Kevin R. McDermott

Kevin focused his practice on commercial litigation, constitutional law, securities litigation and business torts. He counseled clients in a variety of industries, including real estate, finance, healthcare and construction. Kevin has more than three decades of experience resolving disputes before various courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration tribunals and in mediation.

Kevin was dedicated to understanding what his clients need to realize a win both in and out of court. He was valued for taking each client’s unique interests and objectives into account when developing a big-picture strategy.

As high-stakes litigation is much like a game of chess, Kevin sought to remain several steps ahead of his adversary. He knew how to analyze, leverage and present a controversy and steer it toward a successful outcome. He maintained a track record of effectively helping clients, which is grounded in his distinct and formidable litigation experience, the ability to realize tactical advantage, and sheer people skills.

Notably, he served as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General in an arbitration against numerous tobacco manufacturers where Ohio retained approximately $290 million in payments previously received and obtained an additional $36.5 million award for the state of Ohio. In addition, Kevin also was recognized by Ohio Lawyers Weekly as Ohio Lawyer of the Year for his successful constitutional challenge to a 20-year-old construction racial set-aside statute on behalf of a contractors association client. He litigated numerous cases involving the award of attorneys’ fees and has served as an expert witness on attorneys’ fees awards.

For more than 25 years, Kevin served an arbitrator for FINRA. He has also prosecuted and defended securities claims in industry arbitrations. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Kevin was a partner at Schottenstein Zox & Dunn, where he previously chaired the litigation department.