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About Kelly
Kelly Robreno Koster focuses her practice on labor and employment law. Her broad practice offers employers extensive experience in discrimination, termination, restrictive covenant, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and statutory employee benefits litigation. She also drafts employment documentation such as employment and severance agreements, policies, and handbooks, assists companies with identifying and navigating employment issues that surface during a merger or acquisition, and conducts complex workplace investigations.
Prior to joining Bracewell, Kelly was a litigation partner at a national law firm in New York, as well as at a Texas-based law firm in Houston. In addition, she served as general counsel for an international staffing company, where she was chiefly responsible for compliance with global employment laws.
Following law school, Kelly served as a law clerk to former Chief Judge Jose L. Linares in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Experience
Recent Notable Matters
Flowco Production Solutions — successfully defended oilfield services company against claims by former employees that the company had violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)*
Atalian Global Services — secured dismissal of multiple contract claims brought against a foreign client and its US entity*
* Work completed prior to Bracewell
Publications and Speeches
"Did the Supreme Court Change the Rules for Business?" Greater Houston Partnership's One Houston Together Workshop Series, November 9, 2023.
“Tangled Up in Dobbs: How the ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation Intersect and Interact with State-level Abortion Restrictions,” HR News Magazine, July 27, 2022.
“FMLA, ADA, and Workers’ Comp: Ensuring Compliance and Avoiding Violations,” National Business Institute, May 20, 2022.
“Mentorship Matters but Sponsorship Moves the Needle,” CenterForce’s Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership Conference, April 27, 2022.
“Labor and Employment, Litigation and Risk Management Issues,” ASKP3 Virtual Annual Conference, November 3, 2021.
“Time’s Up in Texas: State Expands Scope of Liability for Workplace Sexual Harassment Claims,” The Texas Lawbook, October 8, 2021.
“How the ADA and FMLA Intersect and Interact: Fitness for Duty, Workplace Accommodations, and Return to Work Issues,” National Business Institute, July 6, 2021.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Start to Finish,” National Business Institute, December 2020.
“Advanced Employment Law: What You Need to Know,” National Business Institute, June 2020.