David S. Kelly was born in Norman, Oklahoma in 1949 and admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1976. He is a member of the casualty litigation group. His practice includes federal and state civil trials, mass tort, class action and transportation law (railroad).
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971 from Mississippi College and a Juris Doctor in 1976 from Louisiana State University School of Law. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Order of the Coif. From 1974 to 1976, he was a member of the Louisiana Law Review, and from 1975 to 1976, Associate Editor of, the Louisiana Law Review.
Mr. Kelly served as an instructor of Legal Research Methods at Louisiana State University from 1975 to 1976 and as law clerk to the Honorable James L. Dennis, associate justice, Louisiana Supreme Court from 1976 to 1977.
Mr. Kelly is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. He was named New Orleans Best Lawyers® Railroad Law Lawyer of the Year, 2014. He has been named in The Best Lawyers in America® (Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, and Railroad Law) since 2005 and was recognized by Louisiana Super Lawyers® 2006 for his work in Civil Litigation Defense, and again in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 for his work in Civil Litigation Defense, Transportation/Maritime, and Class Action/Mass Torts.
Selected as a “Top Lawyer” in New Orleans by New Orleans Magazine for Railroad Law, 2015
New Orleans Best Lawyers ®, New Orleans, LA – Railroad Law “Lawyer of the Year”, 2014
The Best Lawyers in America ®, New Orleans, LA – Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Railroad Law, since 2005
Louisiana Super Lawyers ®, New Orleans, LA – Civil Litigation Defense; Transportation/Maritime; Class Action/Mass Torts, 2007 – 2010, 2012 -2016
Louisiana State University School of Law, Order of the Coif, 1974-76, Law Review, Associate Editor, 1975-76
Louisiana Supreme Court, Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable James L. Dennis, 1976-77
AV ® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
One of the top lawyers in New Orleans Magazine for insurance – class actions, complex and multi-district litigation, 2009
David Kelly has been published in New Orleans Magazine as one of the top lawyers in New Orleans for his work in insurance-class actions, complex and multi-district litigation.
