Marielise Kelly

Marielise Kelly is an award-winning trial attorney with a track record of success and over twenty five years of experience representing individuals, businesses, and municipalities in a wide array of complex litigation in state and federal courts.

Annually, since 2002, Ms. Kelly has been awarded Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent designation, the highest available rating for legal ability and professional ethics. Ms. Kelly’s professional awards and distinctions include being named to the Massachusetts “Super Lawyer” lists for years including 2014 to the present in the area of general litigation. This is a professional distinction awarded to only five percent of lawyers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She has also been included in Massachusetts Top Women Lawyers lists for multiple years including the current year. Her professional accomplishments include co-trying a plaintiff’s case that resulted in the highest personal injury jury verdict ever awarded in Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

Ms. Kelly has tried and co-tried numerous cases and has been responsible for all phases of pre-trial and trial case preparation, as well as appellate representation of clients. Ms. Kelly’s general litigation practice centers on the defense and prosecution of negligence claims and related issues of insurance coverage, as well as business practices under M.G.L. c. 93A and M.G.L. c. 176D. She has extensive experience in litigation of complex business, commercial and employment disputes. Ms. Kelly also has in-depth knowledge regarding the regulation of business practices of automobile manufacturers and dealers under M.G.L. c. 93B, and she has engaged in multi-district class action litigation on behalf of a major automobile manufacturer. Additionally, she has handled various novel cases and cases of first impression at the trial court level and on appeal.

Ms. Kelly has experience in conducting internal investigations within corporate and municipal settings in an effort to evaluate issues of legal compliance and routinely advises clients on issues related to litigation avoidance, as well as planning and preparing for anticipated, future litigation.

Ms. Kelly has also practiced in the area of criminal law including representing corporations and individuals in a variety of matters, including investigations by federal, state, and local law enforcement into a wide spectrum of issues such as tax, insurance, and healthcare fraud.

Ms. Kelly has substantial experience in arbitration, mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. She is certified as conciliator by the Massachusetts Trial Court Standing Committee of Dispute Resolution.

Ms. Kelly is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of New York, and the State of New Hampshire. She has appeared and argued before the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Massachusetts Superior and District Courts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

In addition to the practice of law, Ms. Kelly is also licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a real estate broker.

Ms. Kelly has provided leadership and assistance to a wide variety of legal, civic, and community organizations. Ms. Kelly is active in multiple bar associations and served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Barnstable Bar Association from 2010 to 2012. Ms. Kelly was a participant in a pro bono program offering assistance to the trial court, and its litigants, through alternative dispute resolution. Her volunteer work has included serving as the attorney member of the Human Rights Committee for the May Institute, a non-profit organization providing services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities from in or about 2008 – 2012. Ms. Kelly has also participated in Citizen Schools’ Eighth Grade Academy where she participated in a reading and writing mentorship program through the Boston Bar Association with low-income middle school students from the Boston Public School system. Ms. Kelly also served as a volunteer for various youth programs offered by the Hyannis Yacht Club, as well as The Cape Cod Swim Club.

Ms. Kelly joined Gargiulo/Rudnick after receiving her law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1991 and became a partner of the firm in 1997. She is a 1988 graduate of Tufts University.