Kevin Rhodes is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Affairs Officer, overseeing legal, compliance, government affairs and global security matters for 3M. He leads a global Legal Affairs team that helps guide business opportunities, address enterprise risks, protect intellectual property, shape the development of law and policy, and strengthen compliance and security.
Throughout his 20-year 3M career, Kevin has led legal teams in areas of increasing responsibility. He most recently was Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, advising senior management and the Board of Directors on legal issues. In this role, Kevin led ongoing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to combat fraud, counterfeiting, and price gouging of N95 respirators. He previously led the company’s litigation function, and served for more than ten years as chief intellectual property counsel, with responsibility for managing the global intellectual property assets of 3M and its worldwide affiliates.
Kevin is a registered patent attorney and has served as President of the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association and the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel, as well as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform. In 2018, he was inducted into the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame by the IP Hall of Fame Academy. Kevin is a champion for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, growing talent and serving communities.
Prior to joining 3M in 2001, Kevin was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Northwestern University; and his B.A. from Grinnell College.
Kevin and his wife Melinda have three adult children. In his free time, Kevin enjoys travel, outdoor activities including fishing, hiking and gardening, and spending time with his family.