Samuel C. Kelly was born in Bruce, Mississippi on July 5, 1961. He received his B.A. in 1983 from the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and Phi Kappa Phi. He obtained his J.D. in 1988 from the University of Mississippi School of Law, Magna Cum Laude, where he was Assistant Editor-In-Chief and Research Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal; President, Law School Student Body; and President, Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Upon graduating from law school, he served as law clerk to Judge Robert J. Yock of the United States Claims Court in Washington, D.C. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit. He co-authored Mississippi Construction Law in 1993 and Bonds and Liens on Mississippi Construction Projects, Lorman Business Center, Inc. in 1994. Sam is a member of the Mississippi State Bar; the Federal Bar Association; a Former Member and Past President of the Jackson Young Lawyers Association; the American Bar Association, Torts and Insurance Practice Section; the Forum Committee on the Construction Industry; the Hinds County Bar Association where he served on the Board of Directors from 1994 to 1996. Sam is an active member of the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors, the largest construction trade association in Mississippi, where he serves as General Counsel. Sam is also active in the Mississippi Road Builders and the Associated General Contractors of Mississippi. Mr. Kelly's practice focuses on the construction industry and includes contract preparation and negotiations, bid protests, claim preparation and evaluation and dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Speeches & Publications

• Co-Author: Mississippi Construction Law (1993); Bonds and Liens on Mississippi Construction Projects, Lorman Business Center, Inc. (1994)

Community & Professional Activities

• Mississippi State Bar
• Federal Bar Association
• Jackson Young Lawyers Association, Former Member, President (1995-96)
• American Bar Association (Torts and Insurance Practice Section, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, Section on Litigation)
• Hinds County Bar Association, Board of Directors (1994-96)
• Associated Builders and Contractors, Board of Directors (2003-04)
• Madison County Schools, President of PTO for Madison Avenue Elementary, Madison Middle School and Rosa Scott
• Mississippi ABC, General Counsel