Wab Kadaba ’97 never planned to become a lawyer. The son of a Georgia Tech professor, he started out following in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. With a father and three uncles who were engineering professors, there was an expectation that he might continue this tradition.
“I loved technology,” he says, “but I didn’t want to focus on just one area for my entire career.” A chance conversation with some intellectual property (IP) lawyers opened his eyes to a different path – one that could combine his love for technology with the variety he craved. This revelation led to a significant shift in his career trajectory.
That path led him to UNC School of Law. He wanted a school that could open doors in big markets like New York and Washington, D.C., not just his home city of Atlanta. Carolina Law fit the bill perfectly. The decision to attend law school was a leap of faith for him, who had no lawyers in his family or close acquaintances.
At Carolina Law, Kadaba found the academic rigor substantial but enjoyable. “It was a significant change from being an engineering student to a law student,” he recalls. “I had tremendous peers who really challenged me to be a better student and classmate.”
After graduation, he joined Jones & Askew, a boutique IP firm in Atlanta. When it merged with Kilpatrick Stockton, he found himself thrust into a much larger pond. But rather than sink, Kadaba swam. The transition to a larger firm broadened his practice, exposed him to more sophisticated, business-focused legal work, and provided new opportunities for growth and leadership.
His leadership skills were put to the test during the 2008 financial crisis. As the firm’s recently elevated hiring partner, he faced intense pressure to cancel the summer program. He stood his ground, arguing for the importance of nurturing new talent, a decision influenced by his belief in maintaining a healthy talent pipeline, even during tough times.
It was a gamble that paid off. “Some of those summer associates are now partners at our firm,” he says. “And not just partners – they’re stars.”
This experience proved to be a pivotal moment in Kadaba’s career, proving his leadership potential. Over the years, he took on increasing responsibilities at the firm. He went on to manage the Atlanta office and chaired the firm’s 300+ attorney intellectual property practice for 11 years. Throughout this time, Kadaba maintained strong ties with Carolina Law, regularly participating in student recruitment events, organizing reunions, contributing to firm campaigns, and serving on the Law Alumni Association Board.
On July 1, 2024, Kadaba became chair of Kilpatrick, placing him as the firm’s top leader. In this position, he now guides the strategic direction and overall management of the firm, drawing on his years of experience.
As he looks to the firm’s future, Kadaba brings the same forward-thinking approach he honed at Carolina Law. “We’re going to be celebrating our 165th anniversary next year,” he notes. “Despite our long history and many, many successes to date, we still, as all organizations do, need to evolve.” Kadaba aims to grow the firm in ways that will continue to differentiate it in a competitive marketplace, particularly in areas where technology intersects with the law.
His advice to current Carolina Law students reflects his own journey: “Be a person of action. Find what you love and go after it. Opportunities won’t just fall in your lap – you’ve got to make them happen.” He also emphasizes the importance of being present and building relationships, advising students to take advantage of in-person interactions. “Go to the office,” he says. “A lot can happen if you just see people in person.” He also says it is important to “not take yourself too seriously.”
Kadaba has lived by these words throughout his career. From representing clients in complex patent and trade secret matters to leading Kilpatrick as chair, his journey embodies the ethos Carolina Law strives to instill in its graduates – a commitment to continuous learning, leadership, and service.
