Licensed for 22 years

State PA

Acquired 2000

Status
Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Evan J. Kelly

Criminal defense Attorney at West Chester, PA

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My First Choice for Legal Help

One less for the Devil

God was going to sue the devil, and the devil said how can you sue when I have all the lawyers. Well the devil won't get Evan Kelly. My grandson got into some serious trouble and Evan Kelly is our savior. Mr. Kelly has gone well beyond what he signed up for. He travels to and from Chester Cty Prison to visit and give guidance to my grandson. He keeps us informed of all developments and is working VERY hard to return my grandson to his family. If your in trouble Evan Kelly is the man to see for the best possible outcome.

About Evan

Learn Evan’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Criminal defense

40%

24 years, 2,300 cases
Sex crime

30%

24 years, 56 cases
DUI and DWI

10%

24 years, 500 cases
Domestic violence

10%
Violent crime

10%

24 years

AGGRESSIVE, AWARD WINNING FORMER PROSECUTOR

Founding attorney, Evan J. Kelly, is a seasoned trial attorney who has accumulated a wealth of experience handling high profile cases such as First Degree Murder, Rape and Attempted Homicide. Mr. Kelly has represented elected officials, professional athletes and other well-known individuals for numerous crimes throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Most people don’t like having to contact an attorney. It means placing your future in the hands of someone you don’t know. If you or a family member does need a lawyer’s help to solve a serious problem, choose a law firm you feel good about. Do your homework before you decide, and make sure that your attorney has the skill and commitment to provide the representation you need.

Awards

Client's Choice

2019 2015 2014

Photos and videos

Contact Evan

Bellwoar Kelly, LLP

(610) 634-8850 Office

(610) 314-7066 Fax

(610) 634-8850 Office

126 west Miner Street #1

West Chester, PA, 19382

chestercountycriminallawyer.com

Message Get Directions

Pottstown Office

(610) 634-8850 Office

934 E High St #2

Pottstown, PA, 19464

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Kennett Square Office

(610) 634-8850 Office

110 State St

#305

Kennett Square, PA, 19348

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Media Office

(610) 634-8850 Office

111 N Olive St

Media, PA, 19063

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Reviews

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4.7 / 5.0

32 customer reviews

5 Star

91%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.

Posted by anonymous | January 8, 2014

My First Choice for Legal Help

Evan was extremely helpful in helping a relative who was in a very sticky legal situation. He kept in touch regularly, was very reassuring, and negotiated a plan that helped everyone involved. He is honest, friendly, professional, and I would definitely recommend him, and his associates, and use his services again if needed.

Posted by Warren | June 10, 2015

One less for the Devil

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Posted by anonymous | November 25, 2022

Great Attorney

Evan Kelly successfully defended my family member and helped us gain the best possible outcome. He was knowledgeable, caring, and always accessible. We are pleased with our experience and would highly recommend Evan.

Posted by anonymous | April 7, 2022

One Hell of an Attorney and a Straight Shooter

After being charged with several serious crimes back in 2019, I retained a supposed high end lawyer to represent me. Fast forward two years and absolutely no progress in my case was made. My attorney was essentially waiting for the prosecutor to offer a deal and did nothing to silicate that deal. I finally got the guts to fire my attorney and retain Evan Kelly. That choice has turned out to be one of the most pivotal moments of my life. Evan was upfront with me the entire way and pulled no punches. He also never stopped fighting for my case. Up until the very last day, which made all the difference. Evan is well respected in his field and his tenacity in negotiations resulted in a favorable plea deal put on the table. He went back to the well many times while other lawyers would have thrown their hands up, or do nothing like my previous attorney. I did not spend one day in jail and it could have been 4-8 years. I honestly believe know one else would have been able to get this prosecutor to play ball like Evan did. You want someone who has spent his career in building relationships and respect, choose Evan Kelly. He will get you the best result possible. My family and I thank you Evan.

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Posted by anonymous | January 6, 2022

Highly recommended attorney A+++

Evan Kelly successfully defended me against a bogus criminal charge. Evan and his assistance Julie are professional, attentive, and very talented!

Posted by anonymous | August 30, 2021

Great attorney! A lawyer with a heart!

I would highly recommend Evan and his team. From, the first time I spoke with Evan I knew my close family member would be in good hands. Evan and his team are knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated to getting their clients the best results possible. In our case, they definitely delivered! We are very pleased with our experience. I know, without a doubt that without Evan and his team our experience could have been much different. So, I would strongly recommend Evan Kelly, and his team for any of your legal needs! Thank you, Evan for all your handwork!

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Posted by Jon Linton | May 4, 2020

Evan Kelly

Evan Kelly is a very well respected lawyer all through out Pennsylvania but mainly in Chester county. Recently I was charged with numerous crime in the borough of west Chester. Evan Kelly reached out to me to represent me. After I met with him I knew this was the guy! Through a couple of hearings he was able to drop all charges against me including a felony. He truly saved my life and I would recommend his help to anyone. All around he is a terrific character and lawyer. Thanks Even!!

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Posted by anonymous | January 7, 2020

Professional excellence and caring too!

Evan handled my situation very well, doing exactly what he said he would do and not making any promises, so I had confidence but not any unreasonable expectations. I also got the sense that he actually cared about me and my family, which was not necessary but a big plus. In hindsight I am really glad I consulted with him and retained him, because I think his reputation kept there from being unjust charges filed for the sake of politics or publicity. If I had been guilty I would have needed him even more, of course, because he knows how hearings and trials work on both sides from his extensive experience. Highly recommended!

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Posted by anonymous | September 11, 2019

Incredible. Thank you

I was involved in an accident with criminal charges 2 years ago. No promises from Attorney Kelly other than to do the best that he could. He followed through with that promise. My charges were dropped, preventing me from serving potential jail time. Thank you!

Posted by anonymous | April 20, 2019

Highly Recommended

Our son was involved in an incident resulting in serious charges, Evan Kelly helped us achieve the best outcome possible in our situation. He was with us every step of the way and was nonjudgmental. He is very knowledgeable, honest, and understanding. He has a strong knowledge of the local court system and all the participants involved. Also, his staff is amazing and no matter how many times I called the office they were always helpful. If you need legal counsel, he is your man!

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Posted by Eleftherios Siamitras | April 17, 2019

Great Attorney

Evan J Kelly you are my hero thank you for being supportive and loyal throughout all my cases.

Posted by Wayne | March 30, 2019

Wholehearted Recommendation

My family engaged Evan Kelly recently and I am writing to say he is an Attorney you can have more than complete confidence in. His awareness of the subtleties of the legal system was a MAJOR benefit to us, and his expertise transcends simple knowledge of the law (which is outstanding). It became obvious through my experience with him that his familiarity of the court system's dynamics, and how to interface and negotiate with all of it, to your benefit, is extraordinary. If you were a family member, I would tell you, "Don't shop around, don't waste your time with anybody else, just go hire Evan". And oh, he's an incredibly nice person to do business with!

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Posted by Lisa | February 18, 2019

Above and beyond!

I could have not been more pleased! He did everything he said he would do. He is everything you want in representation. I got call backs and shows up on time!! I never felt like I was bothering him. I wish I could give him 10 stars!

Posted by Richard | June 10, 2018

5 Stars

I contacted Mr. Evan Kelly regarding a letter I received from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division requesting a meeting. Mr. Kelly promptly returned my call. Mr. Kelly had detailed knowledge of the IRS Criminal Investigation processes as well as contacts in that department. Mr. Kelly reached out to his contacts and followed up with me to ease my concerns about meeting with the IRS. My meeting with the IRS special agents went very well. I would highly recommend Mr. Evan Kelly.

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Posted by Dru | July 11, 2017

Really Great Attorney

Evan Kelly represented me recently and did an outstanding job. He was knowledgable and thorough, I would highly recommend him.

Posted by Dave B | May 12, 2017

One of the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in SE PA

Evan Kelly is a truly exemplary lawyer. He combines an extensive knowledge of the law, street smarts, and many years of prosecutorial experience in order to get you the best possible outcome for your case. He genuinely cares about his clients and does more than assist with your legal problems; he offers excellent advice to help fix the underlying personal problems that caused your arrest in the first place. He spent considerable time speaking with my son to help put him on the right path. Evan probably saved my son's life! So if you are looking for an attorney in Chester County or throughout Southeastern PA, you would be hard-pressed to find better legal representation than Evan Kelly. Money well spent! Dave B.

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Posted by anonymous | February 6, 2016

A life saver

I was faced with a very serious case which would have changed the rest of my life. I hired Mr. Kelly as I knew that I needed the best in my corner. He kept me informed the whole time and was able to help keep me keep my composure. He was able to help me get the best resolution possible for me. I would HIGHLY recommend him.

Posted by Marianne | January 28, 2016

Consulted with Mr.Evan Kelly,for two separate charges for our daughter.

Consulted with Mr. Kelly when our daughter went to jail for a probation violation. Mr. Kelly was very professional with his advice, explained things very clearly, agreed to help her, and was very honest in adding we might not need his services if the Probation Officer offered her a deal without the need for a hearing. She did plea guilty and it was settled without a hearing. At the same time,we also asked Mr. Kelly to represent our daughter on harassment charges in a different county, it could have been difficult for her, since she is on probation in that county. Mr. Kelly notified the court that he would be representing her in a plea of not guilty. We received a notice of withdrawal of charges in that case. Both cases had a good outcome for our daughter. We cannot thank Mr. Kelly enough for the peace of mind he gave my husband and I, along with our daughter. We were not charged for his time, and we will not forget his understanding. We called Mr. Kelly since represented our daughter in 2013, resulting in most of the charges being dropped, and another serious charge being reduced all the was down. We will recommend Mr. Evan Kelly to others and would certainly call him again if needed.

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Posted by Martin | October 15, 2015

Extremely Professional & Knowledgeable

Mr. Kelly did an outstanding job helping me resolve a very serious and difficult legal situation. His knowledge of the law, local procedures, and his ability to interact and work in my best interests with the DA's office helped resolve this case at the preliminary hearing level. He was also very willing to sit down with family members and explain everything. I am very appreciative of all his efforts and would "Highly Recommend" him.

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Posted by Jake | August 15, 2015

Go to guy

Evan Kelly is definitely the go-to guy that you want standing by your side in the court room. His thorough understanding of criminal law, and his legal connections in the DA's office give you the best odds of a favorable outcome. He tells you what you need to hear, exactly, when you need to hear it. He will go to bat for you time and time again. I am extremely thankful I found him to represent me, and words cannot describe how relieved I am for the favorable outcome he was able to obtain. We need more attorneys like Evan!!!

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Chief Counsel for Oversight and Investigations for Chairman
United States Senate Judiciary Committee
2005 - 2007

Chief counsel
United States Senate
2004 - 2007

Assistant District Attorney
Chester County District Attorney's Office
2000 - 2003

Intern
United States Attorney's Office
1999 - 2000

View all work experience

Education

Villanova University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2000

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
BS - Bachelor of Science
1997

Legal Cases

Commonwealth vs Santos
Pled to misdemenor probation

Commonwealth vs woods
Jury trial

Commonwealth vs isais
Rape charged dismissed

View all legal cases

Associations

Pennsylvania Bar Association
Member
2000 - Present

Chester County Bar Association
Member
2000 - Present

Chester County Bar Association, Criminal Defense Section
Executive Committee Member
2003 - 2004

Languages Spoken

English

Spanish

Honors and Awards

Super Lawyer
SuperLawyers
2018

Top 10 Ranking
National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys
2018

Super Lawyer
SuperLawyers
2017

Top 100 Trial Lawyers
National Trial Lawyers
2014

client satisfaction award
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
2014

Top 10 Attorney Award
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
2014

Top Lawyer
Main Line Today Magazine
2011

Top Lawyer
Main Line Today Magazine
2010

Rising Star
Super Lawyers
2008

Rising Star
Super Lawyers
2007

View all awards

Speaking Engagements

Southeastern Biker's Association
the Patriot Act
2010

Villanova Law School Guest Speaker
Election Law
2007

United States Sentencing Commission
implications of US vs Booker
2006

Attorney endorsements

Received (9)

Given (14)

Endorse Evan

Kathleen Hyneman

Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 31
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Evan is an attorney who goes the extra mile for his clients. He also truly cares about his clients and that shows in his approach to his cases and the excellent results he is able to receive."

Alexander Silow

Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Well-known, well-respected lawyer who fights hard for his clients. Highly recommended."

Anthony Hasson

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Evan is an exceptional attorney, He is well respected by judge's, district attorney's and fellow members of the defense bar. I would not hesitate to recommend him to my client's to handle any of their criminal matters."

Louis Mincarelli

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 30
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. I first met Evan while working on a Federal case with him. He is one of the most talented attorneys I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I frequently go to him for advice on my own cases."

Ellis Klein

Criminal defense Attorney | May 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly recommend Evan for any type of criminal case in Chester County. His past experience as an Assistant District Attorney has prepared him well as he personally knows hundreds of Chester County police officers, prosecutors and he has appeared before Chester County Judges on countless occasions. Highly recommend."

James Lloyd

Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known Evan for more than a decade and endorse him with confidence."

C. Norcini

Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"It is my pleasure to endorse this lawyer. Evan is a highly competent and very zealous advocate with an excellent reputation within the legal community."

Michael DiCindio

Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 01
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Evan is one of the premier attorneys in his area. He is a wonderful litigator who know his way around the courtroom and has the respect of all who he comes in contact with."