Tag Archives: Suisman Shapiro

Suisman Shapiro Celebrates Two Kelly’s—Kristi D. of Old Lyme and Carolyn P. —for Achievements in Law

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Carolyn Kelly, left, and Kristi D. Kelly are being honored by Suisman Shapiro as leaders in their field.

NEW LONDON–Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law this month will honor two unrelated attorneys with the same last name — Carolyn P. Kelly and Kristi D. Kelly — for their achievements and leadership in the legal profession. 

The firm in a press release said the women’s legacy of integrity, intellect, and service will be celebrated Thursday, Nov. 13, at Rocks 21 Restaurant in Mystic. 

Old Lyme resident Kristi D. Kelly, a director at the firm, is being recognized nationally for her excellence in labor, employment, and municipal law. She recently received the Women, Influence & Power in Law “Law Firm Collaborative Leadership Award” in Washington D.C. and was honored as an “Unsung Hero” at the New England Legal Awards on October 23 in Boston. 

She represents municipalities including Old Lyme, public agencies, and private employers across Connecticut and has dedicated pro bono service to veterans through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, earning the 2020 Hon. Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Service Award. 

She leads Suisman Shapiro’s Human Resources Committee and will launch the firm’s first Women in Leadership Committee in 2025. 

Eric Callahan described Kristi Kelly’s leadership and compassion as inspiring.

“Together, she and Carolyn [Kelly] exemplify the best of Suisman Shapiro,” he said.

The firm said Carolyn Kelly is retiring following a career defined by her intellectual rigor and pioneering impact on workers’ compensation law. 

An authority under the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the Defense Base Act, she has successfully argued multiple landmark cases before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, helping to shape modern case law. 

The firm said Carolyn Kelly, a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Oregon School of Law as one of only four women in her class, spent her career breaking barriers and mentoring younger lawyers. She is a past President of the Connecticut Bar Association, served on the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors, and is a Trustee Emeritus of the Sea Research Foundation, which operates Mystic Aquarium. 

Eric Callahan, managing partner, said her “… intellect and courage have made a lasting impact on the law and on our firm.” 

Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi Kelly of Old Lyme Named Finalist for 2025 ‘US Women, Influence & Power in Law’ Awards

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Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi D. Kelly is a finalist in the collaborative leadership category of the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards. 

NEW LONDON–Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi D. Kelly has been named a finalist in the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards. 

Suisman Shapiro in a press release said Kelly is a contender in the Law Firm Collaborative Leadership category. The national award honors women attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a sustained commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in the legal profession.

Suisman Shapiro lauded Kelly as a legal advisor, mentor, and advocate whose work spans labor, employment, and municipal law. A director with the firm, she represents municipalities, public agencies, and private employers in matters ranging from collective bargaining and employment investigations to compliance and discrimination claims. She regularly appears before local governments and state and federal administrative bodies, including the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor.

At Suisman Shapiro, Kelly leads the firm’s Human Resources Committee with a focus on increasing diversity and inclusion. This year, she will launch the firm’s inaugural Women in Leadership Committee, a strategic initiative designed to foster mentorship, connection, and career advancement for women at Suisman Shapiro.

Eric W. Callahan, managing director of Suisman Shapiro, said Kelly represents the values the firm strives to uphold. 

“Kristi brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to her work that has had a meaningful impact across our firm,” Callahan said. 

Kelly said collaboration has always been key to how she approaches her work. 

“I’m fortunate to work alongside colleagues, who value mentorship, inclusion, and supporting one another’s growth — both personally and professionally,” she said. 

Before joining Suisman Shapiro, Kelly served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington and as a civilian labor attorney for the U.S. Department of the Army in Alaska.

Kelly is a VA-accredited attorney, who donates pro bono services on behalf of disabled veterans through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. She was honored with the Connecticut Bar Association’s 2020 Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Service Award. She also served as president of the Board of Higher Edge, a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students, and currently sits on the Board of the USS Groton Sail Foundation.

Winners of the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards will be announced at an awards dinner on Oct. 7 during the WIPL Conference in Washington, D.C.

The awards are presented by Corporate Counsel, a national publication of the Law.com network.