Kelly Frels
Senior Partner
Sharon Frenna
713.221.2688 x2457
Kelly Frels, the firm's managing partner from 1995 through 2001 and the managing partner of the Houston office from 2001 to 2003, has been an attorney for public and private schools, independent school districts, community colleges, universities and other public bodies for more than 35 years. His expertise extends to all areas of public law including extensive civil rights litigation, employment, student discipline, the First Amendment, desegregation and policy development and implementation. He also focuses on government strategies, employment contracts, grievances, environmental policy, employee terminations, executive compensation, school and college governance, and policy development.
Mr. Frels was lead attorney for the Houston Independent School District (HISD) in its successful transition from a segregated to an integrated system in the 1980s. He assisted HISD in establishing the Houston Community College as a component of HISD and later helped the community college become an independent entity.
His involvement in representing public school districts led him and five others to organize the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, which he later chaired.
Representative Matters
Houston Independent School Dist. v. Houston Chronicle Pub. Co., 798 S.W.2d 580, 64 Ed. Law Rep. 293; Tex. App. -- Hous., Aug 09, 1990. Privacy of personnel records held by educational institutions.
Houston Federation of Teachers, Local 2415 v. Houston Independent School Dist., 730 S.W.2d 644, 40 Ed. Law Rep. 533; Tex., Apr 22, 1987. When exhaustion of administrative remedies is required.
Ross v. Houston Independent School Dist., 699 F.2d 218; 5th Cir. (Tex.), 1983. The final appellate decision in the 30-year Houston desegregation case.
Wright v. Houston Independent School Dist., 486 F.2d 137, 5th Cir. (Tex.), 1973; cert. denied, 1974. Evolution may constitutionally be taught in science classes.
Publications and Speeches
Co-author, "Investigating Alleged Misconduct by Employees," NSBA Council of School Attorneys monograph, revised 2005.
Co-author, "A Documentation System for Teacher Improvement or Termination," ELA monograph, fifth edition 2003.
Co-editor and author, "Texas School Law: A Practical Guide," Education Law Association, 1996; second edition 2004.
Authored or co-authored more than 50 articles relating to school law and professional issues.
Education
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1970
B.S., Texas State University, 1966
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th and 11th Circuits
U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
U.S. Supreme Court
Affiliations
Texas Environmental Research Consortium, Chair, Board of Directors, 2006-present
Greater Houston Partnership, Director and Director Emeritus, 1997-present
State Bar of Texas, President, 2004-2005
Houston Bar Association, President, 1994-1995
Noteworthy
The Best Lawyers in America, 2008
Texas Super Lawyers, 2007
National School Boards Association, Council of School Attorneys Chair 1977-1978; Recipient of the Chairman's Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2004
Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas Award, 1979
Education Law Association President, 1978-1979; Recipient of the McGhehey Award for Lifetime Service, 1991