(WASHINGTON, D.C.) November 1, 2021 – Toyja Kelley has joined Locke Lord’s Washington, D.C., office as a Partner in the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group. With a wide variety of litigation and trial experience, Kelley expands the Firm’s capabilities in the region.
Joining Locke Lord from Saul Ewing, Kelley represents large public and medium-sized businesses in complex commercial disputes. He concentrates his practice in general commercial litigation, construction litigation, professional and product liability, business torts and insurance coverage, regularly appearing before state and federal courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
“As a seasoned, high-profile leader, Toyja has the experience and versatility to act on behalf of our clients’ interests while navigating complex disputes. Adding a litigator with his level of skill builds upon Locke Lord’s strength in the region and across the country,” said Denise Hanna, Managing Partner of Locke Lord’s Washington, D.C., office.
In addition to his practice, Kelley is an active member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and is the Immediate Past President of the nearly 22,000-member international organization. In 2020, he became the inaugural President of DRI’s National Center for Law and Public Policy, a research and advocacy organization dedicated to influencing public policy. He is also a Past President of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Defense Counsel and serves as an adjunct professor of law in its litigation and conflict resolution skills program at Washington and Lee University.
“Toyja has served as lead trial counsel in various commercial matters, including litigation involving wind projects, which will further enhance our capabilities in the rapidly growing offshore space. He is an established and widely respected lawyer with an extensive leadership background, making him a fantastic addition to Locke Lord’s team,” added Matt Furton, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Litigation Department and a Partner in Locke Lord’s Chicago office.
Steadfast in his commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal industry, Kelley is on the Executive Board of the National Black Lawyers Association and the Board of National Alliance on Mental Illness Metropolitan Baltimore. He has been active with Just The Beginning Foundation (JTBF), having served as a past member of the JTBF Conference Executive Planning Committee on behalf of the State of Maryland.
“With its robust reach and preeminent litigation presence, Locke Lord’s wide scope of capabilities is the right fit for my practice. The Firm’s platform provides the ideal scale and innovation required by my clients, and I am thrilled to be able to collaborate with Locke Lord’s leading litigators across the country,” said Kelley.
