Kelly practises general commercial litigation. He has particular experience and expertise in contractual disputes, company law issues and construction law.

Admitted to the Bar in 1993, Kelly has had the benefit of nine years practising in Hong Kong, including five years in the litigation and arbitration team at Linklaters. He returned to New Zealand in early 2006 to take a position as litigation partner with a mid-sized firm, and moved to the independent bar in 2007.

Kelly's commercial litigation experience has included shareholder and joint venture disputes, disputes concerning the sale and purchase of property and businesses, lease disputes, supply and distribution agreements, transfer pricing, insurance disputes and a wide variety of contractual disputes generally.

In the construction field, Kelly has acted in matters involving the full range of usual construction law issues including defects and warranty claims, wrongful termination of contracts, claims for liquidated damages, variations, and extensions of time, claims arising from disruption and/or prolongation, and the enforcement/defence of claims under performance bonds. He has represented clients in construction disputes involving projects in Hong Kong, India, Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand and New Zealand.

His regulatory work has included acting for listed companies in defence of disciplinary proceedings brought by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and also acting for the Exchange in similar proceedings against listed companies. He has represented most of the major international investment banks (in Hong Kong) in connection with investigations into trading irregularities and other securities regulation issues.