The Churn: Ted Kennedy Jr. Joins Epstein, Plus More Lateral Moves

Epstein Becker & Green made a high-profile hire last week, bringing on EDWARD “TED” KENNEDY JR. as a health care partner in Stamford, Conn.

Kennedy—son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy—joins from the Marwood Group, a New York-based health care advisory and financial services firm that he cofounded in 2000. Kennedy started his legal career as an associate at Connecticut firm Wiggin and Dana after graduating from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

At Epstein, Kennedy will counsel clients at the health care–focused firm on the legal and reimbursement policy issues and changes they face under the Affordable Care Act. As noted in a story by sibling publication Connecticut Law Tribune, Kennedy’s father championed the insurance changes enacted by the new law.

“Over the past several years, I have been privileged to work collaboratively with many of [Epstein's] lawyers on numerous projects for mutual clients,” Kennedy said in a statement. “I am looking forward to working with Epstein Becker Green to promote healthcare innovation and to catalyze the changes that our healthcare system requires.”

Mark Lutes, chair of Epstein Becker’s board of directors, says he began speaking to Kennedy about joining Epstein in the fall after Kennedy sold his interest in Marwood Group and “said he was willing to talk to us about his next steps.” In addition to his expertise in the field, Lutes says he brings a substantial list of potential clients to the firm.

“Through Marwood he developed relationships with literally hundreds of private equity investing firms in the health care space, plus quite a significant number of relationships among their portfolio companies, large hospital systems as well, and suppliers, manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies,” Lutes says. “We very much respect his insights.”

A longtime advocate of disability rights, Kennedy serves on the board of the American Association of People With Disabilities and advises employers on how to expand opportunities for people with disabilities.

So far, Kennedy has not followed his family into politics. In 2012, he considered running for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts vacated by John Kerry after his appointment to Secretary of State, according to press reports, but ultimately chose to stay with his health care business.

Connecticut Law Tribune has more on Kennedy’s hire.