Attorney profile
O'Kelly & Ernst
The short version
Wilmington-based litigation firm listed as O'Kelly & Ernst, with a practice website and reviews identifying it as O'Kelly & O'Rourke, LLC, focused on intellectual property, commercial, corporate, construction, and general civil litigation in Delaware courts.
Strengths
- Offers a broad litigation practice covering intellectual property, commercial and corporate disputes, construction matters, and general civil litigation.
- Presents itself as lead and local counsel in Delaware state and federal courts, including the Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court appeals.
- Serves a range of clients, from national corporate clients and local businesses to individuals and construction industry participants.
- Emphasizes tailored case strategy and cost-conscious resolution through settlement, alternative dispute resolution, or trial.
- States experience with matters of varying size and complexity, from small claims and summary possession to complex commercial litigation.
Considerations
- Multiple reviews allege poor communication and unresponsiveness from the firm, including a lack of updates.
- Reviewers raise billing concerns, including one claim that the firm charges for an initial phone conversation.
- Several reviews allege unethical or unprofessional conduct, with one reviewer stating a complaint was filed with the Delaware State Bar.
About O’Kelly & Ernst
The directory entry appears under O’Kelly & Ernst, while the firm’s website and multiple reviews identify the practice as O’Kelly & O’Rourke, LLC. Located at 824 N Market St #1001A in Wilmington, Delaware, the firm presents itself as a litigation-focused law office serving both national corporate clients and local businesses. Its stated experience covers intellectual property, including patents, trade secrets, copyrights, and trademarks; corporate disputes; corporate partnership matters; alternative dispute resolution; contract disputes; claimed breaches of fiduciary duty; commercial fraud; and tortious interference. The website also describes construction representation at various stages, from pre-construction bidding and contract negotiation through performance issues, defect, delay, payment, and lien disputes, as well as general litigation involving landlord-tenant matters, negligence, real estate, personal injury, and collections.
The firm positions itself as lead and local counsel in Delaware state and federal courts, including the Court of Chancery, with an active practice ranging from Justice of the Peace Court small claims and summary possession matters to appeals before the Delaware Supreme Court. It states that it represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, construction managers, developers, and design professionals, alongside individual and commercial clients. Its approach emphasizes tailored case strategy, close client communication, and balancing aggressive case advancement with timely, cost-effective resolution through settlement, alternative dispute resolution, or trial. It also notes use of technology and a stated commitment to providing the same level of service across matters of varying size and complexity.
Instead, reviewers repeatedly allege poor communication, billing concerns, and unprofessional or unethical conduct. Several mention a complaint to the Delaware State Bar, and one review specifically objects to being charged for an initial phone conversation. These accounts are allegations from reviewers and do not establish verified outcomes or formal findings.
The office is at 824 N Market St #1001A, Wilmington, DE 19801. Its listed telephone number is +1302-778-4000. The practice website is okorlaw.com.
Multiple reviews allege poor communication and unresponsiveness from the firm, including a lack of updates. Reviewers raise billing concerns, including one claim that the firm charges for an initial phone conversation. Several reviews allege unethical or unprofessional conduct, with one reviewer stating a complaint was filed with the Delaware State Bar.
Recurring feedback
What clients consistently mention
- All four available reviews are one-star ratings, indicating strongly negative experiences among those who posted publicly.
- Recurring complaints focus on communication failures, including difficulty obtaining clear or timely responses.
- Billing and fee practices are a repeated concern, with specific criticism about charges for an initial phone conversation.
- Several reviews question the firm's professionalism and ethics, including a referenced Delaware State Bar complaint.
- Reviewers frequently describe a perceived focus on money over client interests.
All reviews
1 out of five stars based on 4 reviews.
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