Cathleen served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania. She later joined the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General as a Deputy Attorney General for the Eastern Region of Pennsylvania, where she prosecuted neglect in the long-term care sectors and healthcare fraud.

Cathleen was a shareholder and partner in two well-respected litigation firms before founding Rebar Kelly in 2012. Cathleen is also an elected Magisterial District Judge in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where she currently serves portions of the western population of Montgomery County.

Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1998

Long Island University, B.A., 1995, magna cum laude

Automobile
Liability

Class
Action

Complex
Litigation

Construction
Defect

Construction
Labor Law

Crisis
Management

Employment
Law

Excess
Coverage

Long Term
Care

Management
Liability

Medical
Malpractice

NY Labor
Law

Premises
Liability

Product
Liability

Professional
Liability

Real Estate & Broker Defense

Retail &
Hospitality

Security
Liability

SA/Human
Trafficking

Social
Services

• Premise Liability and Security
• Product Defect & Food Contamination

Cathleen has defended one of the nation’s largest healthcare providers in claims of medical malpractice. She has also represented design professionals in legal matters stemming from defective design of electrical equipment resulting in multiple claims and lawsuits. Cathleen has been defending one of the region’s largest real estate brokers in errors and omissions matters for over two decades. She has also represented physicians in connection with allegations of failing to properly diagnose, as well as long-term care facilities against allegations of inappropriate preventative measures for the avoidance of pressure sores. In addition, Cathleen is well-versed in Maritime Law and defends ship captains and vessel owners in negligence claims under the Jones Act. Cathleen also defended one of the country’s largest retail suppliers of electronics in claims of product defects and premise liability matters.

(2015) Obtained defense verdict at trial for a national property preservation service company on a claim that Plaintiff, a vendor utilized by client to preserve foreclosed properties was owed additional monies for services rendered.

(2015) Effectively achieved vendor to assume defense and indemnification for a national property preservation service company in Federal Court wherein Plaintiff claimed preservation company negligently entered and removed personal property from a residence not in foreclosure.

(2015) Secured Non Pros against Plaintiff based on novel argument involving need for more detailed Certificate of Merit in claim where undisputable negligence had occurred injecting the wrong leg with epidural, but damages could only have been caused by injection performed in a negligent manner.

(2014) County of Erie, New York, Obtained dismissal of school nurse in allegation of failure to report abuse in special needs school, where timely report was made to parents and no proof of assault was present.

(2014) Effectively achieved vendor to assume defense and indemnification for a national property preservation service company wherein Plaintiff claimed preservation company negligently winterized a property not in foreclosure.

(2014) Obtained summary judgment for a national property preservation service company in the Superior Court of Mercer County where plaintiff claimed she tripped and fell on a foreclosed property being maintained by client.

(2014) Successfully defended three coordinate EEOC and Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission Complaint involving alleged national origin discrimination in University faculty promotion.

(2014) Obtained dismissal of dentist in claim of alleged improper tooth extraction by obtaining early expert review and presenting medicals claim of wrongful use of proceedings against Plaintiff.

(2013) Obtained dismissal of physician in multi-defendant litigation including wrongful death. Dismissal based on personal jurisdiction grounds for failing to properly serve defendant within timeframe provided under the Rules.

(2013) Obtained dismissal of school nurse in allegation of failure to report abuse in special needs school, where timely report was made to parents and no proof of assault was present.

(2013) Achieved dismissal for physician provider in wrongful death case involving improper diagnosis of bronchiolitis in a toddler.

(2012) Achieved dismissal of physician provider in medical negligence case stemming from failure to transfer patient to specialty care center for burns and improper surgical procedure leading to need for regrafting.

(2011) In case involving the burning death of four children in a residential house fire as a result of alleged defect in extension cord sold by national electronics manufacturer, successfully defended action to achieve settlement of all claims for $40,000, where demand had been in excess of $30,000,000.

(2011) Obtained settlement of less than $7,000 on behalf of national pre-cast concrete manufacturer in case involving fall through mechanical opening on roof of five story building, where opening was not properly closed off and improper warnings were given.

(2010) Obtained complete dismissal of national provider of Mental Health Services in case involving homicide of resident in group home by another resident following failure to properly administer anti-psychotic medications to resident committing crime.

(2009) Successfully defended personal care home in burning death of quadriplegic resident during three week trial in case involving $12,000,000 demand by limiting Plaintiff’s verdict for $120,000 with 40% contributory fault attributed to Plaintiff , with all aspects of case upheld on appeal, successfully argued before the Superior Court.

(2005) Achieved complete defense verdict for Major League Baseball franchise after four week trial in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against allegations of inadequate security involving sexual assault of 11 year old.

America's Top 50 Lawyers

2022 AV Preeminent Attorney Award

15 Most Dynamic Entrepreneurs 2020, Exeleon Magazine

Top 100 Lawyers, Top 100 Magazine

Lawyer on the Fast Track, The Legal Intelligencer

Super Lawyer 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Rising Star, Law & Politics, 2006-2008, 2010-2011, 2011-2012

Guest panelist at the MidWest (Rosemont/Chicago) MWN Chapter’s Diversity and Inclusion Event, August 20th, 2020

Slip, Trip and Fall - Managing These Cases in a Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Environment, CLM Alliance Workers Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, June 18, 2020

Winning Strategies for Litigation Management, CLM 2019 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, March 14, 2019

Transferring Risk in the Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Arena, CLM Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, Dallas, TX, February 7, 2019

E-Strategies, Litigation Management Institute, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, October 21, 2018

Claims & Judicial Inconsistencies on the Rise, CLM Cyber Summit, New York, NY, October 12, 2018

Looking for Other Pockets: Identifying and Pursuing Other Entities to Offset Liability Including Additional Insureds, CLM Construction Conference, Chicago, IL, September 2018

Third-Party Vendor Risk Management and Exposure, CLM Claims College, Baltimore, Maryland, September 5 - 8, 2018

Strategies for Marketing, Mitigating and Offsetting Costs of Data Breach Claims, CLM Annual Conference, Houston, March 2018

Combating the Reptile Theory Through Deposition Preparation and Motion Practice, RRM CLM Conference, Dallas, TX, February 2018

Reptile Theory Practicum, New York Athletic Club, January 11, 2018

“User’s Guide to Data Breach Handling,” 2017 CLM Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, On March 30, 2017

Aspects of Working in Litigation Boutiques, Villanova University Panel on Business, Villanova, Pa on January 11th, 2017

Instructor at Litigation Management Institute at Loyola University School of Law, 2016 – 2017.

Instructor at CLM Claims College, Baltimore, Maryland, 2016 – 2017.

2nd Annual Advanced Forum on Medical Liability Claims, Coverage & Risk Management in New York, NY on October 27 – 28, 2016

2016 CLM Cyber Liability Summit “Internet of Things – Modern Day Warfare and Threats Both Seen and Unseen” in New York, NY on October 05, 2016

13th National Forum on Cyber & Data Risk Insurance, American Conference Institute’s (ACI) 13th National Forum on Cyber & Data Risk Insurance in New York, NY on July 28-29, 2016

The Experts Speak - Cyber and Data Privacy Risk - a Holistic Approach to Mitigating the Inevitable, Cyber Liability CLM Annual Conference in Orlando, FL on April 7, 2016

Cyber-Insurance: Understanding the New System a LIVE Webcast sponsored by the American Conference Institute on January 25, 2016.

Panel speaker on the subject of Small Law Firms. Part of the Small Business Series held at the Villanova University School of Law, on January 13, 2016

The Interface of Underwriting, Claims and Counsel to Create Sustainable Insurance Products for Cyber Risk, 2015 Cyber Liability Summit, October 21, 2015.

ACI’s 11th National Advanced Forum on Cyber & Data Risk Insurance - Attorney/Client Privilege Issues Arising out of Breach Notification: Attorney’s Ethical Duties When Clients Seek Advice During a Breach and Examining the Communication That is Considered Privilege, September 30-October, 1, 2015 at the Affinia Manhattan, NY.

Cyber Liability Class Actions and Litigation: Their Impact on Accessing What Breaches and Resulting Claims are Worth, ACI Cyber & Data Risk Insurance, March 24-25, 2015.

Instructor at Litigation Management Institute at Columbia University School of Law, 2015.

Instructor at CLM Claims College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2014 – 2015.

The Changing Landscape of Cyber Security, ACI Medical Professional Liability Summit, October 30-31, 2014.

The Changing Landscape of Cyber Liability Litigation and Its Impact on Assessing What Breaches and Resulting Claims Are Worth, ACI Cyber Conference, September 29-30, 2014.

Protecting Against the Unexpected: How to Defend Claims Resulting from Criminal Activity, Retail Restaurant Hospitality Committee CLM, May 9, 2014.

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish, CLM 2014 Annual Conference, March 2014.

Expert Relations: How to Maximize your Expert Witness' Effectiveness in Obtaining the Best Results for Your Client, CLM 2013 Professional Liability Mini Conference, July 26, 2013.

Mounting and Establishing an Effective Failure to Thrive Defense in a Skin Breakdown Case, American Conference Institute’s 3rd Annual Forum on Preventing and Defending Long Term Care Litigation, January 23 – 24, 2013.

Food Adulteration, Is it Preventable?, FX Conference Series, November 29, 2012.

Supporting your Legal Professional, National Association of Legal Secretaries Annual Meeting, Peddler’s Village, September 27, 2012.

Food Safety Modernization Act, NJICLE, September 2011.

Defending Long Term Care Cases, American Conference Institute’s 1st Annual Forum on Preventing and Defending Long Term Care Litigation, April 2011.

• Firm Success Alert
• Connecticut Identity Fraud in Provision Healthcare
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Consider Whether Deletion of a Vehicle from an Multi-Vehicle Policy Constitutes a “Purchase” To Trigger An Insurer’s Duty to Secure a New Written Stacking Waiver from the Insured
• Shortly After Enacting Important Changes to the Insurance Disclosure Requirements, Governor Hochul Appears to Already be Amending the New Law for the Better
• Insuring Apartments Without Criminal Background Checks on Prospective Tenants: How Insurers Should Consider New York City’s Proposed Criminal Background Ban
• Significant Increase in Cyber-Attacks: How to be on the Lookout for Phishing Emails
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court Dismisses Dragonetti Action, Clarifies What Constitutes a “Civil Proceeding” Under Pennsylvania Law
• Because of a Gun, It's Covered?
• Use of Substituted Service on Evasive Defendants through Insurance Carriers to Tap New Sources of Damages Funds
• Intro to Understanding Motion Practice in PA, NJ and NY
• Contingent Business Interruptions due to COVID-19
• Immunity for Private Entities Under State and County Contracts Administering Hydroxychloroquine Under the Prep Act
• New York Executive Order 202.10 and the Gross Negligence Standard in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
• COVID-19 Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Bills and New Regulatory Communications
• No Need to Social Distance from Traditional Policy Exclusions & Policy Interpretation Case Law When Assessing Coverage for Coronavirus Related Claims
• Civil Authority – Loss of Business Coverage
• Business Income Loss: COVID-19 and Direct Physical Losses
• Jury Finds AIG Client’s Refusal to Settle Was Not a Wrongful Act
• Florida Justices to Mull Insurer’s Ability to Sue Law Firm

Legal Intern, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Legal Intern, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Wilmington, Delaware

Legal Intern, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County, New York