John C Kelly
Coppersmith Brockelman PLC
John Kelly is a partner with the law firm of Coppersmith Brockelman PLC in Phoenix. He has substantial experience representing profit and not-for-profit companies in a wide variety of legal and business matters, including commercial, employment, real estate and construction, health care, tort and insurance-related litigation. As a trial lawyer, John has tried over 100 cases to conclusion, including jury and bench trials, arbitration matters and administrative law proceedings. He currently serves as a Judge Pro Tem with the Maricopa County Superior Court and has been retained to serve as a private mediator on numerous occasions. He is a member of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution and is a trained Neutral (Mediations/Arbitrations) and Peer Review Officer with the American Health Lawyers Association. He has conducted numerous internal and external training sessions and Company seminars on issues such as loss prevention techniques, sexual harassment avoidance, professional conduct in the workplace, litigation preparation, workers’ compensation, business contract review and best employment practices.
Prior to joining Coppersmith Brockelman, John was the General Counsel of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. In that capacity, John supervised the Human Resources, Benefits, Corporate Management and Parish Administration offices of the Diocese, advised the Bishop on numerous non-profit and corporate governance issues, and advised the Catholic Schools Superintendent on school personnel decisions, education-related policies and procedures, and student disciplinary processes. Prior to joining the Diocese of Phoenix, John was the Vice President and General Counsel and a member of the Executive Board of Directors of Leslie’s Poolmart, Inc., a nationwide retailer of swimming pool supplies. John directed all litigation for the Company and its 900+ stores, and also supervised the Legal, Real Estate, Construction and Facilities Management, Loss Prevention, Risk Management, Safety, Regulatory Affairs and Workers’ Compensation departments. Prior to joining Leslie’s, John was in private practice in Phoenix for 12 years, most recently as a partner in the law firm of Leonard, Collins & Kelly, where his practice concentrated on business, contract and employment litigation.
John holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from Arizona State University, and is admitted to practice in Arizona and California, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the District of Arizona and the Southern, Northern, and Central Districts of California. He has been awarded the distinguished “AV Preeminent” peer review rating, Martindale-Hubbell (both judicial and peer endorsed), “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, and is a 2021, 2022 and 2023 “Super Lawyer” in Civil Litigation: Defense and a recipient of The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation. He was appointed to the Professionalism/Ethics Committee of the State of Arizona Trial Practice section and conducts annual seminars for the State Bar of Arizona on Professionalism.
