David S. Morales has joined the firm as a partner in the Litigation, Administrative Law and Public Law practice groups, Austin office. Morales principally focuses his practice on complex litigation, administrative law, as well as public and higher education law. Having previously managed and directed all litigation for the State of Texas while at the Texas Office of the Attorney General, as well as having been the chief legal advisor to the Governor of Texas, Morales provides Kelly Hart clients with a unique blend of seasoned litigator, government dispute resolution expert and high-level legal advisor.

Prior to joining Kelly Hart, Mr. Morales was Deputy General Counsel to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System where he advised and provided legal analysis to the Board on System policy and governance, litigation, state and federal legislation, and higher education law.

From 2011-2014, Mr. Morales was General Counsel to the Governor of Texas, serving as chief legal counsel on more than 1,600 legislative bills passed during the 83rd Legislative Session. Mr. Morales also advised the Governor on all criminal justice issues, including reprieves and commutations, as well as managing all in-house and outside counsel.

From 2007-2011, Mr. Morales served as Texas’ Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation and Deputy First Assistant Attorney General. As Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation, Mr. Morales supervised all trial and appellate matters for the State of Texas, managing over 300 civil litigation attorneys and 15,000 litigation matters.

Andrew Weber, Partner-in-Charge of Kelly Hart’s Austin office, said, “Having worked with David while he was handling some of the state’s most complicated litigation such as Texas’ School Finance litigation and the Department of Justice’s civil rights investigation of Texas’ State Supported Living Centers, I am excited about bringing David’s legal talent to Kelly Hart.”

David S. Morales graduated from St. Edwards University where he received his B.B.A. in Marketing and earned his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1994. He attended the University of Texas, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Governor’s Executive Development Program in 2007. David is an active member of the Texas State Bar Association.

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