Kelly is a native of Easton, and a 1979 graduate of Easton Area High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University in 1983, where she graduated with High Distinctions. Kelly then attended Temple University School of Law and graduated Cum Laude in 1986. During law school, she was chosen for Temple’s law review, the Temple Law Quarterly, and was a published staff writer as well as an editor.

Kelly began her practice in personal injury in 1987 when she first began work with her current firm, then called Martin D. Cohen, P.C.  Over the many years since that time, she has developed her practice of law in the personal injury field, concentrating in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding counties.  She has handled a gamut of personal injury cases involving serious injury and death, including motor vehicle and trucking accidents, medical malpractice, dog bites, premises claims, and mass torts.  Over the last two decades, Kelly has also focused her practice on preparing and litigating nursing home malpractice cases, which she now does very frequently.

Kelly has obtained numerous personal injury verdicts and settlements both large and small, on behalf of her clients.  Some of her notable multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements include verdicts of $95 million, $4.36 million, $1.5 million, and a multiple plaintiff settlement of $20 million.

Kelly also regularly handles, settles and tries cases that do not result in million dollar recoveries, but are nonetheless vitally important to her clients.  After the defense insurance company refused to make a fair offer to settle a motor vehicle accident case, Kelly tried the case before a Northampton County jury recently and received a verdict of over $225,000, more than 15 times what the defense had offered.

"I HAVE A GREAT PASSION TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED."

Kelly’s experience in the courtroom and in dealing with opposing lawyers, adjustors and insurance companies is invaluable in representing her clients.  Along with her vast experience, however, she takes great pride in representing her clients with courtesy, respect and care, and always tries to provide a personal touch for her clients going through litigation.  Kelly and her staff take a client-centered approach, keeping her clients’ best interests foremost in mind.  She tries to minimize as much of the burden and stress of litigation as possible for her clients, while helping them through the often confusing and emotionally difficult legal process.

Kelly has been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2009 and included in the distinguished list of Top 50: Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for two years running. In 2007, she was named to Who’s Who of American Women. She has also been named a top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association, beginning in 2009.

In 2015, her peers in the Lehigh Valley elected her as a “Select Lawyer.” Kelly was honored by Lehigh Valley Business in 2024 and 2025 with a spot on their Power 100 List. She was also recognized by Best Lawyers in America ® (2025 Edition) for her achievements and continued dedication to upholding the highest standards of legal practice.

Kelly is admitted to practice law in the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She has been a member of the Northampton County Bar Association since 1987. She is also an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Lehigh County Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and the Donald E. Wieand Barristers’ Inn.