Our Team

Peter Kelly, Partner

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.

Peter Kelly, Partner

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, Partner

Beth Watkins was elected as a Justice on 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 her 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 her reversal rate was among the lowest on the court.

Before taking the bench, Beth was the go-to appellate advocate for plaintiffs in San Antonio and South Texas. She developed a reputation for winning in the intermediate appellate courts of appeals and then convincing the Supreme Court of Texas to deny review. In more than twenty years as an appellate lawyer, Beth has earned the respect and trust of both the bench and bar.

Beth is passionate about giving back to her community. She was proud to be 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 courses at her alma mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law, including in State Pretrial Practice, Police Liability, Constitutional Law, and Legal Research and Writing.

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.

Beth Watkins, Partner

Beth Watkins was elected as a Justice on 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 her 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 her reversal rate was among the lowest on the court.

Before taking the bench, Beth was the go-to appellate advocate for plaintiffs in San Antonio and South Texas. She developed a reputation for winning in the intermediate appellate courts of appeals and then convincing the Supreme Court of Texas to deny review. In more than twenty years as an appellate lawyer, Beth has earned the respect and trust of both the bench and bar.

Beth is passionate about giving back to her community. She was proud to be 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 courses at her alma mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law, including in State Pretrial Practice, Police Liability, Constitutional Law, and Legal Research and Writing.

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, Partner

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 appeared 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.

Morgan McPheeters, Partner

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 appeared 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.

Kristi Lassiter, MBA

Kristi Lassiter is the firm administrator and lead paralegal for Kelly Watkins McPheeters LLP. Kristi brings more than twenty years of technical experience in appellate case management and a thorough understanding of both trial and appellate procedure. She is a proud of alumnus of Mississippi State University and an avid fan of all Mississippi State sports teams. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Design and HR Management from the University of North Texas.

Kristi Lassiter, MBA

Kristi Lassiter is the firm administrator and lead paralegal for Kelly Watkins McPheeters LLP. Kristi brings more than twenty years of technical experience in appellate case management and a thorough understanding of both trial and appellate procedure. She is a proud of alumnus of Mississippi State University and an avid fan of all Mississippi State sports teams. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Design and HR Management from the University of North Texas.