Firm Profile

Kelly & Co. is a general law practice based in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Whether your needs relate to high-stakes civil litigation, family law, business law, real estate or estate planning, Kelly & Co. has a full range of services in order to meet your goals.

Kelly & Co. has been dedicated to providing exceptional legal services for over seventy years. The reason for this is simple: we're committed to providing quality legal advice in our clients' best interest. We realize that navigating the legal landscape is a daunting experience - but it does not have to be. With our cross-disciplinary legal knowledge, perseverance and devotion to advocating on behalf of our clients, we are fully equipped to help you with whatever your legal issue may be.

Kelly & Co. began in 1951 with the firm's late founder, John Joseph Kelly, LL.B., Q.C., L.S.M. While it has undergone a number of iterations since that time, Kelly & Co. has maintained its commitment to providing superior legal service in all areas of law. We realize that legal issues can be complex, which is why we at Kelly & Co. begin every case with an open and candid discussion, so that our clients are aware of the benefits and the risks they face. Our lawyers are supported by a knowledgeable, hard-working team of paralegals, law clerks and administrative assistants dedicated to meeting your needs for legal services efficiently and economically.

Approach

We at Kelly & Co. realize that at the core of every file is one thing: the client. That is why we assess every case by focusing on the core goals and devising an approach that will work best for that client. We understand that legal issues can be complicated; simplifying the problem and helping our clients understand what they are facing is important to us. Whether our clients require proactive advice, are responding to a lawsuit, wish to reach a fair settlement or present the strongest case possible, we have the experience and tools that will help each client get there.

Firm Inception

John Joseph Kelly, LL.B., Q.C., L.S.M.

The founder of Kelly & Co., the late John Joseph Kelly, was called to the Bar in 1951. A trained lawyer, J. Joseph Kelly was a born advocate who practiced all across Ontario in his sixty-three years of dedication to the law.

Over the course of his long-running career, J. Joseph Kelly acted as City Solicitor for the City of Sudbury and later as solicitor for The Waterloo County Board of Education and The Corporation of the City of Kitchener. J. Joseph Kelly practiced extensively in municipal and real estate law and was a Certified Specialist in both Criminal and Civil litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada.

J. Joseph Kelly appeared before numerous boards and tribunals and in all levels of Courts in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2001, J. Joseph Kelly was granted a lifetime membership to the Law Society of Upper Canada and was the first lawyer outside of Toronto to receive the Law Society Medal for his significant contribution to the profession. He was a two-time President of the Waterloo Law Association and the only person granted a lifetime membership to it.

While J. Joseph Kelly's shrewd advice and legal ingenuity are sorely missed, he instilled these traits in every lawyer he mentored.

01 Contact

At first contact we will usually put you in touch with a qualified lawyer there and then. If not, we will call you back or schedule and appointment.

02 Initial Discussion

We will see if we can help with your issue by discussing it with you over the phone. While we can't give you legal advice, there is no charge and no obligation for you to retain our services. If it seems like we can help we will advise you how we will work with you and schedule an appointment.

03 Initial Appointment

Our next step is to meet with you personally and start work. This will usually involve a discussion of our fees, executing our retainer agreement, a review of your documents, legal advice and our next steps.

04 Progression Cycle

As your case progresses we will work with you and keep you apprised of any unexpected changes so that there are no unexpected fees. Depending on your situation, this could involve any number of steps (drafting documents, attending court, settlement discussions, progress updates) necessary to get you the best outcome possible.

05 Best Outcome

Before any resolution, we will consult with you and make sure that you understand your options to come to the best resolution possible.