Dolores Kelley concentrates her practice in the representation of start-up and emerging companies and non-profit organizations on a variety of issues including corporate formation, financing, licensing, acquisitions, employment agreements, and intellectual property law. She also leads the firm’s Beer & Spirits Group, which provides industry specific legal services to breweries, craft distilleries and restaurants. Kelley handles a wide range of matters for the real estate industry, including commercial, transactional, condominium, and homeowner association formation and leasing. She also represents lenders in commercial loan transactions.
Prior to joining Stark & Stark, Kelley was law clerk to the Honorable F. Lee Forrester, J.S.C. of Mercer County, and served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Neil H. Shuster, P.J. Ch., of Mercer County. She obtained a bachelor of science in finance from The Pennsylvania State University and a juris doctor from Washington & Lee University, School of Law. Kelley is licensed to practice law in the States of New Jersey and New York and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
How do you wind down at the end of a busy day or week?
Most of my evenings are spent playing with my kids, giving them baths, and tucking them into bed. Some nights we have a family dance party to burn off some of the extra toddler energy. After a long or stressful week, I will unwind with a glass of wine and watch a movie, or get together with friends.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in business?
Balancing constructive feedback from others with following my instincts. It’s important to listen to input and opinions, but to follow up with your own research and evaluation to come to a conclusion. It is easy to rely on the opinions of superiors and mentors that have been in your profession for years. However, particularly in the practice of law, I have found that it is very important to go through the analytical process on your own. By doing so, it has made me a better, and more confident, lawyer.
What is a perfect day?
My perfect day would involve having no deadlines to meet, no laundry waiting for me, and no pre-planned obligations to keep.
On rare days like that, my husband and I like to take our family to the beach or partake in other kid-friendly activities, allowing us to fully enjoy our time together without worrying about pending responsibilities.
Biggest pet peeve.
My biggest pet peeve is when people deflect instead of resolving an issue. Oftentimes people act that way to avoid providing disappointing news or upsetting others. I would much rather deal with the information directly and resolve the situation instead of putting off the inevitable.
Fill in the blank: Most people don’t know that I _______________.
grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, which is the reason why I am a huge Eagles and Phillies fan. During my early childhood, Sundays were spent going to mass, watching football, and then having “Sunday dinner” with my large Irish-Catholic family.
What leisure activities occupy your time away from the office?
While being a mother to two small children does not often leave much time for leisurely activities, I like to ride my bike or go to the gym whenever I get the
opportunity.
Stranded on a desert island, name the three items you need to survive.
My iPhone, Wi-Fi, and a power source to charge my phone. While I am not an outdoorsman, I am almost certain that I can figure out the art of survival with the help of Google and YouTube.
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
I would love to learn photography. I would really like having a creative outlet, and it would be a really useful skill for me to have since I am constantly taking pictures of my kids.