Mr. Kennelly is a Shareholder in both the Litigation Department and the Business and Tax Department. His practice is dedicated to representing business entities and individuals in complex matters, including litigation-risk analysis, pre-litigation strategy, and civil litigation in the areas of contract, real property, banking, and business torts. Mr. Kennelly is an AV-Rated attorney who has been awarded board certification by the Florida Bar in the area of Business Litigation. In order to earn such certification, a lawyer must meet stringent experience requirements, pass a specialized test administered by the Florida Bar, and must complete continuing legal education classes in the field of specialization beyond that which is required to maintain standard Bar licensure. Each year since 2012, Mr. Kennelly has also been recognized by Florida Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation and by Florida Trend Magazine. Since 2018, he has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America magazine in the area of Commercial Litigation.
Mr. Kennelly is a member of the firm’s practice groups for Eminent Domain & Condemnation, Banking & Financial Services, Estate & Guardianship Litigation, and Alcohol Industry Regulation. As part of the Eminent Domain & Condemnation Practice Group, Mr. Kennelly represents landowners defending their properties against condemning authorities, including the Florida Department of Transportation, municipalities, and utilities. He has obtained large damage awards for his clients and worked with condemning authorities to alter eminent domain takings so as to less significantly impact his clients' properties. As part of the Banking & Financial Services Practice Group, he focuses primarily on enforcement of creditor’s rights and defending lender liability actions, as well as representing investors in federal and state securities cases. Within the Estate & Guardianship practice group, Mr. Kennelly represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in probate, trust, and guardianship matters.
The Alcohol Industry Team assists producers and retailers in the alcohol industry with such matters as obtaining and assigning liquor licenses, negotiating distribution contracts, and obtaining local government approval for production and sale. As a founder of Jacksonville’s downtown distillery, Manifest Distilling, Mr. Kennelly understands the legal challenges facing those in this growing industry.
PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Prior to joining Rogers Towers, Mr. Kennelly served as a law clerk to United States Circuit Judge Susan H. Black of the United States Eleventh Court of Appeals.
