Overview

Kelly F. O'Donnell is an associate in the Business Organizations and Finance and the Trusts and Estates practice areas.  In the corporate arena, Kelly works with businesses of all sizes and assists start-ups with understanding the legal requirements necessary to run their operations. Her practice includes mergers and acquisitions, contract review and negotiation, corporate formation, customer and vendor agreements and negotiations, protection of intellectual property, corporate succession planning and tax planning advice.  Kelly has represented both private, family owned businesses and international publicly held companies in their acquisitions and related tax planning.  Kelly also enjoys working with start ups and entrepreneurs to bring their businesses to fruition, with advice based on practicality and keeping initial costs in mind.

As a member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates practice, Kelly advises clients regarding business succession planning, health care decision-making, and estate planning. Kelly advises both public charities and private foundations on issues of formation, exempt status and acquisitions of all types. Kelly also engages in probate litigation involving both family disputes and business issues. 

As a member of the firm's Health Care Department, Kelly advises hospitals and other providers on emergency risk management issues.

During law school, Kelly was a judicial intern for the U.S. District Court and Honorable William I. Garfinkel.  Kelly also worked as a student attorney at the Community Economic Development Clinic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she provided transactional legal services to nonprofit and community-based organizations. Additionally, she was a legal intern for Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice in Honolulu and for the Office of the Ombudsman in Belize.  A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Kelly received the Award for Exceptional Service for her work as the Production Editor on the University of Michigan Journal of Race & Law.

Contact Info

  • Bridgeport
    850 Main Street
    P.O. Box 7006
    Bridgeport, CT 06601-7006

    • Professional Affiliations

    Connecticut Bar Association - Business Law section, Treasurer

    Greater Bridgeport Bar Association

    New Haven County Bar Association

    Association for Corporate Growth

    Community Involvement

    Discovery Museum - Board of Trustees

    Thrive, Bridgeport Regional Business Council's Young Professionals Initiative - Founding Member

    Bridgeport Regional Business Council's Leadership Greater Bridgeport - Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Secretary

    City Lights and Company - President of the Board of Directors

    Ernest C. Trefz School of Business Advisory Board

    Honors & Recognitions

    Super Lawyers "2019 Rising Star" in the area of Business and Corporate 

    Bridgeport Regional Business Council "2018 Rising Star Leadership" award  

    Connecticut Law Tribune "New Leader in the Law" award, 2018

    Fairfield County Business Journal's "40 Under 40" award, 2017

    Award for Exceptional Service as the Production Editor for the University of Michigan Journal of Race & Law

    News & Insights

    Case Studies

    • Core Values Drive Family Business Transformation

      Pullman & Comley has worked with Santa Energy on many fronts over the years, ranging from assistance on real estate and environmental matters to general corporate and financing counsel  that support the company’s continued expansion to diversify energy services across the Northeast.  

      09.24.2019
    • Providing Needed Guidance to Entrepreneurs and Startups 

      Pullman & Comley is participating in a number of endeavors to help Connecticut entrepreneurs and startups launch and build new businesses.

    Bar and Court Admissions

    • Connecticut
    • Massachusetts 

    Education

    University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2014

    University of Connecticut, B.A., summa cum laude, 2011, Phi Beta Kappa

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