David E. Keltner

Appellate Practice

5.0 (1 reviews)

Dallas, Texas

17+ years experience

Updated: Jan 02, 2026

Contact Information

817-332-2500

https://www.kellyhart.com/attorney/David-Keltner

201 Main Street, Suite 2500 Fort Worth TX US

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Bio

As a Appellate Practice attorney in Texas, David E. Keltner is committed to client advocacy. David E. Keltner combines 17 years of legal knowledge with a client-centered approach to Appellate Practice. David E. Keltner is part of Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP's commitment to quality representation. David E. Keltner combines legal skill with genuine concern for client outcomes. Licensed in Texas, E. Keltner combines legal expertise with ethical practice.

Practice Areas

Appellate Practice

Awards & Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Arbitration, Dallas/Fort Worth (2020)
Lawyer of the Year: Appellate Practice, Dallas/Fort Worth (2018)
Lawyer of the Year: Appellate Practice, Dallas/Fort Worth (2016)
Lawyer of the Year: Appellate Practice, Dallas (2011)
Recognized: Appellate Practice
Recognized: Arbitration
Recognized: Bet-the-Company Litigation
Special Focus: Federal
Special Focus: Supreme Court
Special Focus: Texas Supreme Court
Lifetime Achievement Award, ALM | Law.com Texas Legal Awards 2025
American Inns of Court James E. Coleman Jr. Award Recipient for Professionalism in the Fifth Circuit, 2023
Best Lawyers in America®, 2006-2026Appellate PracticeArbitrationBet-the-Company Litigation
Appellate Practice
Arbitration
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Chambers USA: Texas,Litigation: Appellate, 2005-2025Star Individual, 2021-2025Band 1, 2005-2024
Litigation: Appellate, 2005-2025
Star Individual, 2021-2025
Band 1, 2005-2024
Top 10 Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003-2023Ranked No. 1, 2009-2011, 2021-2025
Ranked No. 1, 2009-2011, 2021-2025
The 400 Most Influential People, Fort Worth, Inc. magazine, 2018-2025
Top 100 Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2006-2025
Top Attorney, 360 West magazine, 2017-2025AppellateArbitration and Mediation
Appellate
Arbitration and Mediation
Best Lawyers®, Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, Dallas/Fort Worth, 2020
Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award, Texas Center for Legal Ethics, 2018
Best Lawyers®, Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year, Dallas/Fort Worth, 2016, 2018
Tarrant County Bar Association's Blackstone Award, 2018
Helen A. Cassidy Award for highest rated CLE presentation at the State Bar of Texas 20th Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2007, 2015
Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer of Texas (Inaugural Recipient), Texas Bar Foundation, 2012
Best Lawyers®, Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year, Dallas, 2011
Jim D. Bowmer Professionalism Award, College of the State Bar of Texas, 2007
Dan Rugely Price Memorial Award (Excellence in Legal Writing), Texas Bar Foundation, 2002

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008

Education

Trinity University, B.A., graduated 1971
Southern Methodist University, J.D., graduated 1975

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Reviews

Deborah Mitchell

2 weeks ago

A consummate professional who masters complex appellate matters

Our company faced a daunting appeal after an unfavorable trial court ruling in a significant commercial dispute. The stakes were incredibly high, and we needed counsel with not just deep legal knowledge, but strategic foresight. David Keltner was precisely that. His 17 years of focused appellate experience were immediately evident. He didn't just re-argue the case; he meticulously deconstructed the trial record, identified nuanced procedural issues we had overlooked, and crafted a compelling narrative for the appellate judges. His guidance was clear, his preparation exhaustive, and his calm demeanor was a steadying force throughout the stressful process. It's no surprise he has been recognized as a 'Lawyer of the Year' multiple times. The result was a complete reversal in our favor, a testament to his exceptional skill. David and the team at Kelly Hart & Hallman are simply the best for high-stakes appellate work in Dallas.