(December 28, 1943 - )

KELLY FRELS
State Bar President, 2004-2005

Kelly Frels is a retired partner in Bracewell in Houston. He was the managing partner in the firm (then Bracewell & Patterson) from 1995 to 2001 and managing partner in the Houston office from 2001 to 2003.

He received his Bachelor of Science in education from Texas State University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1970. Frels joined Bracewell & Patterson in 1970, concentrating in public and education law, employment discrimination, and litigation. He served as president of the Houston Bar Association in 1994-1995 and on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors from 1995 to 1998. Frels chaired the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Committee and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers. He is a founder and past chair of the State Bar of Texas School Law Section. The Texas Young Lawyers Association chose Frels as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas in 1979. He was recognized by the Texas Bar Foundation as an Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer in 2021.