J. Scott Kilpatrick

J. Scott Kilpatrick is a Providence lawyer and founding partner who focuses primarily on bequest management for nonprofit organizations. He helps protect charitable bequests and addresses disputes that can affect distributions to nonprofit beneficiaries. His practice includes insurance disputes, life insurance, health insurance, and individual long-term disability matters. His broader litigation background includes probate, shareholder disputes, employment actions, trade secret cases, and ERISA-related insurance matters.

Kilpatrick earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. in Economics from Emory University. His education provided a strong foundation in litigation, legal analysis, insurance law, and business disputes. That training supports his work involving charitable bequests, probate questions, insurance claims, and complex civil matters requiring detailed review of contracts, financial interests, and legal obligations.

Kilpatrick began his career as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General. He spent four years investigating and trying felony criminal cases. He later joined a New England insurance litigation practice, where he handled insurance coverage disputes. His experience has since expanded to probate, employment, shareholder, trade secret, ERISA, and veterans-related litigation, including arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

J. Scott Kilpatrick has held leadership roles in the Federal Bar Association and previously served as president of its Rhode Island Chapter. He serves on the Roger Williams University School of Law Board of Directors and its Governance Committee. He has written for multiple editions of the American Bar Association’s ERISA Survey of Federal Circuits. Best Lawyers named him Providence Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Trusts and Estates in 2026.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Partner, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD
• Former President, Federal Bar Association, Rhode Island Chapter
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, National Business Institute
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member of Board of Directors, Roger Williams University School of Law
• Member, National Association of Charitable Gift Planners

Licensed State

• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts

Education

• St. John’s University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Emory University
  BA in Economics

Awards & Badges