Kelly Guagenty

Kelly A. Guagenty, Esq.

Partner

Kelly A. Guagenty has been working in the field of civil litigation for over twenty years. Her passion for the law began back in high school, when she spent her afternoons employed as a secretary for a small general practice firm in Arlington, MA. Before even heading off to college, Kelly had developed an appetite for the law, particularly the civil side. During college, Kelly continued honing her legal skills by working full-time at a large Boston law firm while attending her law school courses at night. Upon graduation from law school and admission to the Bar, Kelly spent several years working at a large, fast-paced Boston firm, primarily representing insureds in various types of insurance defense and subrogation matters.

When Kelly was blessed with two beautiful daughters many years ago, she decided to take a hiatus from the busy law firm environment to spend more time with her family. During those years, Kelly worked in various capacities for the Natick Public Schools, both as a volunteer and as a staff member. It was during those years when Kelly started to appreciate that her true passion was helping others. Throughout her years in the Natick school system, Kelly was privileged to work with many students who needed extra support throughout their day – physically and emotionally. Nothing brought Kelly more joy than making a positive impact on a student’s day.

During the fall of 2022, Kelly was offered a rare opportunity to combine her two passions – her enthusiasm for the law and her devotion to helping others. Joining the phenomenal group of advocates at JLC was that opportunity. It quickly became apparent that JLC was where Kelly was always meant to be. Her knowledge of the law combined with her ability to make others feel safe and supported, has been an integral addition to the JLC team. Her decades of legal experience are grounded in successful outcomes for the firm’s clients.

In July 2025, Kelly was named co-chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Anti-Human Trafficking Litigation Group. She accepted this role after her years of holding accountable institutions and programs operating beneath the “troubled teen industry” moniker. Kelly has been interviewed by national media on this topic and has also become a sought-after speaker on how to bring forth multi-plaintiff abuse cases and trauma-informed communication and litigation techniques. Along with other members from the firm, Kelly has taken active steps to impact legislation designed to protect individuals from harm including the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (signed into law in 2024) and the Preventing Abduction in Youth Transport Act.

+ SPECIALTY AREAS

  • Education Law

  • Sexual Assault

  • Civil Rights

  • Clergy Abuse

  • Employment Disputes

  • Medical Malpractice

  • Automobile Accidents

  • Slip & Falls

  • Dog Bites

  • Mass Torts

  • Insurance Coverage

  • Subrogation

+ ADMISSIONS

  • Massachusetts Bar, 2003

  • Rhode Island Bar, 2004

  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 2023

+ EDUCATION

  • New England School of Law, J.D. 2003

    • New England Law Merit-Based Scholarship

    • New England Law CALI Excellence for the Future Award

    • University of Massachusetts Charles Hoff Leadership Scholarship

  • University of Massachusetts at Boston, B.A. in English and Political Science, 1999

Professional Development:

AI-Enhanced Advocacy: Extreme Time-Saving Tools for the Modern Trial Lawyer; Certificate of Completion (August 2025)

+ AWARDS AND HONORS

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly - Empowering Women Award (2024)

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly - Best Women-Led Law Firm (2024)

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly - Top Up in Coming Law Firm (2025)

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly - Empowering Women Award (2025)

+ MEDIA

+ PUBLICATIONS and Presentations

Published Articles:

August 2025 - “Standing Up to the Troubled Teen Industry” - TRIAL Lawyer Magazine  

Presentations:

March 2025 - Mass Torts Made Perfect Convention “Trauma-Informed Communication Strategies” 

June 2025 - Utah Association for Justice “TTI Basics & Practice Pointers”

July 2025 - American Association for Justice Convention “Litigating Troubled Teen Industry Cases” and “Troubled Teen/Rehab Cases”

Upcoming: October 2025 - Metrowest Conference for Women “How to Use AI to Ignite Your Superpowers.”