Kelly Sandill

Public /Constitutional Law Experience

• Trial and appellate counsel for Texas’s largest municipal police officers’ union in action to invalidate unconstitutional city charter amendment requiring “parity” between the compensation of fire fighters and police officers, in conflict with state law.
• Trial and appellate counsel for largest Texas municipality in action to validate city ordinance adopting increase in water and sewer service rates pursuant to the Texas Expedited Declaratory Judgment Act.
• Trial counsel for largest Texas county in Section 1983 action by law enforcement personnel alleging sexual harassment and retaliation in connection with undercover law enforcement sting operations
• Appellate counsel for largest Texas county in action by the Texas Attorney General concerning alleged violation of Texas vote-by-mail statute.
• Lead lawyer for coalition of energy companies in developing and supporting passage of state legislation protecting two-way vessel traffic in the Port of Houston.
• Trial counsel for tax-increment-funded local development association in action challenging constitutionality of supporting tax increment.

• Trial counsel for Texas municipality in action alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act in connection with change from single-member city council districts to mixed single-member and at-large system.
• Trial counsel for largest Texas county in Section 1983 action alleging termination of contract in retaliation for constitutionally protected speech.

• Trial counsel for metropolitan transit system in action alleging violation of contract with voters over building of light rail.
• Trial and appellate counsel for largest Texas public school system (seventh largest in the nation) in action to enjoin new school construction based on allegations of improper use of public bond funds.
• Trial and appellate counsel for third largest county in the United States in action alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act in connection with redistricting of electoral maps.
• Trial counsel for Houston area sports and community venue district in action by bond insurer to compel increase in rate of taxes imposed as revenue source for outstanding public bonds.

Business Litigation

• Trial and appellate counsel for global social media company in defense of multiple actions alleging statutory and common law liability for content published by users of platform.
• Trial counsel for banking institution in action against former executives for usurpation of corporate opportunities.
• Trial counsel for investment fund manager in action alleging breach of fiduciary duty and negligence in management of Texas limited partnership.
• Trial counsel for oil refiner and marketer in action by the production subsidiary of the national oil company of Mexico alleging conversion and conspiracy in connection with the import, purchase, and sale of natural gas condensate allegedly stolen by Mexican drug cartels.
• Trial and appellate counsel for oil and gas company in federal court action by Ukrainian company relating to dispute over joint development of natural gas fields in Ukraine.

Internal Investigations

• Counsel for school district in internal investigation concerning misuse of district property.
• Counsel for community college district in internal investigation of campus shooting incident.
• Counsel for local governmental entity in internal investigation of sexual harassment claims against government contractor.
• Counsel for school district in internal investigation of ethics and procurement matters.
• Counsel for local governmental entity in internal investigation of suspected employee theft of governmental property.
• Counsel for pipeline manufacturer in internal investigation of fatality accident.
• Counsel for energy sector services company in connection with government investigation relating to federal export and trade regulations.