Biography

Senator John F. Kennedy practices in the area of civil litigation, trial work, business advice and fiduciary law. While experienced in handling tort matters involving personal injury and other tort claims, he has significant experience in complex commercial litigation, business transactions, business disputes and railroad law.

Senator Kennedy has developed an area of expertise in receivership law and trustee law, having been appointed by numerous judges around the State to serve as a court appointed receiver to take over, control and manage assets, including corporations and ongoing business entities, to other forms of asset management. In this area of practice, Senator Kennedy has experience in serving in cases as a court appointed trustee in Bankruptcy Court in the management of assets and pursuing causes of action on behalf of the estates for which he is responsible; he has also served as a conservator to oversee and manage corporate operations. Senator Kennedy has served as a Receiver and as a Bankruptcy Trustee in matters with assets and interests around the State of Georgia, outside of Georgia and internationally.

In Senator Kennedy’s extensive litigation experience, he has conducted numerous jury trials regarding commercial litigation matters, Will and Trust matters, tort cases and litigated matters involving product liability, construction litigation, railroad litigation and other areas of the law.

Senator Kennedy is involved in the community and surrounding area as a public servant and in contributing his time to charitable organizations. He was elected in 2014 to the Georgia Senate to represent Senate District 18 encompassing all or part of 6 counties in middle Georgia. Senator Kennedy served as a Senate Floor Leader for Governor Nathan Deal from 2015 to 2016. In the fall of 2022, Senator Kennedy was elected by his Senate colleagues to serve in his current Senate leadership position as President Pro Tempore. He previously served on the Board of Directors of The Macon Civic Club and he currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Central Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America. He has served as President of the Macon Bar Association (2009-2010) and is a member of the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia (2009-current). Senator Kennedy is also a Class of 2000 Graduate of Leadership Macon and a 2007 Graduate of Leadership Georgia. Senator Kennedy was appointed in 2013 by Georgia House of Representatives, Speaker of the House David Ralston to the Immigration Enforcement Review Board. In 2014, Senator Kennedy was invited and appointed to the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law Board of Visitors. In 2015, Senator Kennedy was named Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In 2017 Senator Kennedy was recognized by James Magazine as Legislator of the Year. 

Practice Areas

• Receivership
• Business Litigation
• Commercial Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Tort Litigation
• General Civil Litigation
• Trial Practice
• Business Advice
• Railroad Defense
• Litigation
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Insurance

Representative Clients

• American International Movers
• Capital City Bank
• Public Service Telephone Company

Professional Organizations/Activities

• State Bar of Georgia, 1997-2002 (Member, Executive Committee of YLD)
• State Bar of Georgia, 1996-2002 (Member, Younger Lawyers Executive Council)
• Lawyers Club of Atlanta (Member)
• Macon Bar Association (President 2009-2010)
• State Bar of Georgia (Member, Board of Governors)

Awards + Recognitions

• 2017 James Magazine Legislator Of The Year Award
• 2017 Cable Association Broadband Legislator Of The Year Award
• Recipient, International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award
• Rated by Super Lawyers® as Top Civil Litigation Attorney in Macon, GA 
• Best Lawyer in America

Education

Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, Macon, Georgia, 1990 J.D.

• Honors: Moot Court Board, Member 1988
• Honors: Moot Court Board, Director 1989

Mercer University, Macon Georgia, 1987 B.A.

• Honors: Blue Key, National Honor Society, President of Sigma Nu Fraternity
• Honors: Chief Justice of Mercer University Honor Council

Admitted

• Georgia, 1990. Admitted to Practice in all Courts.
• Macon Bar Association

Administrative/Legal Assistant Contact

Name: Samantha Earnhardt
Title: Legal Assistant
Phone: 478.749.9983

Name: Katelyn Holliday
Title: Paralegal
Phone: 478.749.9971