Robert C. Kellner, Counsel

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  • Bob provides practical advice. He helps us assess our options, reduce exposure to potential liabilities, and reach the best decision.

    -Pam Newland, COO, Hendersen-Webb, LLC

    Bob was named to Best Lawyers 2024 for Labor and Employment Law.

Contact

rkellner@gfrlaw.com
410-576-4239

vCard

Bob counsels and represents clients in all aspects of employment and labor law, including employment discrimination, personnel policies and practices, employment contracts, restrictive covenants, severance agreements, wrongful discharge, wage and hour law, collective bargaining, and National Labor Relations Act matters. He advises clients with respect to a wide range of employee benefits matters and is counsel to multiemployer pension and welfare funds and other employee benefit plans.

Bob chaired the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) from 2000 to 2002. He is a past President of the Maryland chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (formerly the Industrial Relations Research Association). He served on the Labor and Employment Article Review Committee, which recodified Maryland's employment statutes, and he has been a member of the faculty for the Maryland Institute for the Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL) and other educational seminars.

Bob has been recognized by Woodward & White in Best Lawyers in America for his work in employment and labor law; by the British publisher Chambers & Partners in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers for employment and labor law; and in Maryland's Super Lawyers - Corporate Counsel Edition for employment and labor law.

He has lectured and written on numerous labor, employment and employee benefits issues, including avoiding liability in hiring and firing employees, the Americans with Disabilities Act, age discrimination, anti-harassment policies and training, workforce reductions, severance programs, drug testing and substance abuse policies, claims and appeals procedures under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), contingent workforce, and telecommuting.

Honors

AV Preeminent rating in Martindale-Hubbell®

Named to Chambers USA®  for Employment & Labor Law since 2003

Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management since 2008

Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers® list for Employment & Labor Law, 2007-2009, 2012-2018, 2021-2024

News

Professional and Civic Involvement

President, William H. M. Finney Foundation

Director and Past President, The Shepherd’s Clinic, Inc.

Past Chair, Maryland State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Member and Acting Chair, Maryland Code Revision Committee for Labor and Employment Law Article

Member and Past President, Maryland chapter, Labor and Employment Relations Association (formerly the Industrial Relations Research Association)

Faculty Member, Maryland Institute for the Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL)

Member, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

Publications and Lectures

Contact

rkellner@gfrlaw.com
410-576-4239

Teams

Benefits/ERISA
Employment
Health Care
Real Estate

Education

J.D., Boston College, 1976
B.A., The Johns Hopkins University, 1973

Bar Admissions

Maryland, 1976