Attorney Profile

FOUNDING Partner

Noah R. Friend

After attending the University of Kentucky for undergraduate and law school, Noah served for three years as a law clerk to United States Magistrate Judge Edward B. Atkins in Ashland and Pikeville. After completing his clerkship, he opened a private practice, with emphasis in the areas of individual and small business bankruptcy, appeals, and federal criminal defense. In 2015, he joined several other attorneys in drafting and filing a federal suit against the Social Security Administration based on the Administration’s actions in suspending benefits to thousands of Eastern Kentuckians without pre-suspension hearings. 

In 2016, he accepted the position as General Counsel for Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball, serving in that capacity until the end of 2021, while also maintaining an Of Counsel relationship with the firm.  As General Counsel, he was responsible for drafting KRS Chapter 393A, Kentucky’s Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.  He drafted and testified regarding changes to dozens of other statutes, as well as regarding various other issues facing Kentucky state government, including constitutional issues surrounding the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2016, he argued before the Kentucky Supreme Court in the published case of Beshear v. Bevin, 498 S.W.3d 355 (Ky. 2016), in which he successfully argued for the abolition of standing for individual legislators to bring suit in Kentucky courts. Mr. Friend drafted the legislation responsible for creating the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission. In connection with the Commission, he assisted in the creation of the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Foundation Inc., and obtained 501(c)(3) approval from the Internal Revenue Service for the Foundation.  During his time in Frankfort, Mr. Friend also served as counsel for the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities.

In his bankruptcy practice, Mr. Friend has filed over 500 cases, including a significant number of complex individual and small business cases.  He has successfully obtained confirmation in both individual and small business Chapter 11 cases, including some of the first Subchapter V cases approved in the Eastern District of Kentucky.  Mr. Friend has represented an extensive number of individuals and small businesses against preferential transfer actions, and has successfully obtained numerous settlements in cases involving creditor violations of the automatic stay and discharge injunction.

Due to his work in the area of federal criminal practice, he has been selected to serve on the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Pikeville and Lexington/Frankfort Divisions within the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, as well as the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In addition to these panels, he has also represented individuals charged with federal crimes in both the London and Ashland Divisions of the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Education

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 2007

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
B.A., History, 2004

Legislative Testimony

• Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary

• Interim Joint Committee on State Government

• Joint Contract Review Committee

• House Appropriations & Revenue Committee

• House Health & Family Services Committee

• House State Government Committee

• House Local Government Committee

• Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee

• Senate State & Local Government Committee-

Recent Activities & Affiliations

• Federalist Society (2005-present)

• St. Francis Catholic Church (Pikeville), Parish Council (2015-16)

• St. Leo Catholic School, School Board (2019-2022)

• St. Leo Catholic School, School Board President (2021-2022)

• Woodford County Youth Soccer Association, Coach (2018-present)

Bar Admissions

• Commonwealth of Kentucky, 2007

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2010

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 2010

• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, 2010