Robert E. Kaelin

Robert Kaelin represents clients in the areas of commercial litigation and bankruptcy.

Robert’s commercial litigation practice centers on collection work, such as foreclosures, replevin actions and actions pursuant to the Connecticut Prejudgment Remedy Statute, and business disputes, contract actions, franchise agreement claims, Uniform Commercial Code actions and claims for tortious interference with business. Robert’s litigation practice includes work in both state and federal court. He has tried bench and jury trials in both federal and state court, and has represented clients in arbitration and mediation.

Robert’s bankruptcy practice includes representing Creditors Committees in chapter 11 proceedings in Connecticut as well as creditors in chapter 7 or 11 proceedings around the country. He has assisted business debtors in several complex chapter 11 business reorganizations and has been special counsel to the chapter 7 and chapter 11 trustees in various matters. Robert regularly represents secured creditors in chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases. He also regularly represents commercial landlords in bankruptcy proceedings. Robert has also represented plaintiffs and defendants in bankruptcy avoidance actions as well as in dischargeability actions.

Robert also handles various landlord/tenant law matters, representing commercial landlords and tenants. Robert regularly appears in the Housing Courts on commercial eviction matters and landlord collection matters. He has also handled such other matters as enforcement of exclusive use provisions and CAM audit claims. He has written and lectured on Connecticut’s Summary Process Eviction Statute.

• Representing the Alleged Debtor in a contested involuntary Capter 11 petition in the Virgin Islands Bankruptcy Court - St. Croix In re Sanitas Partners V.1., LLC
• Representing the official committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Kleen Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services Inc. Chapter 11 in the New Hampshire Bankruptcy Court 
• Represented a large regional Bank in work-out with related borrowers that were in default under several multi-million dollar loans.
• Successfully represented a former franchisee in obtaining a denial of a motion for preliminary injunction on a breach of contract and Lanham claim in the Connecticut District Court. and recently won the Arbitration on behalf of the former franchisee.
• Successfully defended commercial landlord in fraud, misrepresentation, and CUTPA claims with trial judgment in favor of landlord on all counts (and affirmed on appeal).
• Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Gold Hill Mining Chapter 11 case in Connecticut.
• Serving as lead counsel for the plaintiff in a federal court action seeking to set aside and recover over $28 million in fraudulently transferred assets (and enforcing a $3.275 billion dollar federal criminal restitution order).
• Representing national restaurant chain on franchise matters, including, but not limited to, terminations, work-outs, franchisee bankruptcies and litigation.
• Regularly represents lenders in bankruptcy proceedings (Chapter 11 and Chapter 7) in Connecticut and Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court.
• Representing developers and real estate owners on commercial eviction and collection matters, as well as CAM dispute litigation.
• Representing several clients in pursuing the enforcement of foreign judgments here in Connecticut.
• Represented international corporation and several employees in breach of contract/fraud action in the Southern District of New York, including successful motion to dismiss thereby dismissing the claims against the individuals and successful motion for partial summary judgment eliminating the fraud claim.
• Representing commercial landlord in retail tenant bankruptcy in Delaware In re: Vestis Retail Group, LLC, et al.
• Successfully defended and settled large preference claim

• Banking
• Community Banking
• Private Company Owner Disputes
• Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality
• Business Litigation
• Litigation
• Distributor, Dealer, Franchise Group
• Municipal Law
• Long-Term Care

• Connecticut Bar Association, Litigation Section
• Connecticut Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section (Executive Committee Member and former Chair)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Bankruptcy Conference, Chair (2018 & 2019)
• Hartford County Bar Association, Past President (2018-present), President (2017-2018), President- Elect (2016-2017), Treasurer (2015-2016)
• American Bar Association, Litigation Section (Member, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Litigation Committee)
• American Bar Association, Business Law Section (Member, Avoiding Powers Subcommittee)
• American Bankruptcy Institute (Northeast Bankruptcy Conference Advisory Board Member)
• Contributing Editor, Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice, 3d (Property of the Estate)
• International Council of Shopping Centers
• Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2018 (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)

• Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell

• Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the areas of Business Litigation and Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights from 2009-2018 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)

• James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation

• Glastonbury Republican Town Committee
• Minnechaug Swim & Tennis Club (Past President)

• August 15, 2018 - 32 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Two Named Lawyer of the Year
• March 1, 2018 - Seven Attorneys Named James W. Cooper Fellows of the Connecticut Bar Foundation
• January 30, 2018 - Keith S. Varian and Robert E. Kaelin Named Co-Chairs of Community Banking Practice Group
• October 18, 2017 - 38 Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
• August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
• May 17, 2017 - Robert E. Kaelin Installed as President of The Hartford County Bar Association
• August 16, 2016 - Attorneys Receive "Best Lawyers" Recognition
• Murtha Cullina Attorney Robert Kaelin Named Co-Chair of Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Group

• December 9, 2015 - Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights News: Updated Forms for U.S. Bankruptcy Court
• November 30, 2015 - Retail and Hospitality Group News
• August 31, 2015 - Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights News: 2nd Circuit Rules Not All Liens Pass Through Bankruptcy Unaffected
• June 5, 2015 - Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Group Update: Good News for Banks! Junior Mortgage Liens Protected in Chapter 7 (At Least for Now)
• April 23, 2015 - Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights News
• Auto Dealer Alert

• February 3, 2017 - CommunityBankingInsights.com: So What Does a Bankruptcy Carve-Out Clause Really Mean? Delaware Bankruptcy Court Concludes It is Not a Cap on Fees After All
• June 29, 2016 - CommunityBankingInsights.com: U. S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit Decision: National Bank is a Citizen Only of the State in Which its Main Office is Located
• May 19, 2016 - CommunityBankingInsights.com: When and How Can a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee Liquidate Your Collateral?
• April 13, 2016 - CommunityBankingInsights.com: The District of Massachusetts Calls for Review of Practice of “Surrendering” Underwater Property
• March 30, 2016 - CommunityBankingInsights.com: Dot Your “I”s and Cross your “T”s: When It Comes to Perfecting Your Security Interest

• February 1, 2018 - Bob Kaelin Presenting on Recent Developments in Chapter 7 Cases at 32nd Annual Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute
• March 28, 2017 - Bob Kaelin and Melissa Federico Speaking On Advanced Contract Issues to CT Institute for Supply Management
• March 15, 2017 - Robert Kaelin to present live webcast seminar "Advanced Fraudulent Transfer Law in Bankruptcy"
• February 4-6, 2017 - Bob Kaelin Speaking At Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute
• May 2016 - Robert Kaelin to speak at a Norton Institute/WestLegalEd Teleseminar on “Avoidance Issues in Bankruptcy Cases"
• March 2016 - Bob Kaelin presented to the Institute for Supply Management (CT Chapter) on “Best Practices for Bidding and Contracting.”
• February 2016 - Bob Kaelin spoke at the 30th Annual Bankruptcy Litigation Institute in Park City, Utah on “Preference Litigation” and “Recent Developments in Chapter 7 Cases.”
• February 2015 - Robert Kaelin to be a Faculty Speaker at the 29th Annual Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute on (i) "Preference and Avoidance Litigation" and (ii) " Recent Developments in Chapter 7"
• May 2015 - Robert Kaelin to speak at the Connecticut Bar Association on "Advanced Fraudulent Transfer Law"
• April 2015 - Robert Kaelin to present at the Connecticut Assisted Living Association on "Strategies for Avoiding Bad Debts"
• February 2014 - Robert Kaelin to be a Faculty Speaker at the 28th Annual Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute on (i) "Preference and Avoidance Litigation" and (ii) " Recent Developments in Chapter 7"
• October 2013 - Robert Kaelin to be a Round Table Speaker on "Common Mistakes Landlords Make When Evicting Tenants" at the International Council of Shopping Centers Annual Law Conference
• February 2013 - Robert Kaelin to speak on "Advanced Fraudulent Transfer Law" for CBA Seminar
• February 2013 - Robert Kaelin to be a Faculty Speaker at the 27th Annual Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute on (i) "Priviledges and Discover y Issues in Bankruptcy" and (ii) "Recent Developments in Chapter 7"

• May 3, 2016 - Connecticut Collections: How to get paid if you are owed money? Part 1: Pre and Post-Judgement Collection Specifics
• May 3, 2016 - Connecticut Collections: How to get paid if you are owed money? Part 2: Prejudgment Remedy ("PJR")
• May 3, 2016 - Connecticut Collections: How to get paid if you are owed money? Part 3: Steps in the Collection Process

• Connecticut
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, District of Vermont

• Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1992)
• Miami University (B.A., 1988)