Kelley Ross Brown

Kelley Ross Brown

Partner, Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Years in current role: 25

How important is community involvement or pro bono work within your organization?

I personally believe that community involvement and pro bono work are extremely important within Woods Oviatt for several reasons. First, it is an easy way for young attorneys to become known in their local legal community and in their own neighborhoods by participating in community governance or on a local board. Young attorneys can try out skills introduced in law school and honed in practice on legal issues that impact their families, friends and neighbors. Second, it allows attorneys of all ages to participate in an area of law they may have an interest in, but not a lot of time to pursue. For example, because I was introduced to a sitting judge at a Bench and Bar gathering back in my youth, he subsequently assigned me as a guardian ad litem in a divorce matter

What is one accomplishment — professional or personal — that you are especially proud of?

My mother, Mary Ross, enrolled in law school at age 35; I was 12. At first, I struggled but I quickly learned responsibility as the oldest child — helping care for my younger siblings, preparing meals, and managing household tasks. We moved to Rochester, and my mother completed law school in Buffalo and went on to spend her entire legal career at Harter Secrest. Watching her succeed as a full-time attorney inspired me to pursue law myself. It was a true gift to practice in the same legal community as my mother for more than 19 years. Today, my oldest daughter, Madeleine, also practices law at Woods Oviatt after earning her degree from UVA. My proudest personal and professional accomplishment is having had the opportunity to practice law alongside both my mother and my daughter.

This profile is part of our Real Estate Law Power List for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at nydailyrecord.com.