Henry Grendell’s career has been divided between business litigation, including at one of Cleveland’s top business law firms and his role as General Counsel of a Cleveland-based insurance company. This combination of deep litigation and corporate/business legal knowledge makes his practice unique.  His success in both areas was recognized by both Crains Cleveland Business as its 2011 Private Company Outstanding General Counsel and U.S. News & World Report as a Best Lawyer for Commercial Litigation for 2019-2024 and a Superlawyer for 2023-2024.

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Mr. Grendell’s career first focused on litigation.  His experience featured:

• a two-year judicial clerkship in state court, learning how courts operate behind the scenes;

• litigation experience, gaining first chair trial and arbitration experience and taking and defending numerous fact and expert witness depositions;

• extensive involvement in financial litigation (securities, insurance and ERISA-related claims); and

• litigating commercial, contract, employment and other business lawsuits for manufacturing and other clients.  

Mr. Grendell also has deep business law knowledge.  In 2005, he was hired by one of his clients, a Cleveland-area insurance company, to be its first General Counsel.  In that role, he:

• counseled the Board, officers and employees regarding their legal obligations and compliance;

• negotiated business contracts, drafted Board actions, and oversaw the company’s litigation and lobbying efforts;

• participated in the Company’s strategic business decisions as a member of the Executive Team;

• supervised the Human Resources and Compliance departments; and

• Participated in a key role in the Company’s 2011 $95M recapitalization and the 2012 sale of the company to a large Texas-based insurance holding company.

After the sale of the company, in 2015, Mr. Grendell returned to private practice and became a founding partner of KDG.  Now, Mr. Grendell’s practice focuses on:

• Business and commercial litigation;

• Insurance Industry counseling and disputes;

• Employment matters, including enforcement and defense of employee restrictive covenants;

• ERISA litigation;

• Succession Planning; and

• Outside General Counsel service.

Mr. Grendell is also actively involved in professional, charitable and volunteer activities, including:

• Julie Billiart Network (2006 to present):  a network of Catholic schools helping children with special learning needs.  Trustee, Executive Secretary and Governance Committee Chair.

• the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce (2015 to present):  a regional chamber of commerce for 13 Cleveland east-side communities with nearly 600 members.  Trustee and President.

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Ass’n (1996 to present).  Unauthorized Practice of Law Comm., Vice-Chairman, 2021-22

• Manufacturing Works, Member (2019 to present)

• Association of Corporate Counsel (2005 to 2015)

• Greater Cleveland General Counsel Association (2005 to 2015)