James P. Kelly, Partner |
Email:
JPKelly@mkm-law.com
JPKelly@mkm-law.com
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JAMES P. KELLY, graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He
received his Juris Doctorate degree from Illinois Institute of Technology-Chicago Kent School of Law. He was admitted to
practice law in Illinois in 1991, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 1995, in the
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995, and in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in
2005.
PRACTICE AREAS: Banking, Commercial and Collection Law, Litigation, Local Government, Land Use, Real Estate,
Bankruptcy and Criminal Defense.
EXPERIENCE: Before attending law school, Mr. Kelly served as a United States Army Officer for 12 years attaining the
rank of Captain. Following his service in the Army, he worked as Director of Public Safety for National Louis University.
After graduating from Chicago-Kent School of Law, Mr. Kelly became an Assistant State’s Attorney and Senior Litigation
Attorney in McHenry County. In that role, Mr. Kelly represented the McHenry County Board, the McHenry County
Sheriff, the McHenry County Recorder, the McHenry County Clerk, the McHenry County Planning and Development
Department, and the McHenry County Transportation Department. He reviewed and responded to FOIA requests,
advised the County Board on parliamentary procedures and acted as the Board Parliamentarian. Mr. Kelly also reviewed
contract solicitations and bids as well as negotiated contracts. Mr. Kelly advised McHenry County on land use and zoning
law, ethics law, employment matters, and public contracting. Mr. Kelly represented McHenry County in federal and state
courts as well as before various administrative agencies, such as the Illinois Environmental Agency, the Illinois Commerce
Commission, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
As a founding Partner of Matuszewich, Kelly & McKeever, LLP, Mr. Kelly’s practice focuses on general litigation,
commercial litigation, collections, government and township law, bankruptcy, family law, and criminal defense. Mr. Kelly
has represented various numerous local governments. Mr. Kelly’s representation of local governments ranges from
attending open meetings of the board and subcommittee meetings to providing advice on a wide range of issues. Mr. Kelly
has litigated complex land use cases, contract disputes, employment claims and personal injury claims brought against
governmental bodies. In addition, Mr. Kelly serves as the FOIA officer for several public bodies. Mr. Kelly also conducts
seminars on compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, Illinois ethics laws, avoidance of
civil rights litigation, and preparing budget and appropriation ordinances.
MEMBERSHIPS: Mr. Kelly is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the McHenry County Bar Association.
Mr. Kelly is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Commercial Banking and Bankruptcy Law Section Council and
has served on the Illinois State Bar Association Local Government Law Section Council. He also has been a member of the
ISBA General Assembly. He is a member of the Illinois Township Attorneys Association and is currently the Editor of the
Newsletter. He served on the Illinois Attorney General’s Environmental Network. He has also been recognized by Prairie
State Legal Services for his pro bono work; Mr. Kelly is also involved in the community with the Crystal Lake Lions Club,
a volunteer service organization which offers service to the local and international communities.
WRITTEN WORK:
Opinion on Open Meetings Act - Destruction of Closed Session Tapes
Memorandum on Update on Alledis v. Lisle Township Road Dist. Tax Levies, 2008
Memorandum on Open Meetings Act, 2007
Article on Hiring a Township Attorney by James P. Kelly - September, 2011
received his Juris Doctorate degree from Illinois Institute of Technology-Chicago Kent School of Law. He was admitted to
practice law in Illinois in 1991, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 1995, in the
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995, and in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in
2005.
PRACTICE AREAS: Banking, Commercial and Collection Law, Litigation, Local Government, Land Use, Real Estate,
Bankruptcy and Criminal Defense.
EXPERIENCE: Before attending law school, Mr. Kelly served as a United States Army Officer for 12 years attaining the
rank of Captain. Following his service in the Army, he worked as Director of Public Safety for National Louis University.
After graduating from Chicago-Kent School of Law, Mr. Kelly became an Assistant State’s Attorney and Senior Litigation
Attorney in McHenry County. In that role, Mr. Kelly represented the McHenry County Board, the McHenry County
Sheriff, the McHenry County Recorder, the McHenry County Clerk, the McHenry County Planning and Development
Department, and the McHenry County Transportation Department. He reviewed and responded to FOIA requests,
advised the County Board on parliamentary procedures and acted as the Board Parliamentarian. Mr. Kelly also reviewed
contract solicitations and bids as well as negotiated contracts. Mr. Kelly advised McHenry County on land use and zoning
law, ethics law, employment matters, and public contracting. Mr. Kelly represented McHenry County in federal and state
courts as well as before various administrative agencies, such as the Illinois Environmental Agency, the Illinois Commerce
Commission, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
As a founding Partner of Matuszewich, Kelly & McKeever, LLP, Mr. Kelly’s practice focuses on general litigation,
commercial litigation, collections, government and township law, bankruptcy, family law, and criminal defense. Mr. Kelly
has represented various numerous local governments. Mr. Kelly’s representation of local governments ranges from
attending open meetings of the board and subcommittee meetings to providing advice on a wide range of issues. Mr. Kelly
has litigated complex land use cases, contract disputes, employment claims and personal injury claims brought against
governmental bodies. In addition, Mr. Kelly serves as the FOIA officer for several public bodies. Mr. Kelly also conducts
seminars on compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, Illinois ethics laws, avoidance of
civil rights litigation, and preparing budget and appropriation ordinances.
MEMBERSHIPS: Mr. Kelly is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the McHenry County Bar Association.
Mr. Kelly is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Commercial Banking and Bankruptcy Law Section Council and
has served on the Illinois State Bar Association Local Government Law Section Council. He also has been a member of the
ISBA General Assembly. He is a member of the Illinois Township Attorneys Association and is currently the Editor of the
Newsletter. He served on the Illinois Attorney General’s Environmental Network. He has also been recognized by Prairie
State Legal Services for his pro bono work; Mr. Kelly is also involved in the community with the Crystal Lake Lions Club,
a volunteer service organization which offers service to the local and international communities.
WRITTEN WORK:
Opinion on Open Meetings Act - Destruction of Closed Session Tapes
Memorandum on Update on Alledis v. Lisle Township Road Dist. Tax Levies, 2008
Memorandum on Open Meetings Act, 2007
Article on Hiring a Township Attorney by James P. Kelly - September, 2011
