Corporate Law | Employment Law | Litigation | Equine Law

kdavis@smithpauley.com |  (402) 501-8138

Kelly R. Davis is a business, employment, and litigation attorney at Smith Pauley who helps companies navigate workforce issues and day-to-day operational challenges. She regularly advises employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including hiring and termination decisions, workplace policies, wage and hour compliance, FMLA and ADA issues, discrimination and harassment claims, and employment-related dispute resolution. Her experience includes counseling human resources teams, drafting employment agreements and policies, and defending businesses in litigation across state, federal, and appellate courts.

Kelly brings more than 20 years of experience in both in-house and private practice roles, including serving as Associate General Counsel at Axos Clearing, LLC and as counsel for major financial services institutions including Securities America and TD Ameritrade. Throughout her career, she has combined deep legal knowledge with practical, business-focused guidance to help clients manage risk and operate effectively.

In addition to her legal practice, Kelly has extensive firsthand business experience through her involvement in helping her husband launch and operate two family-owned franchise businesses. In that role, she was instrumental in structuring the businesses, negotiating leases, managing vendor and contractor agreements, developing HR policies, and overseeing regulatory and operational compliance. This perspective gives her a unique understanding of the real-world challenges business owners face and informs her pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach.

Kelly also advises clients on corporate governance, commercial contracts, and broader business matters, delivering clear, actionable guidance that supports growth and protects what clients have built. Known for her responsiveness and attention to detail, she is a trusted advisor to organizations ranging from small businesses to sophisticated financial institutions.

Education

• University of Nebraska Omaha, B.S.

• University of Nebraska Lincoln, J.D.

Bar Admissions

• Nebraska State Bar

Honors and Recognitions

• G. Robert Muchemore Scholarship

• Awarded Outstanding Civil Clinic Student for 2002

• 2002 Cali Award of Excellence - Civil Clinic

• Barbara Miller Sr. Scholarship

• Barbara Miller Jr. Scholarship

• James Hoerjs Scholarship

• Omaha Assoc. of Business Economics Scholarship

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude