Paul Kelly

About Paul Kelly

Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom and unanimously confirmed by the California State Senate to a six year term as a Commissioner on the California Workers Compensation Appeals Board.Paul Kelly is an experienced trial attorney, litigator and public servant who in his career has represented the People of the State of California as well as other governmental entities, individuals, businesses and associations in federal and state courts, as well as at mediations, arbitrations and in administrative hearings and proceedings before local, state and federal administrative and regulatory agencies. Mr Kelly was previously a litigator and trial attorney with two of the largest law firms in the United States. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney. Due to these experiences he has handled a range of cases in his career and obtained highly favorable results in both the civil and criminal courts including in complex business and commercial matters. In addition to these traditional practice areas as a result of his litigation and trial experience Mr. Kelly has also on occasion been engaged on more unusual matters such as assisting in the successful handling of defamation matters that have resulted in substantial confidential recoveries. Mr. Kelly has frequently collaborated with and assisted other law firms on large high stakes cases. Because of his litigation and trial skills, Mr. Kelly has been engaged by other law firms specifically to assist in trial preparation as well as to act as trial counsel. Mr. Kelly has worked on and prevailed in cases against some of the largest law firms in the country. Mr. Kelly has also taught trial advocacy, most recently at the University of San Francisco Law School\'s Intensive Advocacy Program. Mr. Kelly has also served as auctioneer for various Bay Area charitable organizations. Since the birth of his children he also has extensive experience serving in numerous volunteer and leadership roles in various SFUSD school communities for many years.

Experience

1. Commissioner

   Workers Compensation Appeals Board

   Sep 2024 — Present

   The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, a seven member judicial body appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, exercises all judicial powers vested in it by the Labor Code. Its major functions include issuing judicial opinions in response to petitions for removal and reconsideration of decisions by workers’ compensation administrative law judges, representing the WCAB in appellate proceedings, and regulation of the adjudication process by adopting rules of practice and procedure. By way of its published opinions and regulations, it provides guidance and leadership to the workers’ compensation community.

Education

• Boston College Law School

  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

  1992

• Boston College

  Bachelor's Degree ( A.B.), English Language and Literature/Letters

  1983 — 1987

Skills

• Outdoor Advertising Litigation
• Business Litigation
• Trials
• Criminal Law
• Jury Trials
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Land Use Litigation
• Mediation
• Courts
• Property Litigation
• Dispute Resolution
• Commercial Litigation
• Torts
• Complex Litigation
• Hearings
• Civil Litigation
• Criminal Defense Litigation
• Arbitration
• Litigation
• Probate Litigation
• Administrative Hearings
• Product Liability Litigation
• Trial Practice
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Defamation Litigation