David W. Kennedy (born 1954) is an American academic and legal scholar known for his work on, and criticism of, international law. As of 2017 he is the Manley Hudson Professor of Law and the Director of the at Harvard Law School, where he teaches the courses "Global Law and Governance", "Law and Economic Development" and "Expertise and Rulership in Law and Science". He has been a professor at Harvard Law School since 1981, although for a few years he held an appointment at Brown University, as Vice President International Affairs and the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor of International Relations.