Biography: Kennedy P. Richardson
EDUCATION Ken attended the University of California at Berkeley where he majored in Political Science and graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1971. He received his legal education at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. He was elected to the Law Review based on academic achievement. In his second year, he was offered but declined to serve as Editor in Chief because he preferred to work for Tom Devine, the chief assistant federal public defender and a highly regarded Chicago trial lawyer and tactician. Ken graduated cum laude in 1974.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND After law school, Ken joined the San Francisco firm of Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges. His principal mentors were Max Thelen, Jr. (general civil litigation), William Hoefs (labor), Frank MacDowell (antitrust), and Paul Haerle (antitrust). While an associate, Ken was given a six month leave of absence to serve as a deputy District Attorney in San Francisco.
After becoming a partner in 1981, Ken joined two other partners in founding Thelen, Marrin's Oakland branch office. Ken managed the litigation group of this office for seven years until he left the firm to start his own firm. As Ken's management and administrative burdens increased, he began yearning for a law practice -- much like the one his grandfather had -- that would allow him to spend most of his time doing what he loved most, viz. arguing and trying cases. He finally took the plunge and opened up his own office on July 1, 1989. Although he envisioned that his practice would be limited to individuals, large corporate clients continued to retain him. As the case load grew, Ken hired additional attorneys, including Mark Palley and Yvonne Pierrou, who became his partners in 1996 and 2001 respectively.
COMMUNITY SERVICES Ken has donated many hours of pro bono work through the poverty law program operated by the San Francisco Lawyers Committee for Urban Affairs and, subsequently, through the Alameda Bar Association's Volunteer Legal Services Corporation. Ken's various civic activities have included his longstanding involvement with the Oakland Rotary Club, including service as the Club's President in 2002. Ken was a Board Member of the Alameda Bar Foundation and served as its President in 2000. He also served as a member of the Board of the Oakland East Bay Symphony for several years and has been actively involved in various youth athletic programs in the town of Piedmont.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS In addition to the California Bar, Ken is a member of the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts. He is also a longstanding member of the Torts and Insurance Practice and Health Law Sections of the American Bar Association, the Litigation Section of the California State Bar, and the Alameda County Bar Assocation.
PUBLICATIONS In addition to presentations at various legal seminars, Ken has authored or collaborated on the following publications: “California’s Controversial ‘Play or Pay’ Law: Short-Lived Experiment or Overdue Solution?" Managed Care Interface (Vol 17, No. 1; Jan. 2004) 40; Contributing Author, Civil Procedure Before Trial [Update] (CEB 3rd. 1997); Lead Co-author of "When is an Attorney Not an Attorney? - Privilege and Work-Product Problems for Corporate Attorneys Wearing Many Hats," CEB, California Business Law Practicioner 21 (Winter 1990); Principal Co-Author of "Damage Control Investigations," CEB, California Business Law Practritcioner 165 (Fall 1989); Author of "Former Employees as Witnesses," ABA Section of Litigation, Litigation, Vol. 9, No. 4 (1983); Author of "Jury Selection, An Overview," CEB Civil Litigation Reporter, Vol. V, No. 2 (1983). Ken also served as the Assistant Editor of CEB's Civil Litigation Reporter journal from 1982 to 1984.
OTHER LANGUAGE Norwegian
Email: kpr@marionsinn.com
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