Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys
General Defense

535 Griswold, Suite 1400, Detroit, Michigan 48226
Established: 1990
Practice Areas
- Insurance Defense
- Product Liability
- Premises Liability
- Toxic Torts
- Environmental Law
- Asbestos Litigation
- Workers' Compensation
- Employer Liability
- Automobile Liability
- Commercial Litigation
- Contracts
- Contract Disputes
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
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About Us
Blake, Kirchner, Symonds, Larson, Kennedy & Smith, P.C., is a mid-sized law firm located in Detroit, Michigan. Our lawyers offer professional legal services in several important areas of law including litigation and workers compensation defense. The firm represents clients throughout south east Michigan and the state of MI and also acts as local counsel for clients outside of the state of Michigan.
Blake, Kirchner, Symonds, Larson, Kennedy & Smith, P.C., is committed to providing all of its clients, whether individuals, businesses, insurers, or major corporations, with innovative and dynamic legal representation. The firm's mission is to provide top-quality legal services that meet our clients' particular needs, without forcing our clients to incur unreasonably high legal fees. The litigation and business attorneys at Blake, Kirchner, Symonds, Larson, Kennedy & Smith, P.C., strive to command and use a broad understanding of all of the factors that impact our clients' legal situation to provide our clients with the best professional legal services possible.
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Insurance Clients
Non-Insurance Clients
- Ascension Health
- Cooper Industries, Inc.
- Dana Companies, LLC
- Detroit Edison Company
- General Electric Company
- Republic Waste Services, Inc.
- St. John Hospital and Medical Center
- Sanit-Air
- SmithGroup Companies, Inc.
- Standard Electric Company
- Waste Management, Inc.
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Personnel Information
Partners
Arthur G. Kirchner III
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1976
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1976
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (Workers' Compensation Section)
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Wayne State University, B.A., 1970
- Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1976
Born: 1947
Kevin T. Kennedy
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- American and Oakland County Bar Associations
- State Bar of Michigan (Negligence Section)
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Western Michigan University, B.B.A., 1984
- Detroit College of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1987
Born: 1962
Richard P. Smith
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1984
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Additional Biographical Details:
Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan
Memberships:
- American, Macomb County and Detroit Bar Associations
- State Bar of Michigan
- National Employment Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Wayne State University, B.A. (with distinction), 1981
- Detroit College of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1984
Fraternity Information:
Delta Theta Phi
Born: 1959
David B. Klein
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, 1990
Memberships:
- American and Detroit Bar Associations
- State Bar of Michigan (Workers' Compensation Law Section)
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A. (with distinction), 1987
- University of Detroit, J.D., 1990
Born: 1964
John A. O'Brien
Detroit, MI
Admitted
Memberships:
- Macomb County Bar Association
- Michigan Self-Insurer's Association
Education:
- University of Detroit, J.D., 1989
Born: 1964
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Associates
Karen M. Melcher
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2001
Memberships:
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 1998
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 2001
Born: 1976
J.R. Hiller
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Macomb County Bar Association
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.S., 2001
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 2005
Born: 1979
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