The Houston Bar Association on Thursday announced Neil D. Kelly as its new president.
Kelly, a partner in Andrews Kurth, succeeds outgoing President Laura Gibson of Dentons US as head of the organization, the fifth largest metropolitan bar association in the nation with 11,300 members, according to an HBA press release.
A member of the association’s board of directors since 2011, Kelly, 49, was chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Houston Volunteer Lawyers and Houston Lawyer Referral Service, in addition to holding leadership roles on several committees.
In his law practice, Kelly focuses on complex civil litigation and dispute resolution, corporate compliance, disclosure, investigations, and energy transactions.
Earning his law degree from Tulane University Law School in 1992, Kelly is now a life fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation and a sustaining life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
The Houston Bar Association also announced its other new board officers
- Alistair B. Dawson of Beck Redden, president-elect
- Benny Agosto Jr. of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, first vice president
- Bill Kroger of Baker Botts, second vice president
- Todd M. Frankfort of Flowers & Frankfort, secretary
- Warren W. Harris of Bracewell, treasurer
- Gibson, immediate past president
The association’s new directors for 2016-2018 are:
- Richard Burleson of Paul Hastings
- David Harrell of Locke Lord
- Diana Gomez of Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom
- Greg Ulmer of BakerHostetler
Those serving as directors for 2015-2017 are:
- Jennifer A. Hasley of Hasley Scarano
- Daniella D. Landers of Katten Muchin Rosenman
- Erin Lunceford of the 61st Judicial District Court
- Chris Popov of Vinson & Elkins