MICHAEL A. KELLY
Partner
mkelly@ksplawpc.com | 401.490.7334 ext. 101
With more than 41 years of experience successfully litigating construction, real estate, environmental, business, and administrative law cases, Michael is a recognized and revered attorney in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
In 2002, after nearly 25 years practicing with RI-based law firms and then serving as general counsel for Cumberland Farms/Gulf Oil, Inc., Michael opened his own firm, the Law Offices of Michael A. Kelly, P.C. (now Kelly, Souza & Parmenter, P.C., Attorneys at Law). His goal: to meet the market’s need for proven legal and litigation expertise that prioritized client service and success.
At KS&P Law, Michael serves as lead counsel for some of Rhode Island’s biggest developers before municipal zoning and planning boards in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Massachusetts and Connecticut Departments of Environmental Protection, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Michael is also the lead litigator and case supervisor for the firm’s real estate, construction, and business dispute litigation before federal and state courts.
Michael was named Lawyer of the Year by RI Lawyers Weekly in 2012.
Past Experience
From 1978 to 1995, Michael practiced with the law firm of Adler, Pollock & Sheehan in Providence. As a associate and partner in the litigation department, he successfully tried hundreds of construction, environmental, and real estate cases. Several of those cases set legal precedents, becoming benchmarks in the areas of real estate development, land use, environmental, and construction law. Specifically, the cases of the L.A. Ray Realty, Pound Hill Corp., and Vito established significant precedents in respect to the preservation of landowner’s constitutional rights. In addition to these cases, Michael has represented many large local and national construction companies in litigation and arbitration, securing several multi-million dollar awards against both federal and state agencies.
Upon leaving Adler, Pollock, & Sheehan, Michael served as General Counsel for Cumberland Farms/Gulf Oil, Inc. In this role, Michael oversaw the permitting process for hundreds of retail gas and convenience stores. Additionally, Michael handled and supervised all of the company’s environmental claims and tort claims.
Practice Areas
Corporate & Business
Commercial & Civil Litigation
Construction Law
Real Estate & Development
- Administrative Law
- Environmental Law
- Development & Permitting
- Land Use Litigation
Court Admissions
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
Federal Courts in Rhode Island
Federal Courts in Massachusetts
First Circuit Court of Appeals
Education
Georgetown University (J.D. 1978)
Lehigh University (B.A. 1975)
magna cum laude
Professional Affiliations
Rhode Island Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
Appointed/Elected Commissions
Member, Board of Directors of the New England Convenience Store Association
Chairman, State of Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission (1994-)
Chairman, State of Rhode Island Governor’s Advisory Commission on Judicial Appointments (1993-1994)
Associate Member, Construction Industries of Rhode Island (1989-1994)
Member, Rhode Island Rivers Council (1992-1994)
General Counsel, Rhode Island Port Authority & Economic Development Corporation (1992-1994)
Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association Construction Industry
Member, Town Council, Cumberland, Rhode Island (1980-1982)
Reported Cases
L.A. Ray Realty v. The Town Council of the Town of Cumberland, 698 A.2d 202 (R.I. 1999)
Pound Hill Corp. v. Perl, 668 A.2d 1260 (R.I. 1997)
Palazzolo v. Coastal Resources Mgmt., 657 A.2d 1050 (R.I. 1996)
Vito v. Dept. of Environmental Mgmt., 589 A.2d 809 (R.I. 1991)
Bendick v. Cambio, 558 A.2d 941 (R.I. 1989)
Baker & Bro. v. Orgonics, 554 A.2d 196 (R.I. 1989)
Washington Highway v. Bendick, 576 A.2d 115 (R.I. 1991)
Eastern Motor Inns v. Ricci, 565 A.2d 1265 (R.I. 1990)
Textron v. Aetna, 754 A.2d 742 (R.I. 2000)
Corso Excavating v. Poulin, 747 A.2d 994 (R.I. 2000)
City of Woonsocket v. Forte Bros., Inc., 642 A.2d 1158 (R.I. 1995)
Forte Bros. v. Ash & Assoc., 612 A.2d 717 (R.I. 1994)
Town of N. Smithfield v. Susan Marie Builders, 599 A.2d 319 (R.I. 1992)
Future Development v. Pontiac Ent., 591 A.2d 387 (R.I. 1991)
In re Advisory to Governor, 668 A.2d 1246 (R.I. 1997)
Cumberland Farms v. Mayo Corp., 694 A.2d 752 (R.I. 1999)
Forte Brothers v. National Amusements, 525 A.2d 1301 (R.I. 1988)
Forecaster, Inc. v. Woonsocket Co., 505 A.2d 1379 (R.I. 1987)
Ben’s Marine v. Sleek Craft, 502 A.2d 808 (R.I. 1986)
Sullivan v. Empire Equip. Engineering, 492 A.2d 1212 (R.I. 1985)
Nunes v. Meadowbrook Development Co., inc., 807 A.2d 943 (R.I. 2002)
Nunes v. Meadowbrook Development Co., Inc., 824 A.2d 421 (R.I. 2003)
Tonetti Enterprises, Inc. v. Mendon Road Leasing Corp., 2006 Wl 1515840 (R.I.Super. 2006)
Grand Banks Yachts, Ltd., et al. V. Roberts, 2006 Wl 2927318 (D.R.I. 2006)
Brochu v. Santis, 939 A.2d 449 (R.I. 2008)
Cornell, et al v. Marvelle, et al, 2008 Wl 3312294 (Mass.Super. 2008)
Plainfield Pike Gas & Convenience, LLC v. 1889 Plainfield Pike Realty Corp., 994 A.2d 54 (R.I. 2010)
Ohi Asset (CT) Lender, LLC, v. Shine, 2011 Wl 1466310 (D.R.I. 2011)
CMI Associates, LLC, v. Regional Financing Co., LLC, 775 F.Supp.2d 281 (D.Mass. 2011)
Moreau v. Flanders, 15 A.3d 565 (R.I. 2011)
West, et al v. McDonald, 18 A.3d 526 (R.I. 2011)
Narragansett Improvement Company, et al v. Wheeler et al, 21 A.3d 430 (R.I. 2011)
Narragansett Electric Company v. Minardi, 21 A.3d 274 (R.I. 2011)
Nunes v. Meadowbrook Development Co., Inc., 24 A.3d 539 (R.I. 2011)
North End Realty, LLC v. Matttos, et al, 25 A.3d 527 (R.I. 2011)
CMI Associates, LLC, v. Regional Refinancing Co., LLC, 775 F. Supp.2d 281 (D.Mass. 2011)
David F. Miller and Miller’s Auto Body, Inc. v. Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance, et al, C.A. No.: 06-3336 (RI 2006)
Modern Floors, Inc. v. Superior Renalty, Inc. et al, C.A. No.: KB-2014-0222 (R.I. 2014)
Kurn, et al v. York, et al, C.A. No.: PC 13-5432 (R.I.Super. 2015)
Receivership Matters:
Calcagni v. Fleet Construction Co., Inc., C.A. No. 10-2078
Richmond Holding Corporation v. Richmond Ready Mix, Inc., C.A. No. 08-0616
Demetrios B. Haseotes v. V.S. Haseotes & Sons Limited Partnership, et al, C.A. No. 04-2524
Marra v. Atomic Catering, Inc., et al, C.A. No. 10-1783 – 10-1790
Lindemann v. John P. Caito Corporation, Inc., C.A. No. 11-0005
Anthony F. Rosciti, Jr., v. South Shore Utility Contractors, Inc., C.A. No. 06-2623