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Fort Worth Office

Having established a diverse and successful litigation and commercial practice in Fort Worth, Texas, Dee J. Kelly formed Kelly, Hart & Hallman in 1979 with Mark L. Hart, Jr. and William P. Hallman, Jr., who had themselves developed highly regarded reputations in corporate and securities and real estate law.  As the firm grew, it proved attractive to experienced and driven lawyers around the state, who expanded the firm's areas of practice into banking and finance, energy law, state and federal tax matters, among others.  In tandem with the business expansion and diversity of Kelly Hart & Hallman's clients, the firm has since grown to over 125 lawyers in less than three decades, has opened offices in Austin and Houston, and has been involved in groundbreaking litigation and headline-grabbing commercial transactions, locally, nationally, and beyond.  Fort Worth remains home to Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, but the firm's practice truly knows no boundaries.

Kelly Hart's original and largest office is a mainstay in one of the most vibrant and revered downtowns in the nation.  The Fort Worth office is the original and largest of Kelly Hart's offices and reflects a city that is rich in cultural and Western heritage.  The Fort Worth office services the individuals and businesses in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation.  Kelly Hart occupies four floors of the Wells Fargo Tower on Main Street, overlooking the Trinity River. We are across from the Renaissance Worthington Hotel and within easy walking distance of the beautifully restored, late nineteenth century Tarrant County Courthouse, numerous restaurants, theaters and shops.  Nearby condominiums and townhouse developments have added to the vibrancy of the city’s core.  Kelly Hart works with companies and individuals involved in virtually every aspect of the downtown community and across North Texas.

Once the crossroads of the major cattle trails, settlers founded Fort Worth in the 1840’s as an outpost in a line of forts on the edge of the American frontier. Reminders of the colorful heritage abound in Fort Worth's Stockyards National Historic District, with its rodeos, resident herd of longhorn cattle, and the world’s largest honky tonk.  Renovated hotels, shops and restaurants line traditional boardwalks. The Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, held in the art-deco inspired Will Rogers Coliseum and Auditorium complex, has been an annual event since 1896.  In 2002, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame moved its home to Fort Worth.

Complementing this Western heritage are outstanding cultural attractions, which include internationally known museums in the city’s Cultural District representing the architectural design genius of Louis I. Kahn, Philip Johnson, and Tadao Ando. The Kimbell Art Museum is home to collections and exhibitions that span the spectrum of world cultures from antiquity to modern times. The Amon Carter Museum houses the nation’s largest collection of the works of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.  The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has a permanent collection representing all major developments in 20th century figurative and abstract art.  The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, slated for new facilities designed by Legoretta + Legoretta, currently houses the Noble Planetarium and has discovery areas and hands-on exhibits for all ages.  The museum’s Omni Theater presents multi-dimensional films on a 180-degree domed screen.

Fort Worth’s downtown area has enjoyed a major revitalization in recent years with new construction and extensive renovation of older buildings, including the expansion and 2006 reopening of the Sid Richardson Museum.  Clients of Kelly Hart spearheaded most of this effort.  Sundance Square, with its charming ambiance and wealth of entertainment, is a hub of activity day and night.

Opened in 1998, downtown’s Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall, another client of the firm, enjoys acclaim as one of the ten best performance halls in the world.  The Bass Hall’s resident companies include the symphony, ballet and opera, as well as the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.  Designed by David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc. and fronted by two 48-foot tall angels sculpted by Marton Varo, the Bass Hall became an instant cultural icon.  Touring theatrical productions and limited-engagement performances also routinely fill the Bass Hall.  Among the many outdoor attractions is downtown’s award-winning Fort Worth Water Gardens designed by Philip Johnson.  The Fort Worth Zoological Park, another client of the firm and the oldest continuous zoo site in Texas, ranks among the top zoos in the U.S.  The Fort Worth Botanical Garden and Conservatory showcase a stunning array of living plants in formal and natural settings.  The Japanese Garden is a six-acre oasis that delights visitors from all over the globe.

Fort Worth is a city of green spaces, lakes and boating, bike trails, golf courses, and a wide range of spectator sports.  Enthusiasts have easy access to the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks and local collegiate teams, including Texas Christian University.