Robert J. Kern is Senior Counsel in the Nevada office of Klinedinst PC. He has spent his legal career fighting for justice for Nevadans. After working as a ‘hired gun’ appellate attorney for many years, Mr. Kern’s practice now focuses on appeals and heavy motion work for a variety of clients throughout the state.

Mr. Kern graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was undefeated in intercollegiate competition as captain of the International Law Moot Court team and helped to found the South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business. In the first case he handled as a law student, he won a major appeal that redefined South Carolina defamation law and is still taught in the law school today.

His devotion to justice goes beyond the courtroom, as he met with the White House during the housing crisis to demand relief for Nevadans, helped create the Nevada Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, acted as general counsel to a Nevada state political party, and frequently testifies before the Nevada Supreme Court and the Nevada legislature to improve Nevada’s laws.

Mr. Kern has been regularly recognized as an AV-rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, received the Martindale Hubbell Client Distinction Award every year since 2015, Client Champion in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and was named to the pro bono honor roll by Nevada Lawyer magazine. He is currently the 2024-2025 president of the Federal Bar Association, Nevada Chapter.

In his pro bono work, Mr. Kern has worked with the Children’s Attorney Project (CAP) run by the Legal Aid Society of Southern Nevada, in which he represented foster children in court proceedings, and also worked on the Young Lawyers Division Goldilocks Project, which teaches elementary school students about how the laws and courts operate.

Mr. Kern’s journey has included working as a high school teacher, a Hollywood talent agent, an actor, crew for TV sports, and even as a bar bouncer before he began his law career. Outside the office, Robert enjoys carpentry, kayaking, and fostering feral kittens.

Education

• University of South Carolina School of Law, JD, 2000
• Valdosta State University, BA, 1995