George W. Kelsey
George Kelsey’s legal career spans more than three decades. In that time, he has developed a reputation for being a national expert in aviation law. Since 1970, Mr. Kelsey has been in private practice with extensive experience in commercial aviation law and business enterprise organization.
Mr. Kelsey possesses 32 years of experience in litigation in federal and state courts. For the past 15 years, he has specialized in all aspects of aviation law, including aviation-related litigation. His primary area of focus, however, has been on aircraft-related transactions, including aircraft purchases and sales, engine and maintenance agreements, leasing, ground handling, deicing and other transactions involving airline operations. Mr. Kelsey has negotiated and closed extensive international aircraft-related contracts in Australia, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, India, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Morocco, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Argentina.
Mr. Kelsey earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Wayne State University and at the University of Detroit, earned his law degree.
He is also a member of the Washtenaw County Bar Association; Michigan State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Washtenaw County Trial Lawyers Association; and the Business, Labor & Employment Law, Federal Practice, and Aviation sections of the Michigan State Bar.
Mr. Kelsey resides in Ann Arbor and out of all of his outside interests, golf is first.
Matthew T. Coleman
Matthew Coleman practices general law with an emphasis on commercial litigation and employment.
Mr. Coleman is experienced in all aspects of litigation, providing support at the appellate and trial levels for clients throughout the country. He also has experience in several forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and a variety of other forms of facilitation.
His experience in litigation entails employment, commercial, and insurance related claims. As a specialist in the area of aviation related litigation, he has handled a multitude of cases based on state and federal laws.
Mr. Coleman is a graduate of the Wayne State University Law School, where he focused his studies on business law related courses and litigation-driven clinical programs. He was an active member of the Student Trial Advocacy Program, Environmental Law Society and St. Thomas More Society. Admitted to practice in Michigan, Mr. Coleman is a member of the Labor and Employment as well as Litigation sections of the Michigan State Bar.
Mr. Coleman lives in Dearborn. His interests include ice-hockey, golf, tennis and hiking.
Karen L. Girard
Karen L. Girard practices general law with an emphasis on commercial litigation.
Ms. Girard has considerable experience in all phases of both personal injury and commercial litigation, including providing support for trial and working on appellate, research and bankruptcy matters. Ms. Girard has assisted a broad range of clientele, from small and medium-sized businesses to individual clients. Apart from her experience in product liability litigation and complex litigation, she also has significant experience in general business and commercial torts litigation, with a focus on assisting aviation clients with various litigation-related matters.
Ms. Girard earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of Michigan and her law degree at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law located in San Francisco. She is admitted to practice in Michigan as well as California and is a member of the bar associations of those states.
She is also a member of the Washtenaw County Bar Association; Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association; the Aviation section of the Michigan State Bar; the Solo and Small Firm Practice Section of the Washtenaw County Bar Association; and the American Bar Association.
Ms. Girard resides in Gregory. Her interests include boating, hiking, and reading.
Mary C. O’Dea
Mary O’Dea’s main areas of practice include commercial transactions focusing on commercial litigation and aviation law.
Ms. O’Dea has almost nine years of experience in representing clients in the aviation industry. These clients include aviation support companies, freight and passenger carriers and companies specializing in the sale of used aircraft and parts. Throughout her career, Ms. O’Dea has negotiated hundreds of leasing transactions. She regularly drafts, negotiates and advises clients on aircraft and engine purchase agreements, maintenance agreements, leases and consignment agreements.
Ms. O’Dea is also experienced in handling commercial litigation matters both the state and federal courts. As an associate with Condon & Forsyth in New York City, she handled litigation at the trial and appellate level for an extensive range of domestic and international air carriers. For the past five years, she has also managed litigation for clients in both Michigan state and federal courts.
She is a graduate of Boston University Law School, where she served as an editor of the International Law Journal. Ms. O’Dea is admitted to practice in New York, Massachusetts and Michigan and is a member of the bar associations of those states. She is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Air and Space Law. The Federal Bar Association has published several articles written by Ms. O’Dea.
Ms. O’Dea resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her interests include skiing, golf and traveling.