Recent News & Releases

• Chris Kenney has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2009). This publication is based on exhaustive peer review and is regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States.
• Mike Sams has been appointed General Counsel to The Gould Construction Institute.
• Chris Kenney has been elected Chairman of the Trial Techniques Committee of the American Bar Association's Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section ("TIPS"). This committee is responsible for developing innovative trial techniques, educational programs and publications on trial practice and litigation strategy to ABA members.
• Mike Sams has been appointed to the Boston Bar Association’s Public Service Committee.
• Kenney & Sams, P.C. was named to Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in the field of Civil Litigation for 2008. Kenney & Sams also received this award, which is bestowed on less than 5% of law firms, in 2007.
• Mike Sams has been appointed Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association.
• Chris Kenney has been elected as Massachusetts State Representative to the Defense Research Institute ("DRI"). Kenney, a former president of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association ("MDLA"), will be responsible for coordinating the MDLA's activities with DRI on a national and international basis.
• Mike Sams has been appointed co-chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Subcommittee on Construction Delay and Damages.
• In November, Mike Sams was invited to serve on an industry panel, presenting on Construction Risk Management issues.
• Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education has asked Mike Sams to Chair its October, 2008 program concerning public construction law and the American Institute of Architects 2007 contract documents;
• The Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association recently elected Christopher A. Kenney as its president-elect. In this position, Chris will be responsible for coordinating the Chapter's activities with the federal bench and bar.
• The Defense Research Institute ("DRI") presented Chris Kenney with the Fred H. Sievert Award at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This award is presented annually to the lawyer recognized as the "Outstanding Defense Bar Leader" in America. DRI is an international association of defense lawyers, corporate counsel, and insurance company executives.
• Chris Kenney has been elected vice president of the Executive Committee of the Boston University Law School Alumni Association.
• Chris Kenney and Mike Sams will present a program for the Gould Construction Institute in July, 2008, concerning effective writing and related strategies and how this relates to sound risk management;
• Mike Sams will chair an Associated Builders and Contractors program on June 27, 2008 addressing the so-called "Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law";
• The Boston Bar Foundation ("BBF"), has reappointed Chris Kenney as a Trustee.  The BBF is the charitable arm of the Boston Bar Association and is dedicated to raising money for pro bono legal services for the poor
• Mike Sams was asked to speak on the Independent Contractor Law at the annual MetroWest Chamber of Commerce business program in May, 2008.
• Chris Kenney has been elected chairman of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors ("ABC") for 2008.  ABC is a national organization of construction industry professionals dedicated to promoting free enterprise and open competition in the industry. 
• Mike Sams has Chaired Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education's (MCLE) programs discussing the so-called Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law, in Boston, Andover and Taunton in 2007 and 2008. Those programs discussed the statute's implications and how best to manage the related risk it creates.
• Construction Financial Managers Association (CFMA) reappointed Mike Sams to the Board of Directors and as its Secretary.

Recent Professional Activities & Bar Leadership

• Governor's Judicial Nominating Commission (2006-2007)
• MCLE Civil Litigation Curriculum Advisory, Chairman
• Federal Bar Association (Mass.), Secretary

Recent Representative Achievements

• Obtained the reversal of a damages award against our client, a commercial real estate developer, in the Massachusetts Appeals Court;
• Successfully settled a wrongful death case against our client in Florida and then obtained 100% of the settlement funds from an insurer in a related coverage dispute;
• Obtained summary judgment for our client in a business dispute and then successfully prosecuted an abuse of process counterclaim to recover our client's legal fees and expenses;