Best Lawyers Near You in Desoto, Texas for Family Law
Kathryn SamlerProtecting and serving children and families is a longstanding commitment of Katie’s. She strongly advocates for clients when they are going through one of the most difficult times of life, and ensures that her clients goals are prioritized. Katie has a special interest in helping families with challenges that include complex property division, mental health issues (including personality disorders), and substance abuse issues.
No two divorces are the same, and no two divorces reach the same resolution. That means that how you achieve a resolution also differs from case to case. R. Scott Downing is a skilled trial lawyer who has tried numerous complex high-dollar property and custody cases. Recognizing the uniqueness of each case and that not every situation requires a courtroom, Scott is also skilled in the use of collaborative law to reach a resolution. In 2017, Scott was named to The National Law Journal’s ...
Clients throughout the Greater Dallas area hire Robert Epstein when they need an experienced family law attorney with the strategic capabilities, creativity and intense drive to resolve challenging cases both in and out of the courtroom. He guides clients with diverse goals and financial circumstances through all types of family law matters, including divorce proceedings, child custody cases, prenuptial and post-marital agreements, collaborative divorces, modifications of visitation and paren...
Rachel Rizzieri Feist is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Rachel, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rebecca is a fighter. She fights for her clients, her clients’ children, her clients’ financial well-being, and her clients’ futures. And she fights to win. Her prowess in the courtroom is well known throughout the legal community. She’s prepared, astute, quick-witted, and good on her feet. Even attorneys on the other side of the table appreciate working with her; yes, she’s an ardent advocate for the people she represents, but she’s also fair, good-natured...
Abby Ewing has built a family law practice representing people from all walks of life, from single mothers to CEOs and entrepreneurs during some of the most difficult times in their lives. She’s shown a unique ability to understand and relate to those she represents at the most fundamental level, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Ms. Ewing has experience in complex property division cases, as well as pre- and postmarital agreements and child support and custody matters, includin...
Lindsey Obenhaus is a Partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Dallas, Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law (2024–2026), following earlier recognition in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch© (2021–2022). Lindsey has also been selected to Texas Super Lawyers (2024–2025) after inclusion on the Texas Rising Stars list (2022–2024), and has been named to D Magazine’s ...
As the proud father of six and grandfather of five children, the traits that make Keith Nelson such an effective and empathetic family law attorney—including problem-solver, crisis manager, communicator, mediator, and peacemaker—come naturally. Keith uses these skills, honed over a 30-year career, to make a difference in clients’ lives, obtaining results that match their goals. Keith is responsive to his clients while guiding them through the legal process in an easy-to-unde...
Taylor cares about people: She’s an auxiliary board member at The Family Place – a vital area resource for victims of domestic abuse. She’s been active in fundraising efforts for the Genesis Women’s Shelter. She served as a valued member of the Texas Young Lawyers Association board of directors. (The TYLA helps advance the legal profession’s role in serving the public.) But first and foremost, Taylor cares about her clients. “Divorce is not just an ending; ...
Francesca Blackard is a dedicated family law attorney and partner at McClure Law Group, where she has exclusively practiced family law since earning her Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 2012. Francesca’s journey to becoming a well-respected family law attorney began even before law school, where she spent five years working as a paralegal and law clerk at family law firms in Chicago, New York, and Dallas. Her unique career path has honed a skill set deeply rooted in family law, ...
Kevin Davidson, a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley, is a distinguished family lawyer with over 15 years of experience exclusively in family law. He is skilled in cases involving children, where his focus on child-centric solutions and co-parenting strategies helps mitigate the negative impact of divorce on children. With a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and early career experience at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office prosecuting family violence crimes, Kevin br...
Carla M. Calabrese is the founding and managing partner of Calabrese BudnerLLP , a Dallas-based boutique family law firm focused on complex divorce and custody matters. With more than 35 years of experience, she practices in FamilyLaw , Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Family Law Arbitration. Carla is a pioneer of Emotionally Intelligent Divorce®, guiding clients through high-stakes family matters with clarity, strategy, and a focus on long-term outcomes. A Master ...
Kaleigh Downing has always been passionate about children and at a young age wondered if she might become a teacher. She eventually decided she could best serve those in need as an attorney and pursued a career in Family Law. Divorce and child custody are personal experiences for Ms. Downing and very close to her heart. Growing up in a blended family gave her a strong understanding of the delicate issues Family Law often deals with. She knows what it’s like for children to experience a ...
John J. Kappel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Family Law. John J., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.