Caroline Kelley
Ms. Kelley primarily practices municipal law for clients in which the Firm is engaged. She handles a wide array of legal issues. Ms. Kelley’s principal background is her service at the City of Missouri City, Texas (estimated 74,000 pop.) as an attorney.
She served seven of those years as an Assistant City Attorney and the last eight years as the full-time, City Council-appointed City Attorney.
Ms. Kelley currently serves Firm clients in several general counsel land use matters. She regularly negotiates development agreements, municipal utility district consent matters, successfully develops Public Improvement Districts and related agreements and works to adopt the updates to the international codes and the most recent “node codes” after the last legislative session.
Ms. Kelley provides legal counsel to city council, boards, commissions, and staff in all aspects of the law affecting municipalities. Ms. Kelley develops, prepares and approves ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, easements, briefs and settlement agreements.
While at the City of Missouri City, Ms. Kelley developed comprehensive knowledge in the obligations of general counsel. She drafted and reviewed all types of land use regulations (i.e. international code amendments, subdivision, zoning and land use regulations, strategic partnership agreements, development agreements, golf course management agreements, municipal utility district consent agreements and interlocal equipment sharing agreements for emergency services). Ms. Kelley provided legal advice in all areas of city business.
Ms. Kelley provided interpretation and legal counsel for the enforcement of all such regulations. From municipal court to Texas District Court enforcement proceedings, Ms. Kelley was regularly involved in city code matters. She has been involved in the maintenance and review of alcohol licenses with the TABC, eminent domain issues and reports for the recipient.