Before the 2025 New York Legal Awards, New York Law Journal profiled Partner and Financial Markets and Regulation Co-Chair Carl Kennedy as one of this year's Distinguished Leaders honorees. Carl is celebrated for his commitment to client success, notably guiding NinjaTrader through a record-breaking $1.5 billion acquisition, and for his dedication to mentoring the next generation of attorneys. He takes pride in supporting associates' growth, recently witnessing Katten Associate Alexander Kim excel as a panelist at a major industry conference.
Carl credits his development to influential mentors, including Scott O'Malia, former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner and current CEO of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, and Gary DeWaal, his predecessor at Katten. He also draws inspiration from his former CFTC colleague and long-time friend, CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline Pham.
Addressing the evolving legal landscape, Carl emphasizes the importance of embracing technology and innovation, while still demonstrating the value of having a "lawyer in the loop" to clients increasingly leveraging AI for traditional legal tasks. He advises aspiring and current lawyers to reflect honestly on their career paths, prioritize mental health and seek practice areas that align with their interests and strengths. He shares that his pivot from tax law to derivatives led to greater professional fulfillment.
"Distinguished Leaders: Carl Kennedy, Katten Muchin Rosenman," New York Law Journal, September 2, 2025
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