Peter Kelly served as a justice on the First Court of Appeals from 2019 through 2024. Prior to assuming the bench, he was widely regarded as one of the premier appellate advocates in Texas, and presented hundreds of oral arguments in state and federal courts, including dozens in the Texas Supreme Court. He is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is one of a handful of private practitioners appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to serve on its select Advisory Committee, on which he has served since 2012. As a member of the American Law Institute, he continues to work with judges, law professors, and other practitioners on the development and refinement of the American common law. He has served in leadership capacities in numerous professional organizations including the Texas and Houston Trial Lawyers Associations and the Houston Bar Association, and he is frequently invited to speak on both substantive and procedural issues at continuing legal education programs and law schools.
Peter received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, and his law degree from the University of Texas. His wife, Mary Lawler, is the Chief Executive Officer of Avenue, a Houston affordable housing nonprofit.
Beth Watkins was elected to the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio in 2018 and served in that role until December 31, 2024. She has been a board-certified expert in civil appellate law since 2008.
During her time on the bench, Beth developed critical insight into the judicial decision-making process and the factors that give a jurist confidence in a ruling. She was proud of her ability to work with colleagues to reach the right result for the right reasons. As a result of Beth’s persuasive and collaborative leadership style—combined with her keen understanding of public policy and procedural and substantive law—Beth never had to author a dissenting opinion in her six years on the bench, and she maintained a reversal rate of less than 1%.
Beth is passionate about giving back to her community. She was elected by her peers to serve as President of the San Antonio Bar Association from 2017-2018. She also believes in the importance of training the next generation of advocates—since 2004, Beth has taught numerous classes at her alma mater and currently teaches a course in State Pretrial Practice.
In more than twenty years as an appellate lawyer, Beth has earned the respect and trust of both the bench and bar. When clients hire Beth, they know they have a fiduciary who brings legal and political savvy, years of appellate expertise, and a stellar reputation on their team. She is a natural problem solver who doggedly pursues long-term winning solutions to the challenges her clients face.
Morgan McPheeters has over a decade of experience in appellate advocacy and strategic litigation support. After graduating with high honors from New Mexico State University and cum laude from Baylor University School of Law, she began her career at a Dallas-based appellate boutique firm. Morgan quickly gained expertise handling all aspects of civil appellate matters and, in 2019, formed McPheeters Law, PLLC, where she continued her focus on civil appeals and providing strategic support to trial lawyers across Texas and New Mexico. Known for her conversational and effective oral advocacy style, Morgan has handled appeals before the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and nearly all intermediate courts of appeals in Texas.
Morgan is highly regarded for her grasp of the interplay between legal theory and legal practice, her ability to enable trial lawyers to achieve optimum results for their clients, and—as a frequent continuing education speaker—her dedication to sharing her knowledge and training the next generation of advocates. Morgan also serves as the chair of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association Amicus Committee and on the board of directors of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association.
A dedicated and passionate advocate, Morgan is one of few to have twice received the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association’s John Howie Award, an award given for the courageous pursuit of justice in the face of adversity. And in 2021, Texas Women Lawyers presented Morgan with the Brenda Tso Rising Young Lawyer Award. She has repeatedly been named one of the “Best Lawyers Under 40” and one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine. She has also been named a “Rising Star” in the Appellate category by Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters publication, since 2018. Additionally, she was selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Star “Up-And-Coming 100” and “Up-And-Coming 50 Women” lists in 2024.
Morgan is licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico state courts, as well as in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, the United States District Court of New Mexico, the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Since 2016, Ajay Ketkar has thrived in high-stakes civil litigation with a focus on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and mass casualty cases. That trial experience informs his strategic approach to appellate advocacy, allowing him to connect doctrinal law to the practical realities of trying cases in the courtroom.
Known for his sharp legal analysis and practical insight, Ajay partners closely with trial counsel to preserve error, shape legal issues, and position cases for success on appeal. He is licensed to practice in Texas and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and regularly handles appeals in both state and federal courts.
In addition to his appellate practice, Ajay serves as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at the University of Houston Law Center, where he helps train the next generation of litigators. His work reflects a deep commitment to the craft of advocacy and to the collaborative pursuit of justice through excellence in briefing, strategy, and oral argument.
Andrea Morris joined Kelly Watkins McPheeters LLP as Senior Counsel in January 2026. With fifteen years of appellate experience, including thirteen years at the Fourth Court of Appeals and Texas Business Court, she offers a rare insider perspective on appellate decision-making.
Andrea began her legal career as a Briefing Attorney for Chief Justice Alma L. López of the Fourth Court of Appeals. That early experience gave Andrea a front-row seat to how appellate courts interpret and shape Texas law. When Andrea’s first term at the Fourth Court ended during the height of the Eagle Ford Shale boom, she joined an oil and gas law firm and gained valuable commercial experience drafting title opinions and curative instruments for land throughout South Texas.
Her love for appellate practice drew her back to the Fourth Court, where she served as a Staff Attorney for more than ten years, drafting hundreds of orders and opinions in a variety of disputes. At the Court, she was respected for her ability to convert complex legal arguments into clear, well-reasoned opinions as well as her ability to find common ground and collaborate professionally across the political spectrum.
In 2024, Andrea joined the newly created Texas Business Court as the inaugural staff attorney for Judge Marialyn Barnard. There, she focused on resolving complex commercial matters and was instrumental in shaping the Business Court’s internal processes and drafting its local rules. She remains well known in court circles for her solution-oriented mindset.
Andrea graduated magna cum laude from Trinity University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Sociology and received her law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Texas state courts and the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. She lives in San Antonio with her husband, Curtis, and enjoys remodeling her home, traveling, going to concerts, and relaxing with her dogs.
Garrett Stump has a diverse background in legal, financial, and accounting practice, with experience working in both Big Four accounting and law firm settings. As the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Kelly Watkins McPheeters LLP, Garrett works closely with the partners to help lead the firm’s business operations, manage the administrative functions within the firm, and direct operational activities effectively and cost efficiently. Garrett also has experience handling complex civil discovery matters and working directly with clients to achieve their goals in litigation.
Garrett graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Finance and Accounting, then obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Baylor University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. In his free time, Garrett enjoys working on his golf game, supporting Dallas-area professional sports teams, and volunteering with local community organizations.