Partner
Portland, ME
phone (207) 772-6565
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ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHY
Thomas R. Kelly is a veteran real estate, contract and business lawyer, and he has plenty of experience helping individual Maine citizens address myriad legal needs. Tom’s approach is to use the law as a “tool” to assist his clients. His job is to seek solutions to his client’s problems.
Since graduating with honors from the University of Maine School of Law in 1992, Tom has developed a well rounded practice. He has handled cases involving litigation, insurance, real estate, survey disputes, estate planning, assistance to executors, writing of court and administrative appeal briefs, wills, business agreements, corporate formation (businesses and nonprofits), construction disputes, HUD multifamily project loans, contracts, zoning, land use and variance appeals, easements and town roads, subdivisions, workers’ compensation, mortgage foreclosures and legal research.
Tom’s practice at RK&M has diversified over time. Now the firm’s senior real estate and contract lawyer, Tom still enjoys his opportunities to write legal briefs and to present before the Maine Courts, including the Supreme Judicial Court, formerly his primary tasks.
Tom is one of the principal attorneys representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in real estate and corporate matters, continuing firm founder, Bob Robinson’s, forty years of legal service to the Diocese. His service on the Town of Brunswick’s Planning Board has provided him insight into how best to present his client’s position to the volunteer boards that make up municipal committees and boards across Maine. Tom acquired an in-depth working knowledge of Maine’s water rights, flowage and dam laws, while representing the new owner of the former Maine Public Service electrical generation properties in Aroostook County. Tom ‘s first legal job, managing a collection, bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure practice with a senior attorney, has been a firm foundation for the remainder of his practice.
During 2018, Tom became the Managing Partner for RKM’s LegalShield Division. LegalShield operates in all 50 states and offers its members legal service benefits for a monthly membership fee. RKM is the Provider Firm for Maine, and Tom oversees the portion of RKM’s practice dedicated to serving LegalShield members.
The firm regularly calls upon Tom to provide real estate, business, probate and contract advice to its Legal Shield clients. When the client needs more than consultation, Tom is prepared to act, whether the task at hand requires the preparation of a deed, presentation of the client’s position to an opposing party, or the filing of a lawsuit or appeal.
Tom is a long-term Maine transplant, having arrived from Pennsylvania in 1980 to join family members here. He presently lives in Brunswick, with his wife Kathleen O’Connor. His children are grown and pursuing careers in education and educational research. Tom’s wife has been a faculty member and administrator at Bowdoin College for the past thirty years. Tom is a former member of the Brunswick-Freeport Babe Ruth Board and organizer of a benefit craft show. He distributes communion at All Saints parish; he is a sailor, hiker and kayaker; and he picked up yoga, bowling and the sport of ice-hockey a few years ago.
EDUCATION
University of Maine School of Law, Portland, Maine, 1992 J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Faculty Commendation Award
Law Review: Editor, Maine Law Review, 1990 – 1992
Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, 1980 B.A.
Major: Philosophy
BAR ADMISSIONS
Maine, 1992
U.S. District Court District of Maine, 1992
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Maine State Bar Association, 1992 – present Member
Brunswick Planning Board, 1994 – 1999
Member, Chair and Vice-Chair
Brunswick – Freeport Babe Ruth League, 2005 – 2007 Board Secretary
Organizer of the benefit craft fair for Brunswick High School ice hockey team, 2007-2009.
Eucharistic Ministry at All Saints Parish, 2009-present