Kelli Tieken Kenney
Partner


Kelli practices energy law with an emphasis on regulatory matters in front of the Railroad Commission of Texas, oil and gas litigation and title work. She advises operators, landowners, and other energy clients in the regulatory, litigation and commercial transactions. Kelli earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and undergraduate degree from the University of Texas. Prior to joining McElroy, Sullivan, Miller & Weber, L.L.P., Kelli was an attorney at Thompson & Knight, LLP and the General Counsel’s Office of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

 

NOTABLE REPRESENTATIONS

  • First and second-chair responsibility in protested and unprotested hearings at the Railroad Commission, including saltwater disposal facilities, field rule amendments, well classification, Rule 37 disputes and gas flaring.
  • First and second-chair responsibility in state and federal court litigation including royalty disputes and breach of contract cases.
  • Successfully obtained multiple Statewide Rule 32 gas flaring permits through Railroad Commission hearing process.
  • Represented multiple clients resulting in settlement or dismissal of Railroad Commission oil and gas enforcement actions and gas utilities dockets.
  • Successfully obtained adoption or amendment of field rules, including provisions for horizontal development.

 

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

  • Austin Bar Association Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section – Chair (2019-2020), Vice-Chair (2018-2019), Treasurer (2017-2018), Secretary (2016-2017)
  • Member, State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law
  • Member, Austin Women in Oil and Gas
  • State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law, Council Member, 2021-Present
  • State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law, Section Report Editor, 2023-2024

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Texas Railroad Commission Update and Enforcement Issues, Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course, 2010
  • Railroad Commission Nuts and Bolts, State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources 101, 2017
  • Allocation Wells & PSA Permitting/Drilling (Panel Presentation), South Texas College of Law Energy Law Institute, 2018
  • Trespass to Try Title vs. Declaratory Judgement Actions: Determining the Right Cause of Action, State Bar of Texas Handling Your First (Or Next) Oil and Gas Case, 2018
  • Allocation Wells & PSA Permitting/Drilling (Panel Presentation), North Houston Association of Professional Landmen, 2018
  • Flaring Issues, 46th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, 2020
  • Regulatory and Legislative Update, Houston Bar Association Energy Law Section, 2020
  • Flaring Issues, State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section Report, June 2020
  • Regulatory and Legislative Update, Dallas Bar Association Energy Law Section Symposium, 2020
PRACTICE AREAS
  • Energy
  • Oil & Gas
  • Environmental
EDUCATION
  • University of Texas, B.A., 2003
  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 2007
BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS
  • State Bar of Texas, 2007