Morell Kelly
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.2 lawyers · Established 2004 · Waterloo Region, Brant (Brantford)
One of 102 law firms listed in Kitchener, and one of 22 handling Personal Injury.
Free consultation
Free consultationAbout Morell Kelly
Morell Kelly is a personal injury firm for people in Kitchener, Waterloo and Brantford. Lisa Morell Kelly and Bruce Kelly founded it on February 1, 2004, and as experienced civil litigators they keep their work at the firm to personal injury alone.
Lisa Morell Kelly acts for plaintiffs, mainly people hurt in car accidents that weren't their fault. Lisa holds an LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick (1992) and a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University (2008).
Marilyn Snow has been with the firm since May 2004, the same year Marilyn completed Conestoga College's Municipal Law Clerk Program, and went on to earn a paralegal licence from the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2008.
Lisa also writes and speaks for the public, with an article on no-fault insurance in the Brant Advocate, a Brant Advocate feature on Morell Kelly and the Minor Injury Guideline, and a podcast on when an injured person may want a lawyer's advice about benefit options and protecting their family.
History
Before founding Morell Kelly, Lisa and Bruce each ran a busy litigation practice, with a great deal of work in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Superior Court across family, criminal and child protection law as well as general litigation. From 1994 to 2004 Lisa practised family law and during those years acted for many people facing domestic abuse in family court.
Bruce Kelly began a successful court battle over the 60-day mediation question, building on earlier work by other lawyers on how that deadline should be read. With 200 cases in which it was fighting to get mediation, the firm issued 200 statements of claim, many of them in Small Claims Court, and told the insurers that litigation was coming. The Court of Appeal's decision in Cornie, holding that 60 days means 60 days, was a ruling the firm obtained.
Practice areas
Car accident claims
Morell Kelly acts as car accident lawyers for Kitchener, Waterloo and Brantford. Marilyn Snow oversees every client's accident benefits claim under the supervision of Lisa Morell Kelly and Bruce Kelly, and anyone stuck in the Minor Injury Guideline can get a free consultation with no obligation.
Denied disability claims
Morell Kelly helps people who've been denied Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits establish their entitlement, and its Kitchener disability lawyers take on claims that have been refused.
Good to know
Accessible parking
By appointmentFees & payment
Contingency
Free consultationHow Morell Kelly works
Morell Kelly's objective is a reasonable settlement within a reasonable time, and whether a case goes to trial is decided on experience and a weighing of risks against benefits. The firm takes pride in serving a relatively small number of clients well, giving them personal attention and timely advice on every part of their claims, and as of November 25, 2020 most of its referrals came from previous clients.
Clients are asked to keep a few house rules. The firm has zero tolerance for verbal abuse such as swearing or yelling, and when a matter isn't urgent it asks clients to email rather than phone, so call volume stays manageable. With firms from Hamilton, London and the GTA coming into Kitchener and Brantford, Morell Kelly asks clients to weigh how much it matters to have a lawyer available to them personally in their own city.
In the community
- As of May 5, 2018, Morell Kelly was sponsoring the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and had placed a drop-off box for non-perishable donations at its Victoria Street office in Kitchener.
- As of November 25, 2020, Morell Kelly planned to carry on as a community donor to the Food Bank.
- In 2013 the firm held the Morell Kelly Toy Drive, with Sarah and Jason Picard doing much of the heavy lifting.
- Some years ago Morell Kelly developed Lidz on Kidz, a bike helmet initiative for children.
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Law schools
- University of New Brunswick 1 of 2 lawyers
Who handles what
Offices 2
The neighbourhood
Morell Kelly's Kitchener office is at 182 Victoria Street South, postal code N2G 2B9.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Morell Kelly's 30% contingency fee account for what the at-fault driver's insurer pays toward costs?
- The fee is a 30% contingency plus HST and disbursements, less whatever the at-fault party's insurer contributes toward the client's costs. That insurer typically puts in 15% plus HST and disbursements, and Morell Kelly accounts for it before working out its own fee. Every client who retains the firm receives the Law Society brochure "Contingency fees: What you Need to Know". (Fees as of September 2026.)
- If my injury claim doesn't settle, will Morell Kelly bill me for the litigation costs it covered?
- Morell Kelly is paid only once a settlement is reached in the client's favour, and it pays the litigation expenses itself, so the client isn't out of pocket. If there's no settlement for any reason, the firm's usual practice is not to charge for those expenses and to hand over a full copy of the file free of charge.
- Will Morell Kelly help me get a loan from a finance company against my settlement?
- No. Morell Kelly doesn't recommend those advances, since in its view the interest rates are high and the amounts usually aren't large enough to fix long-term money problems while a lawsuit is under way. A client who takes one on does so without the firm's involvement.
- Can I move my file to a new lawyer for free if I disagree with how Morell Kelly values my case?
- Morell Kelly encourages clients who disagree with its assessment of their file's value, or with how it's handling the file, to think about other representation. In that case the firm will arrange the transfer to the new lawyer at no charge.
- Another lawyer told me to call back in six months if I'm not better. Why doesn't Morell Kelly screen cases that way?
- A lot of Morell Kelly's clients come to the firm after other lawyers told them exactly that. Years of experience have taught the firm that screening out cases on arbitrary, artificial criteria brings no benefit, and that nervous clients often won't fully discuss their injuries and concerns until they can meet a lawyer face to face.
- Should I take a legal question about my file to Morell Kelly's paralegals or to the lawyers?
- Morell Kelly's assistants and paralegals don't give legal advice, so a question about the law or about how a file is being run should go straight to the lawyers.
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Personal InjuryInsurance LawThis listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on the firm’s own website. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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