International law firm Clark Hill PLC announced today that Kevin Dooley Kent has joined the firm as a Member in the Litigation practice. Kent, who joins from Philadelphia-based Conrad O’Brien where he was a shareholder, will co-lead the firm’s Transatlantic strategy with Jarrod Duffy, Member and Co-Chair of Clark Hill’s Corporate practice group, and Sam Saarsteiner, Member with the firm’s Dublin, Ireland office. Kent works from the firm’s Dublin and Philadelphia offices.
“Kevin’s impressive experience advising clients on a range of litigation and regulatory matters make him an ideal addition to our litigation team,” said John Hensien, Clark Hill’s Chief Executive Officer. “Given the connections Kevin has built over the years to companies doing business between the United States and Ireland, we are pleased to have him working with Jarrod Duffy and Sam Saarsteiner to lead our Transatlantic strategy, building on the continued growth of our Dublin office. As our clients continue to expand in Europe, Kevin’s insights, added to his Irish and English law licenses, will be invaluable to those on both sides of the ocean.”
Clark Hill opened its Dublin office in 2016, making it the first U.S. firm to offer true one-stop, multi-disciplinary client services in both Ireland and the U.S. The team supports clients in two-way direct foreign investment, dispute resolution, capital markets, and transactions. Importantly, Clark Hill maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Irish Embassy in the United States, the Consul General of Ireland in New York, the United States Embassy in Ireland, and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.
“Clark Hill is the ideal fit for me and for my clients,” Kent said. “I am particularly excited to have the opportunity to strengthen and expand transatlantic business. Clark Hill’s range of services will benefit my clients who will experience the same high level of legal guidance they’ve come to expect, with the added asset of access to a team specifically focused on the transactional and litigation matters that arise for multinational companies.”
Kent represents companies in matters involving public infrastructure, civil fraud, director and officer liability, and government civil enforcement actions and related internal investigations; court-appointed receivers in federal enforcement matters; and C-Suite executives in contract disputes. He also serves as a Federal Equity Receiver and Liquidating Trustee in SEC enforcement actions. Much of his recent risk management work involves advising private companies and government entities on litigation risks arising from public projects or government funding, and other risks inherent in the interaction between public entities and the private sector.
Kent earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and B.A., cum laude, from Boston College. He served as a clerk for the Honorable Louis C. Bechtle, Chief Judge Emeritus, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Kent is admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars and is licensed as a solicitor in Ireland, England, and Wales. He serves on the Board of the Irish American Business Chamber and Network, which promotes the development of economic relationships between the United States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Kent previously served as the Chamber’s Chairman and President, and currently acts as its Government Economic Development Liaison. He also serves on the Board of the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers (“NAFER”), Co-Chairs its Publications Committee, and is a member of its International Committee. In addition to numerous accolades, Kent has been named by Irish America as a Legal 100 Honoree (2016-2022) and as an Irish America Business 100 Honoree (2016-2019). Kent is ranked in Chambers USA for Commercial Litigation and is named among the Top 100 in the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Super Lawyers Lists.
