Kenneth L. Thompson
For 20 years Ken served as counsel to two major automotive companies in product liability litigation related to claims of exposure to asbestos from the companies friction products. In the early years that effort included successfully ensuring that the cases remained out of the large spotlight that was shining on asbestos litigation in the Baltimore area at that time. Ken was also responsible for assisting in the development of discrete company defenses, which included understanding and distilling complex scientific and medical issues related to causation and state-of-the-art issues. Each of the cases Ken handled resulted in a favorable settlement with little public relations exposure.
An active member of the Baltimore community, Ken served as chair and co-chair of several transition committees for the last two Baltimore mayors and was appointed by the chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Maryland to serve as the Lead Monitor for the Baltimore City Police Department Consent Decree.
Related Practices
Related Industries
Experience
Government Experience
- Co-chair, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Transition Team
- Chairman, Public Safety/Policies Committee, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh Transition Team
- Lead monitor, Baltimore Police Department Consent Decree
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. University of Maryland School of Law 1976
- B.A. University of Maryland 1973
Bar Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member, Board of Directors, Baltimore Efficiency and Economy Foundation
- Chairman, Judicial Nominating Commission for Baltimore City, 1999 - 2007
- Member, National Trial Academy
Recognition
- The American Lawyer, South Trailblazer, 2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2007 – 2008, 2011 – 2022, 2024 – 2025
- Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2020, 2022
- Lawyer of the Year, 2017
- Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2025
- Commercial Litigation, 2025
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2025
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2025
- Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, 2020 – 2024
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, Maryland, 2023 – 2024
- Super Lawyers
- Business Litigation, Baltimore, 2013
- Maryland, 2007 – 2015, 2018, 2023
- The Daily Record, Leadership in Law, Maryland, 2007 (Recognizing professional accomplishments and dedication to the legal profession and the community)
Community
Volunteerism
- Member, board of trustees, Baltimore Community Foundation