Patrick Kennell is a professional liability litigator and coverage lawyer, representing U.S. and London Market insurers and their insureds in courts throughout the U.S. in matters ranging from director and officer (D&O) breach of fiduciary duty actions, to professional negligence and breach of contract actions, to complex business disputes involving claims of fraud and conspiracy. He understands decision-makers - whether clients or judges - need clear and succinct communication of essential information. He has defended companies and their directors and officers in actions brought by shareholders, lenders, and others in venues throughout the country, including lawsuits in Delaware Chancery and Superior Courts.
Mr. Kennell also advises insurers on D&O, E&O and environmental policy coverage issues, litigating those matters and trying them through jury verdict when necessary. He has successfully litigated declaratory judgment, rescission and bad faith lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide, on matters including professional services, prior knowledge and claims-made topics.
His clients encompass a variety of professions and classes of business, including management and fiduciary, ERISA-related professionals, investment funds, lawyers/law firms, architects and engineers, managed care and healthcare organizations, environmental consultants, real estate professionals, and technology specialists, and miscellaneous E&O.
Mr. Kennell’s background advising London Market insurers includes a secondment with a leading Lloyd’s of London syndicate, where he worked alongside the claims team and provided in-house legal advice on a broad range of professional indemnity and D&O issues. He also helped the company design and implement e-discovery protocols for responding to electronically stored information demands in U.S. lawsuits.
Publications
•Delaware Rulings Clarify Interpretation of ‘Related Claims’ Provisions in D&O Insurance Policies: Reuters Legal, authors Michael Zigelman, Patrick Kennell, Catherine Lyster
•A Changing Boardroom Climate: Insurance Planning w/ ESG in Mind, Reuters, authors Michael Zigelman, Patrick Kennell, & Matthew Lee, Sept. 24, 2021
•Shuttered Courts Led to Increase in Settlements, Business Insurance, ft. Patrick Kennell
•3 Lessons From The Failed $54B Cigna-Anthem Merger, Law360, ft. Patrick Kennell
•Top exec with coronavirus a reportable event? It all depends, Business Insurance, ft. Patrick Kennell
•3 Things M&A Attys Need To Know About Delaware Law In 2018, Law360, ft. Patrick Kennell
•Four Years After Sandy, Storm Resilience Lags, Risk Management
•2016 PLUS D&O Symposium Day One Recap, Advisen Front Page News, by Marc Voses and Patrick Kennell
•The Calm Before the Next Storm: What Insurance Leaders Should Know About Resiliency
News
•Shuttered Courts Led to Increase in Settlements, Business Insurance, ft. Patrick Kennell
•Top exec with coronavirus a reportable event? It all depends, Business Insurance, ft. Patrick Kennell
Speaking Engagements
•KDV Lunch and Learn: Legal Impact for Employers and Businesses in Today’s World: Legal Impact for Employers and Businesses in Today's World
•2015 PLRB Claims Conference: D&O and E&O Coverage for HOA Board Members’ Liability
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
