Bench & Bar May/June 2026

Kentucky Bar Foundation—and, perhaps just as importantly, helps foster a culture of gratitude and connection within the profession. YLD members who want to deepen their commitment to the KBF’s mission can also benefit by becoming a Life Fellow of the KBF. The YLD and the KBF created a discounted $1,000 rate for new Life Fellows of the Foundation, making longterm philanthropy more accessible to young lawyers. And our cornerstone service project, the Legal Food Frenzy, once again demonstrated the power of collective action—bringing the total funds raised for local food banks to nearly $500,000 across its decade-long history, with this year poised to bring the effort close to that milestone. LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, AND THE FUTURE OF PRACTICE In addition to the mini-CLEs, the YLD is proud to collaborate with developing young-lawyer-centric programming at the New Lawyers Program, Kentucky Law Updates, and at the Annual Convention. This year, the YLD is especially proud of the session it is planning and presenting at the 2026 Annual Convention in Covington, entitled “Courtroom Compass: Navigating Litigation with Judicial Guidance.” The program will feature practical insights from state trial and appellate judges, as well as federal judges—bridging the gap between theory and practice and offering invaluable perspective to lawyers at every stage of their careers. We hope you will attend the Convention, this session, and look for future opportunities to submit proposals for the annual conven tion and the New Lawyer Programs, as well as the Kentucky Law Updates. CARRYING FORWARD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR KYLE R. BUNNELL is the chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the KBA and is also a member of the KBA’s Publication Committee. He is an attorney in the Lexington office of Dins more & Shohl LLP where he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, as well as bad faith insurance, equine law, and product liability. In addition to his bar service, Bunnell is active in the community. He is the vice-chair of the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law Alumni Association and serves on the board of the Children’s Law Center. Although I wish that I have better closing lines to express my pride, gratitude, and thankfulness for a wonderful year, I know that the work will continue, as it must. I also know that, because of the efforts of YLD members across the Commonwealth, the profession they pass on will be more welcoming, more supportive, and better equipped for the challenges ahead—and that the next generations of YLD leaders are more than capable of moving the ball forward and doing more than I could have imagined. That is how we honor those who built this profession before us—and how we fulfill our obligation to those who will follow. My one hope is that I have left the YLD a little better than I found it. who have been patient and encouraging throughout the last year. Nonetheless, I hope to continue to be a steward for the YLD and the amazing leaders who will soon fill and outstretch any footprints that I have left.

ENDNOTES 1 These webinars can be ac cessed on the YLD website at the following link: Kentucky Bar Association > For Mem bers > YLD > YLD Exclusive Webinars 2 Do you have ideas for mini CLEs and topics that you think would be helpful for young lawyers? If so, please reach out to yldchair@kba.org. 3 When you register for the 2026 Annual Convention, I hope you’ll also sign up to walk or run to support the YLD and KYLAP! 4 We appreciate the work of Ap palReD and our legal services partners who assist the YLD in gathering these resources and providing support to disaster relief efforts. More informa tion can be found at: Kentucky Bar Association > About Us > About the Kentucky Bar Asso ciation > Get Involved > Young Lawyers Division > YLD Proj ects

Taken individually, each of these initiatives mat ters. Collectively, they tell a larger story of the YLD’s commitment to access, education, well ness, service, and stewardship. The work of the YLD over the past year reflects an understanding that progress does not happen by accident. It happens when lawyers—especially young law yers—step forward, see what they have inherited, and choose to improve it. And I am so grateful for the many individuals who served on this year’s Executive Committee and served the YLD in numerous other ways that devoted their time and talents to this mission. The YLD has been a large part of my personal and professional life for the last decade. I have been lucky to see the impact the YLD—and the Bar—has had in my life and many others. I look forward to my “retirement” and spending more time with my wife, boys, and my practice—and am immensely grateful to my family (especially, my wife, Taylor), my law partners, and mentors,

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