Related Information
Education
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University of Virginia School of Law
J.D. 1974
Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, Virginia Law Review
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Indiana University
M.A. 1970
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Yale University
B.A., cum laude, 1968
Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
Kentucky
Service Areas
- Airport Law
- Business & Corporate Services
- Business Expansions, Relocations & Government Incentive Programs
- Corporate General Services
- Headquarters Relocations
- Joint Ventures
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Public Project Legal Management
- Corporate Governance and Disclosure
Industry Experience
- Airports / Aviation
- Banking / Financial Services
- Educational Institutions
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Louisville Bar Association
- Managing Partner Forum, Midwestern Advisory Board
Community Involvement
". . . one of the paragons of Kentucky law."
"The consummate counselor who always enables us to achieve our objectives."
- ChambersUSA 2010
"Widely admired . . ."
- ChambersUSA 2005
Kennedy Helm III is Chairman Emeritus of the firm. Under his leadership (1997-2011), the firm more than doubled in size by combining with firms in Atlanta, Nashville and Alexandria, developed one of the top 100 IP practices in the country, embarked on an award-winning total quality service program and pursued an award-winning print advertising and marketing program.
Mr. Helm is a transactional lawyer focusing on business law, banking and finance, with significant involvement in airport law.
Recent Assignments
- Led team of dozens of lawyers from five firms working on the $780 million Louisville Airport Improvement Program
- Counseled the University of Louisville Foundation during a high-profile case brought by The Courier-Journal concerning donor privacy
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
- Managing Partner Forum, Midwestern Advisory Board, 2007-2008
- Law Firm Leaders Conference, Panel participant, 2003, 2007
Before Stites & Harbison
Kennedy Helm's first job after Yale was teaching fifth and sixth grade geography. That led him to a graduate program in English, a path that turned to law school after he received his Master's degree.
More than Stites & Harbison
Civic and community involvement has included board memberships on Greater Louisville, Inc., Louisville Zoo Foundation, Japan-America Society of Kentucky, Louisville Science Center, University of Louisville Board of Overseers and Kentucky Country Day School. Kennedy is immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Louisville Urban League; a past member of the board of West End School; and a member of the Board of Trustees of Simmons College of Kentucky. He is a former member of the board of Whayne Supply Company and Griffin & Company and past director of National City Bank of Kentucky. He is a member of the Board of Overseers of the University of Louisville where he chaired its Visiting Committee to the University of Louisville Law School.
A recent survey of top law firm managing partners conducted by Edge International, an international legal consulting firm, identified Mr. Helm as one of the Top 10 managing partners most admired for excellence in leadership by his peers. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (1995-2012) for Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Municipal Law and Public Finance Law in 2012, Kentucky Super Lawyers magazine, where he has been listed among the Top 50 Lawyers in the state and Chambers USA, "America's Leading Lawyers for Business." He received the Social Responsibility Award presented by the Louisville Urban League in 2009.
Besides Stites & Harbison
Kennedy—who enjoys a challenge—loves thoroughbred horse racing, University of Louisville basketball, golf and his rose garden.