Robert M. Connolly
Bob Connolly is based in the Louisville office where he previously served as Chair of the firm. He currently serves as General Counsel to the firm. He has been with the firm since 1980 and is a member of the firm's Business Litigation Section and the Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group.
Bob has tried more than 80 cases to jury verdicts in several states. He has also argued before every appellate court in the federal and state courts of Kentucky. His practice includes defending complex product liability claims and construction and commercial disputes. He has also had experience in administrative, OSHA, insurance, and admiralty claims.
Bob also served as a Special Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court, Greene, et. al. v. Commonwealth of Kentucky, Administrative Office of the Courts, et. al., 349 S.W.3d 892 (KY September 22, 2011).
Legal Services: Tech Proves Its Case
by Mark Green, The Lane Report, September 18, 2020
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Trial counsel for a major medical device manufacturer in multiple states
National counsel for a nation-wide construction company in corporate and litigation matters
Supervising trial counsel in mass tort litigation involving more than 2,000 plaintiffs in Kentucky
General Counsel for the firm (2021-present)
Chair (2015-21)
Management Committee (1995-2007)
Kentucky Legal Education Opportunity (KLEO) Program, Founding Member
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Kentucky Chapter, Board of Trustees (2020-present)
Downtown Louisville Rotary Club, Member
Jefferson Street Baptist Church, Past President
Washington and Lee University School of Law
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Burks Scholar, 1979-1980 (Teaching Fellow in Law)
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Captain, William and Mary Invitational Moot Court Team
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Team Leader, Alderson Program (Federal Penitentiary)
magna cum laude
Dartmouth College
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Dartmouth College Government Research Award
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Rufus Choate Scholar
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Jewitt Tucker Foundation Fellow
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Language studies in Bourges, France 1975
Mr. Connolly is involved in a number of civic and charitable activities. He is past President of the Board of Directors of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church, a local homeless shelter dedicated to mentally ill and chemically dependent individuals. He is the past President of the Louisville Bar Foundation and a member of Downtown Louisville Rotary Club. Mr. Connolly is a past member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council. Mr. Connolly also enjoys skiing, backpacking and scuba diving.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Chambers USA, "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," Litigation: General Commercial and Litigation: Tort & Insurance Defense (2004-22)
Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation (2006-23)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Bet-the-Company Litigation (2021)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-22)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Attorneys in the State (2011-15, 2017, 2022)
Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
. . . is noted for his excellent ability as a trial lawyer. He offers significant expertise in tort disputes as part of a broad commercial litigation practice.
. . . results oriented business litigator who is strategic, knowledgeable and gives great advice . . . highlighted for his strengths in construction and product liability disputes and also noted for wide-ranging experience in appellate proceedings.
. . . an excellent and experienced trial lawyer.
. . . highly recommended by clients.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Chambers USA Honors 23 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 23 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2022 guide. The Chambers USA guide ranks the top law firms and leading attorneys in the United States.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 37 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 37 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 29 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and eight attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 93 lawyers are included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Additionally, 11 attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 14 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Chambers USA Honors 22 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 22 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2021 guide.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 41 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2021 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices.
Legal Maneuvering: How the pandemic has forced Louisville law firms to rethink the workplace
The practice of law was already trending toward remote work when the coronavirus outbreak sent attorneys packing to their home offices in March, said Bob Connolly, chairman of Stites & Harbison PLLC in Louisville.
Stites leader Robert Connolly on how his office manages the state of downtown
Robert Connolly, chairman of Stites & Harbison PLLC, had a godson who was living in the Chinese province of Wuhan as an English teacher in late 2019, before it was the epicenter the novel coronavirus pandemic.