Robert M. Connolly
Bob Connolly serves as Chairman of the Firm. He is based in the Louisville office and has been with the firm since 1980. He 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).
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
Management Committee (1995-2007)
Friends of the Kentucky Legal Education Opportunity Program, Inc., Board of Directors
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 (2004-20)
Best Lawyers in America®, Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation (2006-20)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-20)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Attorneys in the State (2012-15, 2017)
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
. . . 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.
Robert Connolly Elected to The Nature Conservancy Board of Trustees
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Nature Conservancy recently elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC Chair, Robert M. Connolly, to its Board of Trustees of the Kentucky Chapter.
Chambers USA 2020 Honors 19 Stites & Harbison Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 19 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2020 guide.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 45 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2020 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 32 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Best Lawyers in America Honors 75 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 has recognized 75 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as selected by their peers in 49 areas of practice. Forty-three of those attorneys selected have been honored for 10 consecutive years or more.
Chambers USA 2019 Honors Stites & Harbison
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 16 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2019 guide.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 42 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2019
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2019 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 33 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and nine attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Best Lawyers in America honors 72 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2019
Chambers USA 2018 Honors Stites & Harbison
Kentucky Super Lawyers honors 51 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2018
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2018 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 55 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 39 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Best Lawyers in America honors 79 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2018
Civil War Trust Recognizes Stites & Harbison
Chambers USA 2017 honors Stites & Harbison
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 22 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2017 guide. The Chambers USA guide ranks the top law firms and leading attorneys in the United States.
Kentucky Super Lawyers honors 55 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2017
Best Lawyers in America honors 74 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2017
Chambers USA 2016 Honors Stites & Harbison
Kentucky Super Lawyers honors 64 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2016
Best Lawyers honors 72 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2016
Chambers USA 2015 honors Stites & Harbison
After joining Stites & Harbison out of law school, Robert Connolly is set to become the firm's chair
When 2015 hits, Robert Connolly officially takes over as the chairman of Stites & Harbison PLLC.
Super Lawyers honor Stites & Harbison's Kentucky Attorneys
Robert Connolly Named to Lead Stites & Harbison
Robert Connolly inducted as Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers
Best Lawyers honors 89 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2015
Chambers USA honors Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2014
Super Lawyers honors Stites & Harbison's Kentucky attorneys for 2013-14
Eighty-nine Stites & Harbison attorneys honored by Best Lawyers in America for 2014
Super Lawyers honors Stites & Harbison's Kentucky attorneys
Seventy-five Stites & Harbison attorneys honored in Best Lawyers in America
Thirty-five Stites & Harbison attorneys selected for inclusion on Kentucky Super Lawyers for 2001
Bob Connolly finds that being in a courtroom is a "real rush" when things go well
Chambers USA honors 31 Stites & Harbison attorneys with inclusion in the 2011 guide
Seventy-three Stites & Harbison attorneys honored in "Best Lawyers in America"
Chambers USA honors 32 Stites & Harbison attorneys with inclusion in the 2010 guide
Seventy-two Stites & Harbison attorneys honored in "Best Lawyers in America"