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

Top 10 Bench Awards in 2021, $147M+ Award in Downhole Technology vs. Estate of VanLue, TopVerdict.com

  • Best Lawyers in America

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

Publications

Speaking Engagements

Affiliations

Houston Bar Association Litigation Section, Council Member

Defense Research Institute (DRI), Member