AUSTIN, Texas — Kelly Frels, a 1970 graduate of The University of Texas School of Law, has been chosen president-elect of the State Bar of Texas, the organization announced this month. He is the managing partner of the Houston office of Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
Frels will serve a one-year term as president-elect before assuming the presidency
in June 2004. On May 1 he was elected in a statewide balloting of the organization’s
more than 71,000 lawyers.
"I have a new appreciation for what political candidates go through,"
Frels said. "It is hard work to go out and ask people to vote for you,
but all the effort has paid off and I'm grateful for everyone's kindness and
support. Without the support of Carmela and the lawyers and staff of Bracewell
& Patterson, this could not have happened," he said.
During the month of campaigning, Frels visited 14 cities around the state in 23 workdays for meetings, events and 184 walk-throughs of law firms and government and corporate law departments. His goal was to meet other lawyers and communicate his vision for enhancing the value of all attorneys' membership in the bar. “I thoroughly enjoy the practice of law, and I feel a responsibility to serve my fellow lawyers,” Frels said. “I look forward to helping the State Bar include attorneys from all types of practices -- whether they are solo practitioners or whether they work in private firms, in government or for corporations.”
Frels joined Bracewell & Patterson in 1970, concentrating his practice in public and education law, employment discrimination and litigation. Frels served as president of the Houston Bar Association during 1994-95 and on the State Bar Board of Directors from 1995 to 1998. He and his wife, Carmela, are currently serving as chairs of the 2003 State Bar Annual Meeting to be held in Houston in June.
Frels has also chaired the State Bar Lawyer Referral Committee and the Houston Bar’s Voluntary Lawyer Program. Frels is a founder and past chair of the State Bar School Law Section. The Texas Young Lawyers Association chose Frels as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas in 1979.
He and Carmela have two children, Jonathan and Catherine.