Kathleen O’Connell Bell

Kathleen O’Connell Bell is a partner at Lamb McErlane’s Newtown Square, PA location. She is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Employment Group, Co-Chair of the Sports, Entertainment & Hospitality Group, and an integral member of the Education Law and Higher Education Group.

Kathleen’s broad range of experience—including education and higher education law, employment law, contract review and drafting, general business, and general liability litigation–provides a multidisciplinary wealth of knowledge from which to creatively approach any complex dispute. Kathleen has extensive experience in handling these issues both in and out of the courtroom. She has represented clients in a variety of forums which include federal and state courts, mock-trials, arbitrations and mediations, and administrative agencies, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. Kathleen frequently represents and counsels clients, including institutions of higher education, on a variety of issues that include discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave and accommodation-related issues, compliance with state and federal regulations, student-disciplinary matters, internal investigations and other faculty, staff and student issues.

Kathleen is certified as a Title IX Investigator and Decision-Maker and has also counseled clients in Title IX policy drafting and compliance.

In her capacity as Co-Chair of the Employment Law Department, Kathleen provides an array of clients with advice and counseling on all aspects of the employment process including but not limited to investigating and resolving complaints, handling accommodation issues, handbook and policy review, and managing terminations. She also regularly negotiates, drafts and reviews severance agreements, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, as well as personnel policies and employee handbooks.

Kathleen is a life-long resident of Delaware County and an active member of her community, having served in multiple leadership roles in Middletown Township.

ADMISSIONS:

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• Supreme Court of New Jersey
• District Court of New Jersey

EDUCATION:

• Temple University Law School, JD
• Marist College, BA

CERTIFICATIONS:

• ATIXA certified Title IX Investigator and Decision Maker

CURRENT AND PAST COMMUNITY SERVICE & AFFILIATIONS:

• Mid-Penn Bank Sports and Entertainment Advisory Board
• Delaware County Bar Association, Board Member
• Delaware County Bar Association, Inn of Court
• Middletown Township Council, 2019-2023
• Middletown Township Zoning Hearing Board, 2016-2019
• Editor, Delaware County Legal Journal 2016

AWARDS/ RECOGNITION:

• Recognized as a 2023-2024 Delaware County  “Top Lawyer”
• Named a Five Star / Top Attorney by Suburban Life Magazine
• Named ‘Best of the Bar’ by the Philadelphia Business Journal

RECENT CASES:

• Kathleen was co-counsel in defense of a local, private College in a Title IX case. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. At the conclusion of a five-day federal jury trial, the jury unanimously determined that the College was not “deliberately indifferent” to a student’s claims nor did it retaliate against her.
• Kathleen was co-counsel in defense of local University on a case where a Judge dismissed a suit over the University’s switch to online classes.
• Procured a defense verdict in a multi-day jury trial in a premises liability matter.

ARTICLES:

• New Title IX Regulations & the Rush to Compliance

ADDRESS:

3405 West Chester Pike | Newtown Square, PA | 19073