Robert is a founding member of the Lexington law firm of Kessinger Benvenuti PLLC. Robert’s legal and professional career spans nearly four decades during which time he has served as lead counsel to numerous corporations and individuals, as well as a senior government official, chief compliance officer for an academic medical center, elected official, political party state chairman, and an assistant hospital administrator. These roles have allowed Robert to gain critical insights into both private entities and public sector agencies as well as developing a vast network of relationships at the local, state and federal levels of government, both in Kentucky and across the Nation, which include many of the most influential leaders in the United States. He has significant experience in health care fraud and abuse, compliance, false claims, government investigations and internal investigations, medical staff issues, civil and administrative liability, professional licensure boards, controlled substances abuse and diversion, and EMTALA, as well as Medicare and Medicaid appeals, and general regulatory and operational issues facing institutional and individual providers. In addition, he provides white collar criminal defense counsel in cases involving health care entities and providers, as well as other professionals, corporations, and individuals. Robert advises a wide range of clients regarding government affairs and relations and is often engaged by other legal counsel and their clients to resolve high-leverage matters involving government entities and officials, and to mediate complex regulatory and business matters.
In addition to the practice of law, Robert currently serves as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, being first elected in December 2023, and re-elected to a four-year term in June 2025. As Kentucky’s State Chairman, Robert serves as a member of the Republican National Committee.
In February 2004, Robert was appointed as Inspector General for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services where he served until January of 2007. As Inspector General, Robert led a staff of approximately 340 employees and was responsible for directing the operations and formulating policy for the Office. Among other things, the Office of Inspector General is charged with investigating and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid program, as well as allegations of prescription drug abuse and diversion. The OIG is also responsible for conducting complaint investigations and standard surveys involving some 3,000 health care facilities and services across the Commonwealth relative to state licensure requirements and federal certification conditions of participation on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In November 2012, Robert was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives where he served three terms. During his time in the House, he was a member of the Judiciary Committee; the Health Services Committee; and the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. He was also a member of the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee. Robert passed numerous pieces of highly consequential legislation, including comprehensive anti-gang legislation as well as legislation aimed at protecting the unborn, and reducing government regulations.
Prior, Robert was a founding member of the Lexington law firm of Barnett Benvenuti & Butler PLLC, and an attorney with Stites & Harbison, PLLC. From 1998 to 2002 he served as the originating Chief Corporate Compliance Officer for the UK Chandler Medical Center, where he established and directed the Medical Center’s comprehensive compliance program.
Before becoming an attorney, he served in various administrative and management positions, including risk manager for Baptist Healthcare Systems of Kentucky. Robert also served as a first responder for five years as a member of a volunteer ambulance rescue squad in his hometown of Sparta, New Jersey.
Robert is a 1998 graduate of the UK College of Law. While in law school he was a member of the National Moot Court Team and a published author. Robert also earned a Master of Public Administration from the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration in 1991 and his BS degree from the University of Kentucky in 1988.
Robert is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Health Care Compliance Association. He has served as an adjunct professor at the UK College of Law, is the co-author of the Kentucky Health Law Handbook’s chapter on government enforcement and has published numerous articles on fraud and abuse in the health care industry as well as other operational and regulatory issues facing health care providers. Beyond work, Robert spent numerous years coaching Cal Ripken baseball and girls’ youth soccer. He is also a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for Lexington Catholic High School.
Together with his wife Susan, he has two children, Annabella, a 2023 graduate of the Honors College of the College of Charleston, and Robert IV, a 2025 graduate of The Citadel – Military College of South Carolina.