Mr. Kelley represents large public corporations and medium-sized businesses in complex commercial disputes. His successful track record is grounded in the belief that every case must be litigated with an eye toward the client’s overall business situation. His representation is thus informed by deep familiarity with the companies he represents.
Mr. Kelley concentrates in general commercial litigation, construction litigation, professional and product liability, business torts, and insurance coverage. He has achieved favorable results for businesses in the manufacturing, retail, real estate, and automotive industries, among others. He has extensive trial experience in the state and federal courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Representative Matters
- Mr. Kelley recently defended a publicly traded real estate investment trust from a series of construction related lawsuits brought by contractors and subcontractors in Maryland. Mr. Kelley’s representation led to the dismissal of most cases; others have been favorably resolved.
- He is representing a national home improvement franchising company in a breach-of-contract dispute brought by customers of a local franchise that has gone out of business.
- Mr. Kelley represented a petroleum manufacturer in a product liability case alleging injuries from lead pigment; the case was ultimately dismissed.
- He has defended an international automobile company in product warranty and product liability cases, all of which have been favorably resolved or dismissed.
- Mr. Kelley has represented a large financial services company in numerous cases involving its Maryland real estate portfolio.
- He defended a national office products manufacturer in breach-of-contract cases brought by a multinational customer and a material supplier; the claims were resolved favorably.
- Mr. Kelley represented the owner of a shopping center in an insurance coverage action brought against a property insurance company after snowfall caused damage to the center’s roof. The client won on appeal, and insurance funds were paid.
- He defended a commercial food service manufacturer against allegations that a product defect caused a fire that destroyed a national fast food chain’s restaurant. The case was favorably resolved.
- Mr. Kelley defended a manufacturer of custom built industrial generator systems from allegations that it violated Maryland Equipment Dealer Contract when it terminated a local sales representative; the case was favorably resolved.
Among the reported cases in which Mr. Kelley has represented clients are:
- Smith v. Lead Industries Ass’n, 386 Md. 12 (2005)
- Chang v. Brethren Mutual Ins. Co., 168 Md. App 534 (2006)
- AT&T Communications of Md., Inc. v. Comptroller of Md., 176 Md. App. 22 (2007)
- Schuele v. Case Handyman and Remodeling Servs., LLC, 412 Md. 555 (2010)
Leadership
Mr. Kelley serves the legal professional in a variety of capacities. He has been an active member of the Defense Research Institute for several years. In 2011, Mr. Kelley was elected to DRI's National Board of Directors. Prior to that, he served for two years as Chair of DRI's Diversity Committee, and has organized the DRI’s Diversity For Success Seminar and Corporate Expo for the past six years. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.
Mr. Kelley has played a lead role in organizing events for the Just The Beginning Foundation (JTBF), a national non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting greater diversity in the field of law. He was a member of the JTBF Conference Executive Planning Committee on behalf of the State of Maryland, and in this capacity helped organize its eighth biennial conference, which took place in Washington in 2008.
Since 2009, Mr. Kelley has been named by Maryland Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” for his business litigation practice.
Community Service
Mr. Kelley regularly represents clients on a pro bono basis. He recently served as co-counsel with Legal Aid in a large case arising from the City of Baltimore’s plans to raze low-income housing in West Baltimore to make room for a multi-billion dollar development. On behalf of the residents, Mr. Kelley and co-counsel sued the city in federal court, alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act; the claims were resolved favorably for the plaintiffs.
Mr. Kelley has also worked to combat inner-city poverty by encouraging entrepreneurship among young people. Since 2009, he served on an advisory board of the Sylvan Beach Foundation, a nonprofit that teaches at-risk youth business strategy and entrepreneurial skills, with the goal that each participant in the foundation’s program will establish a business. In particular, Mr. Kelley advises Taharka Brothers Ice Cream, a successful Sylvan Beach venture run by Baltimore youth.
After graduating from William and Mary Law School, Mr. Kelley served as judicial law clerk to The Honorable Andrew Sonner of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Prior to joining Tydings & Rosenberg, he served as a litigation associate at a small Baltimore law firm.
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