Our Team: Louise Leduc Kennedy
Louise Leduc Kennedy is a business law attorney with extensive experience advising technology companies on strategic and commercial matters including: software commercialization, cloud computing, strategic alliances and all aspects of on-line business and contracting. She has advised start-ups, mid-sized private and public companies as well as Fortune 100 enterprises in a variety of matters that also include mergers and acquisitions, employment law issues and open source software strategies. Louise particularly enjoys working with small and medium-sized entrepreneurial businesses. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly recognized Louise as a “Top Women of Law” honoree in 2022.
Advising highly creative professionals who are excited about their products and services is, quite simply, fun. Before launching West Hill, Louise determined that these were the types of companies that were most in need of her unique skills. Under her leadership, West Hill is dedicated to advancing work-life as a business strategy by integrating work, family and community into its definition of success. Accordingly, the firm offers vast business and legal experience at reasonable rates and with innovative billing arrangements in exchange for the opportunity to work with these exciting companies on a flexible schedule.
Past Experience
Prior to forming the firm, Ms. Kennedy worked as in-house counsel at IBM Corporation for 9 years. During this time she supported the Global Sales and Distribution Group, IBM Business Consulting Services as well as the Lotus brand within IBM Software Group. Her responsibilities included the structure and negotiation of complex e-marketplace offerings as well as supply-chain management and e-procurement software alliances.
At Lotus, Louise served as brand counsel for Lotus Notes, Domino, Sametime and Lotus Live Engage, IBM’s debut Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) enterprise collaboration offering. She provided general legal guidance and support for all aspects of product development, licensing, marketing and strategic relationships including complex deals with AOL, Yahoo! and Google.
Before joining IBM, Louise worked at Robinson & Cole LLP in Boston as member of their Trial & Appellate practice group. Her practice focused on complex civil litigation and, more specifically, issues related to discovery of electronic information in a variety of formats. Ms. Kennedy is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts in Massachusetts as well as the state courts of Connecticut and New York.
Education
She received her B.A. in Economics from Smith College and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she was an associate editor of the Connecticut Law Review.
Recognition and Awards
In 2022, Louise was honored for her extraordinary achievements in the legal profession, by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a “Top Women of Law.” Each year, this highly coveted honor recognizes exceptional women lawyers who are pioneers, educators, trailblazers and role models throughout the state of Massachusetts. Since 2022, West Hill was named to the metropolitan ranking list in Boston Tier 2 – Litigation and Intellectual Property in the 2023 US News – Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms. And in 2023, West Hill was also recognized in the inaugural Empowering Women Awards list by Mass Lawyers Weekly.
Professional and Community Involvement
Louise is a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts and the Boston Bar Association.
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Email Address: lkennedy@westhill.law
Direct Dial & Fax: 978.274.7037
