Mr. Kevin Dean Abernethy
The University of Georgia
Kevin Abernethy is the Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), Middle District of Georgia (MDGA). Kevin co-chairs the legal defense of multi-million-dollar medical malpractice lawsuits directed against the Veterans Administration, represents the Department of Defense, represents the Department of Health and Human Services, and supervises the U.S. Attorney’s False Claims Act practice. He is lead counsel on all USAO-MDGA financial litigation.
Before serving as an AUSA, Kevin was vice president and general counsel to ABCO, Inc. As corporate counsel, Kevin handled a variety of matters with focus on governance, litigation, and federal regulation compliance. His general counsel work also focused on formation of new, international ventures. Before his corporate work, Kevin was a partner in the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith. Kevin has extensive litigation experience handling civil rights claims for the City of Atlanta, large complex environmental lawsuits, corporate suits, and claims involving professional negligence. He also has expertise advising businesses on corporate, ethical, and international transactions. He has litigation experience in both Georgia and Tennessee and is licensed in both these states. His litigation practice concentrates on high exposure cases.
The University of Georgia Alumni Association named Kevin to its 2013 class of 40 Under 40 most outstanding young alumni. He served as Chair for the 2018 and 2019 UGA 40 Under 40 Giving Challenge Campaign; Kevin is a UGA Mentor. The Fulton County Daily Report recognized Kevin as one of its 2013 40 under 40 Georgia Legal Rising Stars to Watch. Atlanta Magazine selected Kevin a Georgia “Rising Star Super Lawyer” in 2013 and 2014 for his work in professional liability defense. Kevin is a 2016 graduate of the Catholic Charites Atlanta Leadership Class.
The Georgia State Senate Committee on Assignments appointed Kevin to a four-year term on the State Ethics Commission, a quasi-judicial body with statewide jurisdiction over ethical issues involving public officials, lobbyists, and state vendors. Kevin was elected to serve as Chairman of the Ethics Commission in 2011, and he was twice reelected Chairman. Kevin is one of the youngest Chairman in Georgia’s history. Kevin serves on the Advisory Board to the Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Georgia. Kevin also presently serves on the Board of Directors for the UGA Alumni Association and UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs.
He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1999 with his B.A. in Political Science. During college, he represented his school as the UGA Student Body President. At UGA, he was selected for membership in the Pi Sigma Alpha National Honorary Society in Political Science and Omicron Delta Kappa. In 1997-98, he was recognized as a Presidential Scholar for perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average. Before entering law school, Kevin served as a legislative aide in the Georgia State Senate to the chairman of the committee on Natural Resources and the chairman of Appropriations.
