Atty. Robert S. Kelner
Robert S. Kelner, a founding partner of Kelner & Kelner with his father Joseph Kelner, graduated from Columbia Law School in 1971.
Profile Summary
About Robert S. Kelner at a glance
Robert S. Kelner is a Founding Partner based in New York, New York, practicing at Kelner & Kelner. They have 54+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1972. Their practice focuses on car accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, and employment. Admitted to practice in New York (1972), U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (1972), and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (1972). Educated at Columbia Law School (J.D., 1972) and Franklin and Marshall College (B.A., 1968). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of New York County Lawyers Association New York State Bar Association. Serands clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About
- Robert S. Kelner, a founding partner of Kelner & Kelner with his father Joseph Kelner, graduated from Columbia Law School in 1971
- Since that time, he has practiced as a personal injury and medical malpractice lawyer in New York
- Robert Kelner has obtained approximately 300 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more
- He achieved a verdict of over $29 million, which with interest totaled over $40 million, in a trucking accident case involving wrongful death
- He has also achieved verdicts of $36 million against the Transit Authority and $23 million in a motorcycle accident
- Some of his accomplishments include winning a $10.4 million jury verdict against the City of New York when only $1.5 million was offered as a settlement
- He also recently secured an out-of-court settlement of over $17 million in a wrongful death case, and two additional settlements of $9 million each in personal injury cases
- He recently tried a case with Joshua Kelner that resulted in a $19.1 million verdict against the Transit Authority for a man whose leg got stuck in the gap between the train and the platform, and was dragged when the train moved forward
- He also obtained a $9 million settlement for a sanitation worker killed in a motor vehicle accident
- This is believed to be the highest wrongful death recovery for a uniformed worker in New York
- Robert Kelner's legal career has included certain very high profile cases
- Early in his career, he served as one of the trial lawyers representing the students shot at Kent State University
- Much later, he represented the estate of Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees in a wrongful death case, and Mariane Pearl, the wife of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl who was murdered in Pakistan
- Mr. Kelner also successfully defended Liza Minnelli in a suit brought by her husband, David Gest, that alleged assault
- The case was dismissed
- Robert Kelner is an active writer and speaker in the areas of personal injury law and trial practice
- For many years, he has been the co-author of the "Trial Practice" column in the New York Law Journal
- He has lectured at nearly every major bar association in New York and also at Princeton University and Columbia Law School
- He is chairman of the Civil Trial Practice Institute of the New York County Lawyers Association, and its Civil Trial Practice course
- He has also been chairman of the New York State Bar Association's "Ethics in Litigation" program and the New York County Lawyers "Rock Stars of the Legal Profession" program
- He lectures frequently at bar associations, and has been chairman of the New York County Lawyers Civil Trial Practice program for over 10 years
- The New York Times wrote a "Public Lives" column about him and his representation of victims
- He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR and BBC
- He was interviewed on a major Texas radio station about pro bono work done by our firm for victims of terrorism
- He has been quoted in the New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News and Newsday
- He is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he lectures frequently on the subject of tort law and trial practice
- He has also lectured at Princeton University and Touro College School of Health Science
- His career has been characterized by a deep commitment to protecting the interests of injury victims
- Published Works • Co-Author, “Trial Practice” Column, The New York Law Journal Classes/Seminars • Lecturer, Tort Law and Trial Practice, Columbia Law School • Lecturer, Princeton University • Lecturer, Touro College School of Health Science Honors and Awards • Top 100 New York - Metro Super Lawyers Professional Associations and Memberships • New York County Lawyers Association, Torts Department, Chair, 2015 to 2017 • New York County Lawyers Association, Civil Trial Practice Institute, Chairman • New York State Bar Association, Ethics in Litigation Program, Chairman • New York County Lawyers Association, Rock Stars of the Legal Profession Program, Chairman
Practice Areas Explained
Robert S. Kelner's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert S. Kelner handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Hurt in a car crash? Car accident lawyers fight insurance companies for fair compensation — free consult, no fee unless you win.
Robert S. Kelner is one of 36,807 car accidents attorneys indexed nationally. Browse car accidents attorneys in New York →
Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.
Robert S. Kelner is one of 49,086 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in New York →
Robert S. Kelner is one of 31,253 wrongful death attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wrongful death attorneys in New York →
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Robert S. Kelner is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in New York →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Robert S. Kelner is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in New York →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in New York or all attorneys in New York.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Robert S. Kelner
Where is Robert S. Kelner's law office located?
What practice areas does Robert S. Kelner handle?
How long has Robert S. Kelner practiced law?
Where did Robert S. Kelner go to law school?
How can I contact Robert S. Kelner for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Robert S. Kelner received?
Practice Areas
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Reviews
No reviews yet.