plant construction and complex insurance coverage matters.

Ms. Kennedy joined the firm in 1989 after a summer associate internship and was made a partner of the firm in 1997.

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Areas of Practice (3)

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance
  • Professional Liability

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
Wellesley College, B.A., Art History and French, 1986; Wellesley College, B.A., cum laude, 1986; New York University in Paris and at Paris IV, La Sorbonne, Art History
Law School Attended:
Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1989
Year of First Admission:
1989
Admission:
1989, Illinois; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Memberships:

Professional Activities

Ms. Kennedy is active in various professional and civic organizations, including:
•Chicago Bar Association, past appointee, Investigative Division, Judicial Evaluation Committee
•Illinois State Bar Association
•American Bar Association, judge, Client Counseling Competition, 1991,1992, 1993, 1995
•Loyola Consumer Law Reporter, member, Advisory Board
•Wellesley College Alumnae Association of Chicago, Regional Class Reunion Chair, National Class Reunion Officer, 2011, Member, Admissions Committee

Birth Information:
Fairfield, California, July 21, 1964
Reported Cases:
Representative Matters: Bechtel Power Corp., et al. v. Athens Generating Corp., et al. v. Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp.; Arbitration in Washington, D.C. Achieved verdict of not guilty for client Siemens Westinghouse Power in arbitration of construction claims brought by Athens Generating seeking tens of millions of dollars in delays and liquidated damages. Siemens supplied combustion turbine generators and other equipment to a power plant in New York owned by Athens. When delays derailed the construction schedule, the general contractor, Bechtel, sued Athens for liquidated and other damages. Athens sought contribution or indemnity from Siemens. After a hearing spanning periods over more than three years, the arbitration panel found that Athens was entitled to no relief from Siemens by way of contribution, indemnity or otherwise.; City of Dubuque, Iowa v. a Law Firm; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa. Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a large law firm in a legal malpractice claim arising out of the theft by a trust manager of $61 million in assets from a trust allegedly improperly drafted by the firm. Lost on liability as to trust beneficiaries; won as to claims of trustees and on apportionment of damages claimed by co-defendant trust administrator, Bankers Trust.; Consumer Systems Corporation v. Continental Bank, et al.; Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. Obtained judgment in favor of law firm and attorney defendants in litigation involving lender liability, alleged professional negligence, alleged employee dishonesty and RICO claims. Judgment affirmed by the 1st District Appellate Court.; Emerson v. Aetna; Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. Obtained summary judgment for client insurer in environmental clean-up case involving 27 sites nationwide and seeking $30 million in coverage.; Ferguson v. Roberts; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Obtained judgment in favor of defendant attorneys in securities fraud litigation involving an alleged scheme to defraud investors in real estate. Prevailed on appeal.; Polsky v. Indeck Energy Service, Inc.; Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. Obtained reversal of $17 million of a $24 million arbitration award against client in breach of employment and stock agreements lawsuit.; Prudential Plaza Associates v. Turner Construction Company; Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. Won $9 million breach of contract and promissory fraud counterclaim for defendant Turner Construction. Plaintiff originally sought $37 million in delay and remedial damages arising out of the construction of Two Prudential Plaza. (Selected by The National Law Journal as one of the Outstanding Defense Verdicts in the United States).; Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp. v. The Shaw Group, Inc. and Stone & Webster, Inc.; U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, Rock Island Division. Won summary judgment for Siemens, defeating $7 million claim for liquidated damages based on the alleged delay in delivering a turbine to a power plant in Cordova, Ill.; Trustee for Lancelot Investors Fund, Ltd., et al. v. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; U.S. District Court, Northern District Court of Illinois. Defended law firm against claims the firm failed to give advice that might have avoided losses a hedge fund suffered in a $3.6 billion Ponzi scheme. Favorable mediation.
ISLN:
905936060

Peer Reviews

5.0/5.0 (13 reviews)
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating Badge

  • Legal Knowledge

    5.0/5.0

  • Analytical Capability

    5.0/5.0

  • Judgment

    5.0/5.0

  • Communication

    5.0/5.0

  • Legal Experience

    5.0/5.0

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 05/23/11 in Insurance

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 05/19/11 in Commercial Litigation

    Brigid has a broad knowledge base and a wealth of practical experience. She is very well-spoken and imparts client confidence. She consistently exercises good judgment with respect to case/matter management. She is highly respected by her peers in... Read more

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Senior Associate on 05/09/11 in Civil Litigation

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Managing Partner on 05/07/11 in Legal Malpractice

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 05/07/11 in Legal Malpractice Defense

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Principal on 05/04/11 in Civil Litigation

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Senior Associate on 04/29/11 in Civil Litigation

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 04/29/11 in Insurance Coverage

    Top notch coverage attorney who possesses very strong skills in writing, advocacy and analysis. I would highly recommend her to my clients.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 04/29/11 in Civil Litigation

    I worked with Brigid on a very complex multi-state insurance coverage matter involving significant defendants and many actions in all of these jurisdictions. Her legal talent was top notch and I am a critical attorney. I would highly recommend her... Read more

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 04/25/11 in Insurance Coverage

    Ms. Kennedy is an accomplished insurance coverage litigator and negotiator and is equally adept at representing insureds and insurers. She has handled both first-party and third-party coverage matters with success and is very knowledgeable in the nu... Read more

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Location

Contact Brigid E. Kennedy

Contact Information:

312-473-0212  Phone

312-630-8510  Fax

https://willjohnlaw.com

willmont.com

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