Samuel C. Kelly
Member

Samuel C. Kelly
Member
Biography
Samuel C. Kelly was born in Bruce, Mississippi on July 5, 1961. 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 an active member of and serves as General Counsel to the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors (the largest construction trade association in Mississippi), and the Mississippi Road Builders Association. Sam is also an active member of the Associated General Contractors of Mississippi. Sam’s practice focuses on the construction industry and includes contract preparation and negotiations, bid protests, claim preparation and evaluation and dispute resolution.
In the field of Construction Litigation, Sam has been recognized by Best Lawyers® in America, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers, and Mid-South Super Lawyers®. He was named Best Lawyer® Lawyer of the Year 2012 Jackson-MS in Construction Litigation.
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 former Member and Past President of both the Jackson Young Lawyers Association (1995-1996) and the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar (1999-2000). He served on the Board of Directors for the Capital Area Bar Association from 1994 to 1996. He also served on the Board of Commissioners for the Mississippi Bar from 1998-2001.
Education
- J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law, 1988 Magna Cum Laude (Assistant Editor-In-Chief and Research Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal; President, Law School Student Body)
- B.A., University of Mississippi, 1983 (Phi Kappa Tau, Beta Alpha Psi, Order of Omega, Phi Kappa Phi)
- A.A., Jones County Community College, 1981 (Freshman Class President, Vice-President of Student Body, Hall of Fame)
Admissions
- Mississippi (1988)
- United States District Courts of Mississippi (1988)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1988)
Community & Professional Activities
- Mississippi State Bar
- Jackson Young Lawyers Division, Past President (1999-2000)
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association (Torts and Insurance Practice Section, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, Section on Litigation)
- Capital Area Bar Association, Board of Directors (1994-96)
- Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors, General Counsel
- Madison County Business League, Board of Directors
- Madison County School Board Member
- Madison Avenue Elementary, Madison Middle School, Rosa Scott School; Past President, PTO
- Madison Central Big Blue Booster Club, Past President
- Broadmoor Baptist Church Sunday School Leader, Youth Bible Study Leader
- Mississippi Road Builders Association, General Counsel
Representative Matters
- F. L. Crane & Sons, Inc. v. IKBI, Inc., 630 F.Supp.2d 718 (S.D. Miss 2009)
- Johnson Land Co. v. C.E. Frazier Construction Company, Inc., 925 So.2d 80 ( Miss. 2006)
- Huey Stockstill, Inc. v. Hales, 730 So.2d 539 ( Miss. 1998)
- Matter of Treasure Bay Corp., 205 B.R. 490 (S.D. Miss. 1997)
Speeches & Publications
- Co-Author: Mississippi Construction Law (1993)
- Bonds and Liens on Mississippi Construction Projects, Lorman Business Center, Inc. (1994)
Honors & Awards
- Mississippi Bar Foundation, Fellow
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Best Lawyers in America©: Lawyer of the Year, 2021: Construction Law – Jackson, MS
- Best Lawyers in America©: Lawyer of the Year, 2018: Construction Law – Jackson, MS
- Best Lawyers in America©: Lawyer of the Year, 2015: Litigation- Construction- Jackson, MS
- Best Lawyers in America©: Lawyer of the Year, 2012: Construction Law- Jackson, MS
- Best Lawyers in America©: Commercial Litigation; Construction Law and Litigation-Construction
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Litigation: Construction
- Mid-South Super Lawyers®: Construction Litigation.
- Construction Industry Person of the Year: Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors
News
- BRUNINI ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED IN THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA© 2023 EDITION
- Capital Area Bar Association Awards Sam Kelly the Professionalism Award
- Brunini Named Best Law Firm in Mississippi for Third Year in a Row
- Brunini Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers
- Brunini Law Firm and Attorneys Ranked in Prestigious Chambers USA 2021 Guide
- 17 Brunini Attorneys Named to 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- CHAMBERS USA RECOGNIZES BRUNINI AMONG TOP LAW FIRMS IN MISSISSIPPI
- COVID-19 AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
- Brunini Recognized by Super Lawyers
- Brunini Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
- Brunini Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
- Chambers Lists Brunini Attorneys
- 2016 Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Twenty- seven honored by Best Lawyers® 2017, Four attorneys named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Brunini Recognized Among Top Law Firms in Mississippi by Chambers USA
- BRUNINI RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP LAW FIRMS IN MISSISSIPPI BY CHAMBERS USA
- Sam Kelly elected as a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation
- Brunini’s 2014 Super Lawyers
- Chris Fontan, Reed Nunnelee and Sam Kelly Present to the Mississippi Road Builders Association
- Brunini’s Sam Kelly Selected as Construction Industry Person of the Year
- Brunini Recognized Among Top Law Firms in Mississippi by Chambers USA