Mary McKelvey is a fierce and highly respected trial attorney who is influential in every aspect of her career: litigating difficult cases for national and global clients, assuming leadership positions at the state and local bar levels, creating strategies for resolution, handling high stakes pro bono cases, supporting the next generation of women lawyers, mentoring at-risk non-lawyer women, and proactively influencing key issues in both the legal and larger community.

Mary has been successfully trying to verdict high stakes cases involving complex torts, product liability and premises liability in various jurisdictions for over 20 years. In addition to her extensive trial experience, Mary has a wide range of experience in all stages of litigation. Mary masterfully presents facts, concepts, historical data, scientific data, and other complicated issues in ways that jurors and judges can understand, appreciate, and use to arrive at decisions favorable to her clients.

Mary currently serves on the Board of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, is a past Chair of the California Lawyers Association Litigation Section and previously served on the Executive Committee for the State Bar of California Litigation Section. Mary also serves as a Past President of Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (“WLALA”), and has served on WLALA's Executive Committee since 2017 and on its Board of Governors since 2012.

Mary has a deep passion for pro bono work and serves in the leadership group of Polsinelli’s Litigation Practice Pro Bono Group. In her own words, “Doing pro bono work has allowed me glimpses into realities I would not otherwise have encountered. It has allowed me a multi-dimensional perspective on important issues such as immigration policies and the effectiveness of our criminal justice system. It has allowed me to assist others that I would never even have had the privilege of encountering but for my handling of their matter on a pro bono basis.”

Education

  • Southwestern Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2002)
    • California State University-Long Beach (B.S., 1990)

      Bar Admission

      • California

      Court Admissions

      • U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2002
      • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2007
      • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2007
      • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2007
      • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2007

      Professional Affiliations

      • Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
        • Executive Board 2017-2023
        • Board of Governors, 2012-present
      • State Bar of California
        • Appointed Member, 2009-2015
        • Committee on Administration of Justice, 2009-2012
        • Litigation Section, Executive Committee, 2015-2018
      • California Lawyers Association
        • Executive Committee, Litigation Section 2015-present
      • Los Angeles County Bar Association
        • Board of Trustees Member
          • Litigation Section, 2002-present
      • American Bar Association
      • California Women Lawyers

      Recognition

      • Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2025-2026
      • Selected for inclusion in the ‘Women’s Leadership Awards’ by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2023
      • Selected as one of the "Top Litigators in Los Angeles" by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2018
      • Selected for inclusion in "Most Influential Women Lawyers in Los Angeles" by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017
      • Appointed by the California State Bar Board of Trustees to serve a three-year term on the California State Bar Administration of Justice Committee, 2009-2012
      • Active in various pro bono activities, including cases involving the rights of foster parents, immigrants seeking relief from removal or asylum and a death penalty case in San Bernadino. She has been recognized for her outstanding commitment and results in pro bono and volunteer work by various organizations.
      • Extern to the Honorable Arthur Alarcón, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit