1735 Market Street
21st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7505
P: 215-772-7291
F: 215-731-3689
LibertyView
457 Haddonfield Road
Suite 600
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
P: 856-488-7700
F: 856-488-7720
Biography
William K. Kennedy is vice-chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment practice. For his entire career, Bill’s practice has been devoted to representing management in employment-related litigation; legal advice, training, and policy development concerning labor and personnel issues; and labor arbitrations, collective bargaining negotiations, and unfair labor practice disputes.
Bill has represented employers in a wide variety of employment litigation, including cases involving allegations of retaliation, harassment, or discrimination based on race, age, gender, national origin, or disability status. Bill has specific trial experience in cases involving Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and First Amendment retaliation. He regularly represents employers in matters involving allegations of trade secret misappropriation and breach of restrictive covenants, and he has represented several employers in wage and hour litigation, including collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Bill regularly counsels employers, conducts training, and assists in policy development concerning labor and personnel issues, including preparing employment contracts and restrictive covenants, planning reduction-in-force programs, and advising employers regarding the labor and personnel implications in mergers, acquisitions, and asset purchases. He has extensive experience conducting harassment investigations and wage and hour investigations.
Bill also represents employers in labor matters, including unfair labor practices, representation matters, and jurisdictional disputes, and in labor negotiations and arbitrations.
As counsel to the Democratic National Convention Committee and Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee, Bill negotiated a project labor agreement with representatives of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and various trades unions covering construction, production, and decorating work related to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Bill assisted in the resolution of several labor disputes related to covered work on the Convention project.
Selected Publications
- Author, “New Jersey Supreme Court Will Review Employer’s Obligation to Accommodate Medical Marijuana Use,” July 2019
- Co-author, “New Jersey Appellate Division Holds That Employer May Have To Provide Accommodation To Licensed Medical Marijuana User,” March 2019.
- Co-author, “United States Supreme Court: Government Employers Cannot Withhold Union Dues from Non-Union Employees,” June 2018.
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, “29th Annual This Year in Nonprofit Law, “November 20, 2019
- Presenter, “Understanding Benefits, Job Offers, and Salary Negotiation,” Jersey Shore Women in Tech, April 2019
- Presenter, “The Impact on the Church of Recent Developments in Employment Law,” The National Catholic Risk Retention Group’s Risk Management and Legal Defense Workshop, November 2018
- Presenter, “Invention Assignments in Employment Agreements,” Association of Corporate Counsel, November 2018
- Presenter, “28th Annual This Year in Nonprofit Law,” November 2018
- Presenter, “Janus, One Year Later,” Labor and Employment Relations Association, November 2018
- Presenter, “Let’s Get Ethical! Navigating the Ethical Issues Associated with Internal Investigations,” Association of Corporate Counsel, April 2018
- “2015 ‘Hot Topics’ for Employers,” Philly SHRM, February 2015
- “Shrinking Economy, Shrinking Workforce: Reductions in Force and Workforce Reorganizations,” Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, PELRAS Annual Training Conference, March 22, 2012
- “Investigating Criminal Employee Conduct,” Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, PELRAS Annual Training Conference, March 22, 2012
- “Social Media Nightmares,” Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, PELRAS Annual Training Conference, March 21, 2012
Professional Activities & Achievements
- American Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Academic Achievements
Bill received his J.D., cum laude, from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he was a member of the Wake Forest Law Review and the Order of the Coif. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Wake Forest University.