Kenneth S. Byrd

A partner based in our Nashville office, Kenneth S. Byrd is an experienced trial attorney at Lieff Cabraser, obtaining several large jury trial verdicts against Big Tobacco over the past several years. He received the Tennessee Association for Justice’s 2015 Paladin Award for his successful litigation against cigarette manufacturers R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA Inc., and Lorillard Tobacco Company in Florida federal courts. The Paladin Award is TAJ’s highest honor and is given to the state’s top trial lawyer of the year. Kenny’s successful work on these cases included separate $27 million and $41 million jury verdicts that were upheld on appeal.

Kenny represents clients in mass tort cases, defective product cases and consumer fraud litigation . He represents consumers in consumer class action cases as well as injured individuals and their loved ones in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits filed in across the country. Kenny’s leadership roles include his appointment to the Plaintiff Steering Committee and Early Vetting Subcommittee in In re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2885 (the largest MDL in history as far as number of claimants), and his appointment to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In Re: AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation, MDL No. 3035.

Kenny is also a member of Lieff Cabraser’s Whistleblower/False Claims Act practice group, assisting whistleblowers to stop fraud and the misuse of funds in government contracts and programs.

Publications & Presentations

•Panelist, “Sexual Assault Cases” and “Complex Trials,” Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) New Orleans Conference, February 2025
•Moderator (4 Panels) and Co-Chair, HarrisMartin MDL Conference, September 2024
•Panelist, “What is a Plaintiff’s Attorney?” Vanderbilt Law School Career Panel, February 2024
•Panelist, “Complex Litigation Trials Tips and Tricks,” Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) Mardi Gras Bench and Bar Conference, February 2024
•Faculty, “Texas Two Step. When Insurance is Gone and the Bankruptcy Court Is Not: Mass Torts in Crisis,” Mississippi Association for Justice (MAJ) Winter CLE Seminar, December 2022
•Speaker, “Mass Torts/Class Actions and Bankruptcy Issues,” Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) Inaugural Conference, December 2022
•Co-author, American Bar Association, Survey of Federal Circuit Court’s Class Action Decisions, 2018

Honors & Awards

•Selected for inclusion by peers in The Best Lawyers in America in fields of Consumer Protection Law, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs, 2018-2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2021-2026
•“Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation,” Nashville, Best Lawyers, 2023
•“Outstanding Private Practice Antitrust Achievement,” American Antitrust Institute, 2020
•“Paladin Award,” Tennessee Association for Justice, 2015
•“Rising Star for Mid-South,” Super Lawyers, 2014

In the News

•February 17, 2026
30 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2026
•August 21, 2025
36 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to 2026 Best Lawyers Listings
•February 28, 2025
33 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2025
•February 21, 2025
Kenny Byrd Speaks at Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts Conference in New Orleans
•September 17, 2024
Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Organize and Speak at September 25 HarrisMartin MDL Conference in Nashville