Kelly Ferrell's practice focuses on employment litigation and consulting. She is an experienced litigator who represents employers in state and federal employment cases involving claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, non-compete and non-solicitation violations, wage and hour matters, and executive compensation disputes. She regularly defends employers against alleged violations of the FLSA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and state law. Her credentials include the successful defense of numerous charges of discrimination before the EEOC and state equivalents.
Clients frequently seek Kelly’s knowledge and recommendations for dispute avoidance and best practices. She provides preemptive advice to clients to mitigate risks and avoid claims, such as consulting clients on employment agreements and policies, wage and hour practices, employee classifications, disabilities and accommodations, leaves of absence, discipline and employee improvement plans, and terminations and layoffs. This part of Kelly’s practice includes conducting internal investigations and compliance audits of Human Resources policies and procedures. She has a wealth of experience in drafting employment agreements, independent contractor and consulting agreements, non-solicit and non-compete agreements, confidentiality agreements, employee compensation plans, and severance and release agreements.
Kelly is on the Porter Hedges Women's Initiative Steering Committee.
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Commercial Litigation, 2022, 2023
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., University of Houston Law Center cum laude, Phi Kappa Phi, 2014
Order of the Barons
Houston Law Review, Senior Notes and Comments Editor
Awards for the highest grades in legal research and writing and criminal law
B.A., The University of Texas at Austin, English, minor in Uteach, 2007
Admissions
Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circut
United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
Clerkships
- Intern, the Honorable Judge David Hittner, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Newsroom
News
Media Mentions
Publications
Speaking Engagements
Blog Posts
Affiliations
Houston Bar Association Litigation Section, Council Member
Defense Research Institute (DRI), Member