Chelsey L. Watts is a Partner in the Dallas office of Manning Kass. She is a member of the Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith, Construction Defect, Commercial Business Litigation, and Trucking and Transportation teams.
Chelsey earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University, where she served as a Student Ambassador and was an active member of the Criminal Justice Association. She obtained her J.D. from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law. There, she served as a Student Attorney with the Harris County Criminal Law Clinic and Assistant Editor for the Law Journal on Gender, Race, and Justice. Additionally, she was an active leader serving as 3L Class Parliamentarian, Sergeant at Arms for the Death Penalty Awareness Society, Mentor for the Hispanic Law Student Association, and Student Ambassador for the Black Law Student Association. Chelsey was also recognized on the Dean’s List and received the CALI Award for Excellence in Death Penalty Studies.
Chelsey is licensed to practice in the State of Texas and the Northern District of Texas. She currently serves as President-Elect of the J. L. Turner Legal Association, Director of J.L. Turner Legal Association Foundation, Director of Dallas Bar Association, and Dallas Bar Foundation Fellow. She is a member of the National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, D Magazine Best Lawyers Under 40 in 2025, the Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Marquis Who’s Who in America, and Barristers Who Brunch.
With a strong foundation in trial litigation, Chelsey has served as first chair in more than 20 trials across Dallas, Tarrant, Hill, Johnson, and Ellis counties. Her clients benefit from her strong litigation skills and strategic trial experience across a variety of legal areas and industries. Her prior work includes handling high-stakes personal injury and product liability cases, including mass tort litigation involving Essure removal and Hernia Mesh failure. Additionally, she served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General of Texas: Child Support Division, gaining valuable insights into family law.
Outside of her professional life, Chelsey enjoys traveling and exploring different cuisines, spending time with her French bulldog Chief Laflare, and making memories with her family and friends.
