Brenden J. Kennedy

My Story 

I originally grew up in York, Pennsylvania, before my family moved to North Carolina while I was in college. I attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland, where I played four years of Division I baseball. While completing my undergraduate degree, in addition to my extensive athletic commitments, I also interned at the State’s Attorney’s Office in Frederick, Maryland. In 2021, I relocated to Washington, DC, to attend the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University.

My sole intention for going to law school was to practice criminal defense, and that focus never wavered during my time in DC. I enrolled in every criminal law course and trial practice my school offered, in addition to participating in any off-campus clinic opportunities that were available. While in law school, I worked with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. During the summer of 2023, I moved to North Carolina to work at both the Pender County District Attorney’s Office and the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, I worked for a criminal defense firm in Fayetteville, NC.

I graduated from law school in the spring of 2024 and subsequently passed the July 2024 bar exam. I was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in September 2024 and immediately began working as a private criminal defense attorney for Marcilliat & Mills, PLLC. My legal practice includes misdemeanor and felony criminal charges such as impaired driving offenses, drug offenses, simple assault, assault with a weapon, theft offenses, domestic violence issues, burglary, stalking, harassment, communicating threats, and unlawful carry of a firearm.

I am passionate about criminal law, and I take pride in advocating for the accused. As a former Division I athlete, I apply the same competitive attitude to my caseload in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for my clients. I appreciate the meaningful impact I have on the lives of my clients by assisting in their criminal defense.