PLG is pleased to welcome Kelly Berkell as a partner in the firm’s Threat Assessment and Management Services practice in New York, New York. Bringing national prominence and deep expertise at the intersection of law, security, and public policy, Kelly will advise clients on the evolving legal and compliance challenges that arise when developing, implementing, and operating programs to prevent terrorism and targeted violence.
With Kelly’s addition, PLG is pleased to help fill a notable gap in existing legal services. Few attorneys in private practice specialize in addressing the complex legal challenges that confront targeted violence prevention practitioners across sectors, and even fewer law firms boast a dedicated practice to support this consequential and growing area of work.
Kelly is a nationally recognized attorney specializing in terrorism and targeted violence prevention, including behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM), and the related compliance frameworks for practitioners and organizations in the education, employment, government, and nonprofit sectors. In her new role, Kelly will counsel clients on structuring and operating threat assessment and management teams, and related legal issues touching workplace violence prevention, privacy (e.g., HIPAA, FERPA), standards of care, governance, and constitutional and criminal law. She will also serve as a resource for individual practitioners and nongovernmental organizations operating in the targeted violence and terrorism prevention space.
Kelly serves as the Founding Executive Director of the Center on American Law and Extremism (CALE), where she has spearheaded research, training, and policy initiatives supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Center on Terrorism at John Jay College, where she teaches courses on terrorism, organized crime, and homeland security.
Earlier in her career, Kelly practiced litigation at leading firms in New York and Boston, representing financial institutions, hedge funds, and multinational corporations in regulatory investigations and complex disputes. She also served as legislative counsel in the New York State Assembly, drafting legislation and representing lawmakers in appellate matters.
Kelly is a prolific writer and speaker on issues of extremism, violence prevention, and compliance. Her work has appeared in the Harvard National Security Journal, Journal for Deradicalization, and the Handbook of Terrorism Prevention and Preparedness. She has delivered presentations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, international organizations, and at national security forums.
“Kelly’s blend of legal, policy, and operational experience makes her an exceptional addition to our firm,” said Ben Lieber, PLG's managing partner. “Her insight into the evolving landscape of threat assessment and extremism prevention will strengthen our capacity to support clients facing some of the most complex and sensitive challenges.”
Kelly earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law and her B.A. cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University.
