Overview & Experience
Insights & Activities
Jessica G. Kelly is an experienced litigator who helps clients resolve complex business, real estate, and professional malpractice disputes and disciplinary investigations.
As partner in the firm’s Litigation Department and chair of its Pro Bono Practice Group, she represents clients across various industries , such as finance, biotech, and national retail.
Before law school, Jessica worked as a Victim Witness Advocate for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. After law school, she was law clerk to the Hon. Donald G. Alexander, Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Jessica is conversant in Spanish and has completed seven Boston marathons, as well as the New York City, Washington D.C., and Chicago marathons. She ran the 2018 Boston Marathon for My Life My Choice and the 2016 Boston Marathon for the Martin Richard Foundation.
Experience
- Representing developers in zoning and permitting appeals
- Representing aviation company in wetlands permit appeal
- Representing national retailer in Superfund litigation
- Representing retailer in vendor dispute
- Real estate title litigation in land court
- Drafted amicus brief on behalf of NAIOP Massachusetts, Real Estate Bar Association, and the Abstract Club, in landmark SJC decision in Sudbury v. MBTA, holding that the prior public use doctrine is inapplicable when land owned by a public entity is conveyed to a private entity for a different use
- Representing hedge funds and their investment manager in claims against funds’ former third party administrator
- Defending biotech company against claims of misappropriation of trade secrets by competitor
- Defending national retailer against claims brought by third party business brokers
- Defending town in appeal to administrative agency of a decision of the town’s zoning board of appeals
- Defending quasi-public finance agency in claims by guarantor and obtaining summary judgment that was affirmed by the Massachusetts Appeals Court
- Defending insurance company in coverage dispute and unfair insurance practices claim
- Advising and representing businesses in employment matters
- Defending lawyers and law firms in malpractice claims; obtaining full and partial summary judgment
- Defending lawyers in disciplinary investigations before the Board of Bar Overseers
Accolades
Speaking Engagements & Publications
- “How Courts May Interpret COVID-19 Waivers Of Liability,” author, Law360, May 22, 2020
- “COVID-19 Negligence Claims Looming For Hospitality Industry,” author, Law360, May 1, 2020
- “Firing or Withdrawal of Counsel During Litigation,” panelist, Strafford CLE, November 20, 2019
- “Recovering Punitive Damages in Attorney Malpractice Cases,” author, Boston Bar Journal, June 6, 2019
- “Conflicts of Interest in Complex Commercial Litigation,” speaker, Massachusetts Bar Association, May 14, 2019
- “Bankruptcy Ruling Reminds Corp. Counsel to Mind Rule 1.13,” co-author, Law360, February 2019
- “The attorney-client relationship 101,” co-author, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, December 31, 2018
- “How To Withdraw From Representation Ethically In Mass,” co-author, Law360, May 7, 2018
- “Corporate Counsel and Duties Beyond the Client,” co-author, Law360, January 3, 2018
- “Duties to Non-Client Third Parties,” speaker, Boston Bar Association, October 2017
- “Newly Elected Partner,” panel member, Boston Bar Association’s Brand Yourself 2.0 Conference, February 2017
- “Practicing with Professionalism,” speaker, Massachusetts Bar Association CLE, January 2017
- “Is the ‘hot potato doctrine’ now applicable in Massachusetts?” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, July 2016
- “Preparing a Client for Deposition,” panelist, Boston Bar Association, February 2016
- “Practicing with Professionalism,” speaker, Massachusetts Bar Association CLE, January 2016
- “Second Annual Consumer Advocacy Symposium and MBA Pinnacle Awards,” moderator, Massachusetts Bar Association CLE, November 2015
- “Litigation Practice & Strategy: What Every New Civil Litigator Should Know,” panelist, Boston Bar Association CLE, February 2015
- “Discovery Disputes,” panelist, Boston Bar Association CLE, February 2014
- “How to Protect Your Students from Cyberbullying,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 2012
- “Lateral Hires Can Bring on a Lot of Potential Conflicts Baggage,” ABA Journal, with Edward S. Cheng, December 2009
Related Blog Posts
- Bankruptcy Court Weighs in on Conflicts of Interest in Business Transactions, January 25, 2019
- The Attorney – Client Relationship 101: Helpful Reminders Before, During and After Representation, September 24, 2018
- How to Withdraw from Representation Ethically in Mass, May 16, 2018
- Corporate Counsel And Duties Beyond The Client published on Law360.com, February 15, 2018
- Supreme Court Employment Cases to Watch, December 12, 2017
- Email Pitfalls in Business Transactions, October 13, 2015
- How to Avoid a Fee Dispute with Your Client, March 9, 2015
Memberships
Community Involvement
- Political Asylum Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project
- 2015 Pro Bono Asylum Attorney of the Year
- Chair of firm’s United Way workplace campaign
- Needham Youth Soccer Coach
