Jonathan J. Kelson is a partner in the Litigation and Intellectual Property Departments.

Mr. Kelson practices in the areas of commercial and general civil litigation and intellectual property. He has represented clients in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels in a variety of matters, including contract and business disputes, insurance coverage and defense, employment litigation, real estate and title litigation, unfair trade practice matters and business torts, trade secrets and intellectual property. Mr. Kelson regularly defends insureds in professional liability, product liability and personal injury actions, and has represented attorneys in grievance proceedings. He also represents clients in alternative dispute resolution forums, including arbitration and mediation. Apart from litigation, Mr. Kelson counsels clients on legal issues across a range of areas, including contracts, insurance, employment and real estate matters.

Mr. Kelson is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York and the District of Columbia. He is active in state and local bar activities and has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section, Co-Chair of its Insurance Law Committee and Chair of the Stamford Local Unit.  

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kelson was a legal research clerk with the Connecticut Superior Court.

Representative Matters

·         Representation of condominium developer in which trial and appellate courts permitted the firm’s client to utilize easements in the development of its multimillion dollar complex

·         Representation of Fortune 500 telecommunications company in the defense of a class action related to telephone directory advertising

·         Representation of public company and its officers in the defense of a class action arising out of a merger resulting in a favorable settlement following discovery of critical information beneficial to clients’ defenses

·         Representation of business owner in dispute with commercial real estate broker in which jury found in favor of the firm’s client on the claims against it and awarded damages on the client’s counterclaims

·         Representation of attorneys in legal malpractice actions in which firm won dismissal of complaints prior to trial

·         Representation of appliance manufacturer in defense of product liability action and indemnification claims by co-defendants

·         Representation of insurers in claims involving breach of the duty to defend, bad faith and statutory unfair insurance practices, and claims for extra-contractual damages

·         Representation of software developer in action involving claims of breach of license agreement, misappropriation of trade secrets and copyright infringement

·         Representation of general contractor in connection with the foreclosure of mechanic’s liens and defense of counterclaims

·         Representation of property owners in land and title disputes involving priority issues, easements, adverse possession and trespass

·         Representation of medical professional in dispute with former business partner

·         Service as "local counsel" for non-Connecticut-based firms in state and federal litigation matters

Reported/Notable Cases

Harbour Pointe, LLC v. Harbour Landing Condo. Ass'n, Inc., 300 Conn. 254, 14 A.3d 284 (2011)

D'Angelo Dev. & Const. Co. v. Cordovano, 278 Conn. 237, 897 A.2d 81 (2006)

Aguinaldo v. Warner, 140 Conn. App. 264, 58 A.3d 373 (2013)

Noble v. City of Norwalk, Superior Court, judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk, 2012 WL 4123150 (Aug. 28, 2012, Jennings, J.T.R.)

Pevzner v. Shafir, Superior Court, judicial district of New Haven, 2011 WL 5223037 (Oct. 7, 2011, Alexander, J.) (52 Conn. L. Rptr. 715)

S.K. Lavery Appliance Co. v. ASKO, Inc., Superior Court, judicial district of Hartford, 2011 WL 3586580 (July 19, 2011, Wagner, J.T.R.)

Silvio Benedetto Associates, Inc. v. LaRusso, Superior Court, judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk, 2009 WL 4916514 (Dec. 1, 2009, Mottolese, J.)

Professional Affiliations

Connecticut Bar Association - Executive Committee, Young Lawyers Section (Co-Chair, Insurance Law Committee)

New York State Bar Association

Fairfield County Bar Association     

Speaking Engagements

“Mediating Insurance Coverage Disputes” - Co-Chair, Connecticut Bar Association-Young Lawyers Section, March 2012

“Insurance Bad Faith Claims and Extra-Contractual Liability in Connecticut” – Moderator/Co-Chair, Connecticut Bar Association-Young Lawyers Section, October 2012

Community Involvement

Saugatuck Nursery School – Board of Directors

Honors & Awards

Recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a “Rising Star” in the area of business litigation in 2011, 2012 and 2013.  For more information on the selection process used by Super Lawyers and statistics, please visit http://www.superlawyers.com/connecticut/selection_details.html.