Brenden P. Kelley, Esq.

About Brenden P. Kelley, Esq.

Brenden P. Kelley is an Of Counsel attorney at Kelley Ferraro, LLC. He represents individuals, families, and businesses in high-stakes disputes, especially when the stakes are personal, the facts are complex, and the system feels stacked against the client.

Brendan’s return to Kelley Ferraro is both professional and deeply personal. The firm was co founded by Brendan’s late father, Michael V. Kelley. Returning to the firm twenty years after his father’s passing is a full-circle moment rooted in legacy, responsibility, and purpose. Brenden built his practice from the ground up and brings that same client-first intensity to Kelley Ferraro while continuing to serve clients in his core areas.

Brendan’s practice is grounded in one belief: justice is personal. He is known for clear, honest counseling and a deeply empathetic approach. He takes time to understand what a client is carrying financially, professionally, and personally, then builds a plan with realistic expectations and relentless preparation. His matters include business disputes and contract litigation, legal malpractice claims involving attorney negligence and conflicts of interest, and catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. He also supports the firm’s nationwide platform through work on complex litigation matters, including mass torts, products liability, and class actions.

Before joining Kelley Ferraro as Of Counsel, Brenden founded Brenden Kelley Law in 2022. He developed a results-driven practice focused on business law and legal malpractice litigation, with a record of achieving client objectives in business matters and aggressively representing victims of attorney misconduct.

“Justice is personal—count on me to treat it that way.”

— Brenden P. Kelley

Practice Areas

• Business Law
• Civil Litigation
• Legal Malpractice
• Catastrophic Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Wrongful Death
• Class Actions
• Mass Torts
• Products Liability

Bar Admissions

• Ohio (Supreme Court of Ohio), 2016
• Pennsylvania (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania), 2022
• District of Columbia (D.C. Court of Appeals), 2023

Federal Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States, 2023
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 2016
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 2024

Education

• University of Notre Dame (Mendoza College of Business) – MBA Candidate, Expected 2027
• Cleveland State University College of Law – J.D., 2015
• Washington & Jefferson College – B.A., 2012

Honors & Recognition

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2024–2026
• Litigation Counsel of America Fellow, 2024–2026
• Super Lawyers – Rising Star, 2022–2026
• Litigation Lawyer of the Year (Lawyer Monthly), 2022
• Crain’s Cleveland Business – 20 in Their Twenties, 2020
• Premier Lawyers of America – Excellence in Complex Litigation, 2019–2020
• Association of America’s Top Lawyers – Top 40 Under 40 in Business Law, 2018

Bar & Legal Leadership

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

• Mental Health & Wellness Committee (2019–Present)
• Board of Directors (2025–Present)
• Ethics & Professionalism Committee (2019–Present)

Ohio State Bar Association

• Ethics Committee (2021–Present)
• Access to Justice Committee (2021–Present)
• OSBA Leadership Academy (2020)

Ohio State Bar Foundation

• Fellow (2023–Present)
• Fellowship Program (2023)

Geauga County Bar Association

• Attorney Grievance Committee (2020–2026)

Academic & Alumni Involvement

Washington & Jefferson College

• Board of Trustees (2025–Present)
• Alumni Executive Council (2016–2025); President (2023–2025)
• Governance Chair (2021–2023)

Cleveland State University College of Law

• Board of Visitors (2021–Present)
• Executive Committee (2022–Present)

A practice built around one belief: Justice is personal

Clients should feel protected, respected, and clearly informed at every step. Brenden does not view legal problems as case files. He views them as turning points in a person’s life or business.

That mindset comes from lived experience. Brenden has seen firsthand how devastating it can be when lawyers pursue their own interests instead of their clients. It shaped the work he chose later: holding professionals accountable, guiding business owners through risk and growth, and fighting for clients in high-impact litigation where outcomes change lives.