Board Certified - Family Law
Texas Board of Legal Specialization

AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

 

Texas Super Lawyer - 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
 

Named to U.S. New & World Report - Best Lawyers in America - Texas, 2022, 2023, 2024

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Named to Top Attorneys by Fort Worth, Texas: The Magazine

 

Client Distinction Award - Martindale-Hubbell

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Platinum Client Champion Award - Martindale-Hubbell

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Lead Counsel Rated - LawInfo®

EDUCATION

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW 
Degree: Juris Doctor, cum laude (Highest Honors) — July, 1990
Graduated as Highest Ranking Student 

Honors and Activities:
Baylor Law Review, Notes and Comments Editor
National Order of Barristers
Baylor Order of Barristers
Baylor Outstanding Law Student, Spring 1990
Outstanding First Year Student Award
Matt Dawson Trial Advocacy Award
Abner V. McCall Senior Award
American Jurisprudence Awards for Highest Grade in:
Practice Court
Torts 
Remedies 
Criminal Procedure
Business Torts and Intellectual Property
Sales and Consumer Protection
Professional Responsibility
Legal Methods II
Edwin P. Horner Oil and Gas Award
Bankston, Wright and Greenhill Torts Award
John R. Wilson Remedies Award
President, Freshman Class
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team, 1989 
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team, 1990
Best Brief - John W. Joyce Moot Court Award
Best 1st Year Team - Godwin Carlton and Maxwell Moot Court Award
Semi-Finalist, 1988 Moot Court Competition
U.S. Law Week Award
Dean's List 
Radford Scholar
Professional Responsibility Scholarship
Christian Legal Society
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities

MILITARY JUSTICE LEGAL OFFICER'S COURSE
Class Rank: 1st of 46 (Highest Grade on Record)

FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER BASIC COURSE
Class Rank: 6th of 154

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration, 1983
Major: Computer Information Systems/Management

PINE VIEW SCHOOL 
With Honors — July, 1979

AMERICAN BLACK BELT ACADEMY
1st Degree Red Belt

 

GRACIE BARRA – BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU

ATLANTIS SCUBA

PADI — Advanced Open Water Diver

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DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BEAL LAW FIRM — 1992-Present
Civil Litigation - Family Law

Baron & Budd, P.C. — Dallas, Texas, 1991-1992
Civil Litigation

Johnson & Gibbs, P.C. — Dallas, Texas, 1990-1991
Commercial Litigation

United States Marine Corps — 1983-1987
Rank: Captain
Legal Officer, Artillery Officer, Platoon Commander
Expert Rifle, Expert Pistol


TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Dallas Baptist University — Dallas, Texas 1993-2003
Business and Public Law — Undergraduate Level
Business and Public Law — Graduate Level
Employment Discrimination — Graduate Level
Negotiations in Management — Undergraduate Level
Introduction to Macroeconomics — Undergraduate Level

Keller Graduate School — Dallas, Texas 2001
Legal, Political and Ethical Dimensions of Business — Graduate Level

Southeastern Paralegal Institute — Dallas, Texas 1993
Family Law
Legal Writing

American Black Belt Academy — Arlington, Texas, 1996-1999
Tae Kwon Do, Assistant Instructor 


MEMBERSHIPS

Family Law Advisory Commission of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
Fellow, College of the State Bar of Texas

Texas Family Law Foundation, Lifetime Member

Advocate, Champion of Justice Society

Christian Motorcyclist Association, Chisolm Trail Riders, Road Captain

Bethel Baptist Church
State Bar of Texas
Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
Military Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
Collaborative Section of the State Bar of Texas
Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Texas

 

PUBLICATIONS

The Availability of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims in an Alienation Setting, The College Bulletin - Spring 2008, College of the State Bar of Texas

Intentional Infliction Claims When Affections Have Been Alienated, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section Report - Volume 2008-2 (Summer)

The Practitioner's Guide to Dealing with the Pre-Marital Agreement Client, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section Report - Volume 2009-5 (Fall)

Strategies for Family Law in Texas, Co-Author, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore Books 2010, ISBN 978-0-314-27091-7

Getting a Divorce Case Off on the Right Foot: A Beginners Guide to Beginning a Divorce, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2010

Controlling Client Relations and Recognizing Dishonesty, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2010

When Withdrawal of Counsel is Appropriate, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2010

The End of a Marriage: Marriage Dissolution - Process and Procedure, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, October 2011

Family Law Ethics A-Z, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, October 2011

Exploring Custody, Visitation and Support Issues, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 2012

Ethical Perils in Divorce Cases, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 2012

Strategies for Military Family Law: Leading Lawyers on Navigating Family Law in the Armed Forces, Co-Author, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore Books 2012, ISBN 978-0-314-28580-5

Family Law: How to Have a Successful Initial Consultation, Texas Divorce and Family Law, Foxmoor Continuing Education, May 2013

Family Law Ethics, Texas Divorce and Family Law, Foxmoor Continuing Education, May 2013

Who Gets the Golf Clubs? Five things you need to know about community property, Avid Golfer Magazine, April 2014

Is it Cheaper to Keep Her? The truth about alimony in the State of Texas, Avid Golfer Magazine, May 2014

The Custody Conundrum: Understanding the six major components of a custody case, Avid Golfer Magazine, June 2014

The Pre-Marriage Life Preserver: Signing a prenuptial agreement before you get married can mean a world of difference in the event of divorce, Avid Golfer Magazine, July 2014

Understanding Conservatorship, Child-Possession, and Access Issues in the State of Texas, Co-Author, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2014

Child Support & Spousal Maintenance: Knowledge is power, Co-Author, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2014

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What Family Court Judges Want You to Know, Co-Author, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 2015

Homeschool and Private School in Texas: The Right to make educational decisions before and after a Texas Custody Case or Divorce, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section Report - Volume 2022-5 (Winter)

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I Love the Performance Center, BMW Owners News, January/February 2024
                                                          
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

"Getting a Divorce Case Off on the Right Foot," Handling Divorce Cases from Start to Finish, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2010

"Ethical Perils in Divorce Practice," Handling Divorce Cases from Start to Finish, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2010

"Marriage Dissolution - Process and Procedure," Family Law from A to Z, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, October 2011

"Ethics," Family Law from A to Z, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, October 2011

"Exploring Custody, Visitation and Support Issues,"  Handling Divorce Cases from Start to Finish, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 2012

"Ethical Perils in Divorce Practice," Handling Divorce Cases from Start to Finish, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 2012

"Initial Client Relations," TCFLBA 3rd Annual CLE Family Law in Review: More Things You Need to Know, November 2013

 

"Understanding Conservatorship, Child-Possession, and Access Issues in the State of Texas," National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2014

"Child Support & Spousal Maintenance: Knowledge is power," National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, December 2014

 

"What Family Court Judges Want You to Know," Moderator, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education, May 2015
                   

REPORTED CASES

Bekins Moving & Storage Company v. Jean Williams, 947 S.W.2d 568 (Tex. App. Texarkana, 1997)

Keene Corporation v. Jessie L. Rogers, Jr., et al, 863 S.W.2d 168 (Tex. App. Texarkana, 1993)(Trial Counsel Only)

Thomas Carter, et al v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 33 S.W.3d 369, (Tex. App. Fort Worth, 2000)

Daniel Blumberg and Daniel Blumberg and Associates v. David Bergh, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3459  (Fort Worth, 2005)

In Re: Estate of Leslie Wayne Wilson, Deceased, 252 S.W.3d 708 (Tex. App. Texarkana, 2008)

In Re: Cindy Lynn Rhodes, Relator, 293 S.W.3d 342  (Tex. App. Fort Worth, 2009)

In Re: Cindy Lynn Rhodes, Relator, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 305 (Fort Worth, 2010)

In re Richardson, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 1518 (Tex. App. 2012)

In the Interest of C.M.J., 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 10601 (Tex. App. 2012)

 

 

COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE TRAINING

 

New Paradigm Training: Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law Training

Advanced Interdisciplinary Training: Attachment Styles and Their Impact on Divorce

Advanced Interdisciplinary Training: Maximizing the Financial Professional in Financial Option Development and Maximizing Offline Parenting Plan Development

Advanced Interdisciplinary Training: Breaking Barriers in the Midst of Impasse

COMMUNITY

Dragon Youth Football, Head Coach

Dragon Youth Baseball, Head Coach

Stampede Sports Football, Head Coach
Northpark YMCA Board of Management, Former Member
Northpark YMCA, Head Coach - Football, Baseball, T-Ball, Basketball, Soccer

Grapevine Southlake Soccer Association, Head Coach

Lake Dallas Youth Football, Assistant Coach

Arlington YMCA, Head Coach - Football, Soccer, Baseball, T-Ball

Airport YMCA, Assistant Coach - Football