Dugan Kelley

Managing Partner

Dugan P. Kelley co-founded Kelley Clarke, PC with the mission to deliver big firm expertise and experience to the local community. Kelley Clarke currently serves clients throughout the United States with its principal offices in Prosper, Texas and Santa Barbara, California. Mr. Kelley chairs the firm’s securities and real estate practice group, assisting clients in all phases of multi-family, commercial, and residential acquisitions or sales. Throughout Mr. Kelley’s career, he has assisted clients in structuring real estate transactions in excess of $2 Billion. Currently, Mr. Kelley provides syndication and securities services for clients throughout the United States, assisting clients in all phases of their acquisition and sale of commercial and residential real estate assets.

Mr. Kelley’s real estate expertise includes transactional services for his clients ranging from commercial loan closings, real estate private equity capital raises, joint venture agreements, commercial leasing, business acquisitions, and general commercial real estate services for multi-family syndicators, investors, and developers.

Throughout Mr. Kelley’s 20 years of experience, he also has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts, administrative courts, and arbitration. With over $100 million in verdicts, settlements, workouts, and millions in settlements prior to trial, Mr. Kelley understands that there isn’t a one-solution fits all for every case. Mr. Kelley routinely advises real estate investors and other entrepreneurs about entity selection, corporate formation, risk assessment, and other related transactional needs. Mr. Kelley also represents a number of companies and family businesses in providing advice and counsel in the capacity of outside general counsel.

Mr. Kelley was previously a partner with Cappello & Noel, one of the nation’s foremost complex commercial litigation firms, in Santa Barbara, California. While at Cappello, Mr. Kelley successfully prosecuted and defended major commercial litigation involving a variety of commercial matters including lender liability, contract, and transactional disputes, and fraud. Prior to his tenure at Cappello, Mr. Kelley was a litigator at Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols in Los Angeles where he successfully defended healthcare professionals and healthcare institutions involved in malpractice suits. Mr. Kelley’s practice also included defending employment claims against professionals and the County of Los Angeles. Prior to moving into the civil sector, Mr. Kelley successfully prosecuted criminal matters.

In addition, for several years, Mr. Kelley was an adjunct law professor teaching fundamental legal skills, legal research and writing, and the moot court to law students in the Orange County area. From 2008 through 2016, Mr. Kelley has been selected as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star,” with only 2.5% of attorneys recognized as the best attorneys. Mr. Kelley routinely acts as a mediator for other attorneys or as settlement counsel for complex litigation matters that require a unique solution. Mr. Kelley is a best-selling author of Purpose, Passion & Profit and is a frequent speaker and lecturer at events. He also serves on a number of non-profit Boards, including Treasured Vessels Foundation, which has a purpose for ending human sex trafficking and providing shelter to those victims of human sex trafficking.

Mr. Kelley and his wife, Michelle have 3 boys. The entire Kelley family is actively involved in giving back to their local church and community. Contact Kelley | Clarke to help you in your next transaction.