Kelly represents companies, state governments, manufacturers and policyholders in a variety of insurance coverage matters, including claims related to general liability, long-tail environmental and toxic tort claims (including emerging contaminants such as PFAS), property and insurance bad faith. She also represents clients in contract disputes and tort actions in both federal and state courts.
Assisting clients from the initiation of a case through to its conclusion, Kelly routinely researches and drafts virtually all types of pleadings and motions pertinent to litigation. She is also experienced with litigation discovery (including having taken and defended numerous depositions), and she has argued complex dispositive and discovery motions in court and conducted settlement negotiations. Additionally, Kelly has experience representing clients in arbitration hearings.
Kelly's experience as a municipal planner in Michigan before becoming an attorney adds depth to her construction law practice. As a municipal planner, she regularly worked with city and township stakeholders, developers, engineers, and design professionals to finalize development plans. Kelly was also responsible for advising community boards regarding land use and zoning issues, and facilitating public workshops as part of a long-term community master planning effort.
During law school, Kelly was a Baum fellow and law clerk for the Chicago Legal Clinic’s Environmental and Energy Law Clinic, an honors intern with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and a mayoral fellow for then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Professional and Community Involvement
Member, Legal Aid Chicago Ambassadors Board
Member, Chicago Bar Association
Member, Chicago-Kent Law Review Alumni Board of Directors
Honors
The Best Lawyers in America, 2025; Ones to Watch, 2023-2024