E. Kenly Ames
Chair, Practice Management Committee
Kenly Ames brings extra dimension to the firm with her experience in intellectual property law and business litigation. She formerly worked for Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, one of the largest and best known law firms in Boston, Massachusetts.
Attracting Kenly to ELPO was important to the firm’s leadership. Kenly says she wanted to join the firm because of the considerable experience of her fellow attorneys, the high caliber of the practice and the firm’s collegial atmosphere. Attorneys often consult each other on cases and tap into each other’s experience and networks to help solve problems for clients. “We bring a breadth of knowledge and areas in which we can help our clients and a depth of experience,” Kenly said. “We’re big enough to be able to handle most problems, but small enough that we still have strong personal relationships with our clients.”
Kenly’s big-city experience working as a judicial law clerk in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and in the litigation department of Choate, Hall & Stewart help make ELPO a frequent choice for out-of-state businesses and law firms that need Kentucky representation. Her education and experience help ELPO draw that business, as does the lower cost of ELPO versus larger firms. “We are well-suited to be local counsel for large companies not located here who find themselves in a legal dispute in Kentucky,” Kenly says. “We have good relationships with law firms all over the country, including firms in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Philadelphia and Nashville. Doing a top-notch job as local counsel is really a matter of knowing the Kentucky courts and lawyers well, paying attention to detail and being available when lead counsel needs you, no matter how last-minute the request.”
Kenly focuses on resolving business disputes – both in court and out. “Some disputes have to be resolved in the courts,” Kenly says. “Others can be worked out without the expense of full-blown litigation. At ELPO, we listen to our clients, understand their priorities and consider all the available options.” Kenly’s practice has a particular emphasis on matters that involve trade secrets, non-competition/non-solicitation contracts, trademark and copyright infringement, licensing, Internet and unfair competition issues. Kenly also has experience in construction litigation, securities fraud litigation, class actions, complex insurance coverage litigation and reinsurance disputes.
Kenly is one of the few attorneys in Western Kentucky who regularly handles applications to register trademarks and copyrights. “Businesses invest heavily in building brands and developing products, services and marketing materials that consumers readily recognize. It makes good business sense to protect that investment by applying to register trademarks and copyrights, where possible, and by taking steps to prevent loss of trade secrets and other confidential information,” Kenly says. “It’s also important for businesses to defend their intellectual property against unauthorized use. That’s where I can help.”
Kenly and her family have settled into life in Bowling Green. She and her husband are raising two sons and renovating a 100-year-old house in the downtown historic district. Kenly says it surprised her – delightfully so – how easy it was to become part of the Bowling Green community. “Our neighbors and co-workers have been very friendly and welcoming,” Kenly says. “Bowling Green has proven to be a wonderful place to live. We’re here for good.”
