Adrian M. Fenty, Esq.
Special Counsel
Phone: 202-628-8100
Email: amf@klores.com
Adrian M. Fenty, Special Counsel to Klores Mitchell, served as the fifth Mayor of the District of Columbia from January 2007 – January 2011, where he championed innovative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the Nation’s Capital. Joining the firm as Special Counsel in 2011, Mr. Fenty draws on his vast knowledge, experience and trusted relationships to contribute to the continued expansion of the firm’s practices. Mr. Fenty has adapted his successful Mayoral “reformer approach” — which he used to streamline the D.C. government and make it more responsive to residents — to help the firm’s clients. This unique approach to law, combined with his strategic thinking and sound business judgment, aid the firm’s ability to prosecute cases creatively, efficiently and successfully. Mr. Fenty also brings his passion and vision for education to offer expertise and counsel on education law matters relating to areas of improvement, planning and direction.
A visionary with intent focus on reform, Mr. Fenty became a recognized national leader in the areas of urban education reform, public safety, public housing, city revitalization, healthcare and increased tourism. Mr. Fenty’s Housing First program, which provided permanent, affordable housing for District residents, became a national model. Despite the economic downturn, Mr. Fenty propelled a rapid pace of development during his term, driving transformative projects that contributed to the city maintaining an “AAA” bond rating.
Committed to ensuring the best possible education for D.C. public school students, Mr. Fenty inserted accountability by advocating for mayoral control of the school system and hired Michelle Rhee as Chancellor. Together, their bold reforms helped to bolster confidence in the long maligned public schools in the District, as well as raise student test scores by double digits, increase graduation rates and achieve the first increase in enrollment in 39 years. In addition, he achieved record increases in public safety citywide, resulting in a 23 percent decline in homicides for the first time in 44 years; and attracted 10,000 new residents to the city, the largest single-year growth in population since WWII. In 2009, The Washington Post credited Mr. Fenty with making the District “a better place to live and to work.”
Mr. Fenty’s career began as Lead Attorney and Counsel of the D.C. Council Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation, which propelled him into politics and to helping the citizens of the District. He served as Aide to Councilmember Kevin P. Chavous; was elected as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in ANC 4C; and was President of the 16th Street Neighborhood Civic Association. Twice elected to serve as Ward 4 Councilmember for the Council of the District of Columbia, Mr. Fenty was highly recognized for responding effectively to constituents concerns garnering the title “the King of constituent services,” by the Washington Post.
Since leaving office, Mr. Fenty has provided strategic advice and business development solutions to an array of clients. In addition to media appearances, he has traveled extensively speaking on education reform and using a private sector approach to running a government. Since the Fall of 2011, Mr. Fenty has served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Politics at his alma mater, Oberlin College. Mr. Fenty is active in a number of philanthropic endeavors sitting on the boards of Fight for Children and the Junior Tennis Champions Center.
Admitted
- District of Columbia
Education
- Howard University Law School, J.D., 1996
- Oberlin College, B.A., 1992