Locke Lord Vice Chair Jennifer Kenedy and Partner Carolyn Blessing Recognized as Notable Women in Law by Crain's Chicago Business

Locke Lord Vice Chair Jennifer Kenedy and Partner Carolyn Blessing have been selected by Crain’s Chicago Business as 2022 Notable Women in Law honorees. They are recognized for their ability to effect change, serve as a role model and mentor to other women attorneys and promote inclusive practices in the workplace.

Kenedy was the first female Managing Partner of Locke Lord’s Chicago office and co-founded and led the Firm’s Women’s Initiative. She serves as the Firm’s Deputy General Counsel and Chairs Locke Lord’s Business Transformation Task Force, which is working to ensure the Firm leads the industry in transforming the way it provides legal services in a post-COVID-19 world. Kenedy also Chairs the Firm’s Flexible Work Arrangement Committee. She co-founded and serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law, a nonprofit membership association bringing together organizations dedicated to advancing women lawyers. She also co-founded Women Office Managing Partners and for the past four years served as an Executive Board Member of Chicago Bear Allen Robinson’s Within Reach Foundation, which provided educational opportunities and resources to underserved Chicago students. Kenedy has been active in many additional community and professional organizations, including The Fairway Network and The Executives’ Club of Chicago.

In addition to her leadership roles in the Firm and community, Kenedy has a full-time national trial practice focusing on commercial litigation, including trade secret misappropriation and other intellectual property litigation, employment and contractual disputes, construction, product liability, transportation, real estate and eminent domain. She mediates, arbitrates and tries cases nationwide. Kenedy was also named as a Notable Women in Law and Notable Gen X Leaders in Law honoree by Crain’s Chicago Business in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Blessing serves as the Chicago office Hiring Partner and is a member of the Firm’s Women’s Initiative. She has been deeply involved with the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, having served in numerous leadership positions with the organization, including currently as Vice Chair of the National Board and previously as President of the Chicago Chapter. She also Co-Chairs the Chicago Women in IP Mentoring Circles Committee and the Joffrey Ballet’s Generation J Leadership Council.

Blessing is a member of the Firm’s IP Pharmaceutical Practice Group, concentrating her practice in IP pharmaceutical matters and Hatch-Waxman litigation. She represents pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in all aspects of federal intellectual property litigation, including pre-litigation activities, Paragraph IV Certifications, filing, fact and expert discovery, claim construction, motion practice, pre-trial, trial, post-trial and appellate phases. Most recently, Blessing had significant roles in two fully virtual federal trials. A highly respected thought leader in her field, she regularly speaks and writes on topics related to law, policy and advancement of women in the legal profession. She was recently named a Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer Salute! Top Women in Law honoree, and she was named by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Rising Star in Law in 2021.

Read Jennifer Kenedy’s profile and Carolyn Blessing’s profile (subscription may be required).