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
Professional Affiliations
Connecticut Bar Association - Business Law section, Treasurer
Greater Bridgeport Bar Association
New Haven County Bar Association
Association for Corporate Growth
Community Involvement
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 - Past President of the Board of Directors
Ernest C. Trefz School of Business Advisory Board
Honors & Recognitions
Moffly Media Top Lawyer in Fairfield County, 2021 - Tax Law
Recipient of the The Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" award, 2021
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
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Press Releases
Case Studies
Practice Areas
Industries
Bar and Court Admissions
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
Education
Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, LL.M. in taxation, 2019
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2014
University of Connecticut, B.A., summa cum laude, 2011, Phi Beta Kappa