Overview

Paul Kennedy’s primary focus in every aspect of practicing law is exceptional client service. He is dedicated to strategic analysis, seeking practical solutions for clients when feasible, and, when not, aggressively litigating disputes to achieve favorable outcomes.  He well understands that responsiveness and partnering with clients is critical to solid and enduring business relationships. With more than 30 years of experience, Paul is a trial lawyer first, who has experience with a wide range of employment issues, including terminations, reductions in force, leave issues, wage disputes, investigations, employee theft, union issues, and intellectual property protection, among others. A practiced and engaging public speaker, Paul is a frequent and able communicator at industry conferences and functions.

Paul regularly litigates cases involving breach of restrictive covenants, employee raiding, and theft of trade secrets. He has handled multiple injunction proceedings and trials over these claims. He is counsel in numerous reported opinions that have defined unfair competition law in multiple jurisdictions, including Maryland and Virginia. He also has drafted and negotiated various contracts, including employment, confidentiality and proprietary rights, and assignment of invention agreements. He has written and spoken extensively on issues relating to restrictive covenants, protection of trade secrets, and employee theft of proprietary information.

Paul also has substantial experience litigating a broad spectrum of cases involving claims such as:

  • Discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, age, religion, disability and pregnancy
  • Sexual harassment
  • Retaliation  (including whistleblowing)
  • Defamation, tortious interference claims, and other employment torts

Paul has extensive trial experience, having conducted numerous jury and non-jury trials. He also regularly counsels employers on federal and state employment laws and provides training on a variety of workplace topics. He has represented clients in a wide variety of industries including financial services, staffing, technology, retail, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, and pharmaceuticals. 

Paul is a member of the Shareholder Compensation Committee, and has served on Littler’s Board of Directors. Paul is also former co-chair of Littler’s Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group.

Prior to joining Littler, he was a partner in the D.C. office of a large international law firm and practiced in the areas of labor and employment as well as intellectual property. He began his career at a large general practice firm in Houston, Texas, practicing commercial and toxic tort litigation. In law school, he was executive editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review.

Paul has also been listed in Washingtonian Magazine’s “Best Lawyers” edition (2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2018) as one of the top lawyers to represent employers.

Recognition

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2020-2025

Recipient, Client Service All-Star Award

BTI Consulting Group

2022, 2024

Recommended, Labour & Employment

Who's Who Legal

2024

Named, Washingtonian Top Lawyers

Washingtonian Media

2018

Twenty Year Milestone, Littler Shareholder

2017

Named, Super Lawyer

Washington, DC

Super Lawyers

2015

Speaking Engagements

New Noncompete and Nonsolicitation Rules: The Altered Legal Landscape in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland

Tysons Corner, VA

November 17, 2021

What’s Yours is Mine, and What’s Mine is Mine: The Latest on Protecting Company Trade Secrets, Non-Competes, No Poaching Agreements and Other Protections

2018 Mid-Atlantic Employer Conference, Washington, D.C.

June 5, 2018

The New Federal Trade Secret Legislation: Learn What You Need To Do Under The Act

May 19, 2016

Noncompetes & Trade Secret Protection: An Employer's Guide To A Big Year of Change

Boston, MA

September 25, 2015

Noncompetes & Trade Secret Protection: An In-House Counsel’s Guide To A Big Year Of Change

Tysons Corner, VA

June 3, 2015

Unfair Competition Litigation and Electronic Information: Proactive Measures to Protect Your Secrets and Navigate Electronics

Chicago, IL

March 5, 2014

A Roadmap for Hiring Competitors' Employees and Preventing Theft of Trade Secrets

Tysons Corner, VA

October 15, 2013

Employee Raiding and Other Recent Non-Compete Developments

Tysons Corner, VA

November 14, 2012

Developments in the Protection of Trade Secrets and Business Goodwill

November 18, 2010

Higher Education Employment Law: A Comprehensive Perspective

February 25, 2008

Education

  • J.D., Washington and Lee University, 1984
  • B.A., Colgate University, 1981With Honors

Bar Admission

District of Columbia
Virginia

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland