Kayla Kelly is an experienced advocate who has litigated complex commercial disputes throughout the country at trial and on appeal. She also advises clients on pre-litigation issues and assists with other business needs. Prior to joining the firm, Kayla worked for King & Spalding
LLP’s Houston office and McGinnis Lochridge’s Austin office, as well as clerking for the Supreme Court of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Prior to law school, Kayla worked briefly as a reporter covering business news and her news articles
have been published in The L.A. Times and The Boston Globe.
LLP’s Houston office and McGinnis Lochridge’s Austin office, as well as clerking for the Supreme Court of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Prior to law school, Kayla worked briefly as a reporter covering business news and her news articles
have been published in The L.A. Times and The Boston Globe.
Representative Matters
- Represents individuals and corporations in technology and other industries in trade secret and noncompete disputes;
- Represented real estate investors in contract dispute and obtained summary judgment, which was affirmed on appeal;
- Represents insurers and insureds in coverage disputes, including policies for fine artwork and large construction projects;
- Represented major retailer in contract and fraud dispute against boat manufacturer in Delaware Chancery Court through trial;
- Helped secure dismissal of claims against the Chancellor of the University of Texas System in lawsuit to obtain student information, which was affirmed on appeal by the intermediate court of appeals and the Supreme Court of Texas;
- Assisted in obtaining summary judgment against a challenge to the validity and management of a family mineral trust; and
- Helped represent major energy company in natural gas royalty multi-state class action litigation seeking more than $1 billion in damages.
Professional Background
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Jeffrey V. Brown, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2019-2020
- Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Jeffrey V. Brown, Supreme Court of Texas, 2013-2014
- Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Jeffrey V. Brown, Fourteenth Court of Appeals, 2013
- Judicial Intern to the Honorable Sam Sparks, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 2011
Honors and Awards
- Kids in Need of Defense KINDest Pro Bono Advocate Award, 2019
- Texas Lawyer Products Liability Department of the Year (member), 2015
Publications and CLE Presentations
- A Crypto Winter: An Expert’s Perspective on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology and the Law, The Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court (Team Leader), December 2022
- Austin Bar Association Civil Litigation Section presentation on civil procedure rule changes, January 2021
- New and Proposed Rules Changes: State & Federal, 31st Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, September 2017
Activities and Affiliations
- State Bar of Texas, Member
Admissions
- Texas courts
- Western District of Texas
- Southern District of Texas
- Northern District of Texas
