Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.

Arbitration & Mediation/ Intellectual Property/ Corporate & Chancery Litigation/ Commercial Litigation

Former Judge Kent Jordan, who served as a federal judge for more than two decades, including a tenure on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 2006 to January 2025, joined Richards, Layton & Finger in February 2025.

In addition to his tenure on the Third Circuit, former Judge Jordan’s 40+ years of experience includes serving as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware from 2002 to 2006.  He was in private practice in Delaware from 1985 to 1987 and again from 1992 to 1997.  In between, Kent worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Delaware.  From 1998 to 2002, he was general counsel and a vice president of the Corporation Service Company in Wilmington, Delaware.

Kent joins Richards Layton as a director in the firm’s Litigation Department, practicing in the Intellectual Property Group, which handles significant IP litigation before Delaware’s district and state courts.  He will also assist with other litigation matters, including mediations, arbitrations, appeals, and litigation advice, drawing on his wide experience with corporate, antitrust, securities, and bankruptcy disputes.

Kent is an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he currently teaches a class on patent litigation.

Publications

Former 3rd Circuit Judge Talks Apolitical Retirement, Plans, Threats Against Judiciary—The National Law Journal | April 10, 2025

Retired Judge Kent Jordan joined the prominent Delaware firm Richards, Layton & Finger this year, after serving more than two decades on the federal bench. Last week, the former U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit judge and George W. Bush appointee spoke with the National Law Journal for a Q&A about his time on… Recognition

Delaware Today Top Lawyer, 2025

Bar Admissions

Delaware, 1984 Supreme Court, Delaware, 1984 United States District Court, District of Delaware, 1985 United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1988 United States Supreme Court, 1994 United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 1995 District of Columbia, Court of Appeals, 1996

Clerkships

The Honorable James L. Latchum, United States District Court for the District of Delaware, 1984-1985

Leadership

American Inns of Court Foundation, Former President United States Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, Former Member Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction, Former Member Federal Judicial Center, Former Board Member

Pro Bono Activities

Ministry of Caring, Board of Directors

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1984 Articles Editor, Georgetown Law Journal Brigham Young University, B.A., Economics, 1981