Kelly F. O'Donnell

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

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

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Press Releases