Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s largest workplace law firms, has taken another proactive step in expanding its Collegiate and Professional Sports Practice by hiring Paul Kelly as a partner in the firm’s Boston office.
Kelly brings many years of senior management experience in collegiate and professional sports in addition to being a seasoned and highly regarded litigator in the Boston area.
He joins Jackson Lewis from College Hockey, Inc., the educational and promotional arm of NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey, representing 58 colleges and universities across the United States, where he created and established the entity and served as its Executive Director since November 2007. Before joining College Hockey, Inc., Kelly was Executive Director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association for two years, representing the 740 professional hockey players of the NHL. An accomplished trial lawyer, Kelly has also represented several professional and college athletes in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings. Included amongst his past clients is Marty McSorley, a veteran NHL defenseman who was charged with assault while playing for the Boston Bruins during a game in Vancouver in February 2000.
“I am thrilled to join Jackson Lewis and return to the full-time practice of law,” said Kelly. “I am looking forward to contributing to the firm’s already impressive national sports law practice. The changing economics of professional sports along with ever shifting collegiate sports guidelines create an increasing demand for skilled representation to institutions and sports organizations.”
In addition to his sports industry experience, Kelly has practiced law in Boston for over 25 years. He began his legal career at Ropes & Gray and spent a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting several important and high-profile federal criminal cases, including the successful prosecution of Alan Eagleson, the former head of the NHLPA and prominent sports agent, on charges of fraud and embezzlement. Upon leaving the Department of Justice in 1996, Kelly joined Foley Hoag LLP as a trial lawyer. In June 2000, along with two additional partners, Kelly founded the specialty white collar criminal defense and litigation boutique of Kelly, Libby & Hoopes. He has extensive litigation experience including white collar criminal defense, government investigations, internal investigations, corporate compliance, workplace violence, complex civil litigation and crisis management.
Andrew C. Pickett, Managing Partner of Jackson Lewis’ Boston office, said that “Paul’s experience and contacts in professional and collegiate sports opens up new opportunities for Jackson Lewis to expand our growing sports practice group.”
Kelly’s presence will clearly compliment the achievements of Gregg Clifton, a partner and co-chairman of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Practice Group.
Clifton joined the firm almost two years ago. He has extensive experience in the industry as well. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Clifton spent six years as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Team Sports for Gaylord Sports Management. He has also served as Vice President and Senior Counsel for Athlete Representation at Octagon, a national sports marketing firm, and as President of the Athlete and Entertainment Division for famed sports attorney Bob Woolf’s firm, Woolf Associates, in Boston.
Under Clifton’s guidance the firm has excelled at advising college and university level clients on legal matters related to NCAA and NAIA compliance issues as well as regulations and the application of federal laws such as Title IX and the Equal Pay Act. On the professional level, the firm assists franchises with the ever increasing application of federal and state law to the world of professional sports.
“I am very pleased that Paul will be joining Jackson Lewis where he will bring his considerable expertise and experience,” said Patrick L. Vaccaro, Firm-wide Managing Partner. “I am very proud of how far the firm’s Collegiate and Professional Sports Practice group has come in such a relatively short period of time. Paul is uniquely positioned to move us to an even higher level.”
