CENTER FOR DIVORCE MANAGEMENT - Key Persons
Brett Nelson is a Texas attorney with nearly three decades of experience He is... more
Brett Nelson is a Texas attorney with nearly three decades of experience. He is also the founding partner of Nelson Law Group. Brett prides himself on his honesty, sensitivity, compassion, and his unwavering commitment to providing value to his clients while zealously advocating for their rights.
Brett's extensive trial experience spans many practice areas. He has handled both bench and jury trials and has extensive experience working with family law and complex litigation matters. Brett has handled litigation involving fire insurance coverage, statutory penalty pension credit, defective construction, product liability, personal injury, worker's compensation, estate administration (claims), medical malpractice, and professional negligence.
Brett believes in setting his priorities: God, family, and then work. He knows the key to success in all areas is strong relationships, and communication is the foundation of every strong relationship. Brett prides himself on being responsive to his client's needs and is able to devote individual attention to his clients by limiting the number of and type of cases he takes.
Brett also believes that while a divorce is the beginning of a new family structure, it does not end the important role each parent should play in the lives of their children. A child of divorce and a subsequent contested custody battle himself, Brett has made it his life's mission to shield children from the pain of divorce and to help his clients embark on new, healthy beginnings. He helps his clients focus on the future rather than the past. He represents both mothers and fathers in all aspects of family law and prides himself on his dedication, honesty, passion, and willingness to fight for the rights of his clients.
Brett and his beloved wife, Karma, have three children: Lucy, Pierce, and Peyton. Brett is first and foremost a husband and father, and it is his love for his own family that guides his family law practice philosophy. The Nelson family is service-oriented and fun-loving. They are actively involved in their church, as well as several community service projects. The family loves spending time outside and pursuing activities that promote health and fitness.
Job Titles:
- Partner at the Law Firm of Mackoy
Deborah Mackoy, a partner at the law firm of Mackoy, Hernandez, Jones and Woods LLP in Frisco, Texas, has dedicated her career to all aspects of family law and prides herself on serving the citizens of the Collin, Denton and Dallas county area. Following her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, from where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1993, Ms. Mackoy went on to attend Southern Methodist University School of Law and graduated with a juris doctorate degree in 1996. That same year, she was admitted to the State Bar of Texas. In 1997, she was admitted to The Missouri Bar and approved to practice in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas. She was admitted to practice at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2014.
Job Titles:
- Family Law
- Hargrave Family Law
Jennifer Stanton Hargrave has completed the rigorous requirements to become... more
Jennifer Stanton Hargrave has completed the rigorous requirements to become Board Certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, the Dallas Bar Family Law Section and Collaborative Divorce Texas. U.S. News & World Report has included her in their ranking of Best Lawyers every year since 2012 , as has Texas Super Lawyers, who also named her one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Texas (2014). She is AV Preeminent peer-review rated through Martindale-Hubbell, a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a Fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation since 2017. She has been recognized on the D Magazine listing as Best Lawyers in Dallas, and as she began her career in family law, she was repeatedly included as a Texas Rising Star in Texas Monthly Magazine.
Her firm, Hargrave Family Law, has also achieved inclusion in U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Law Firms since 2018, achieving Tier 1 ranking in 2023.
Ms. Hargrave and her team focus their practice exclusively on family law, and represent clients throughout the greater Dallas metropolitan area who are either contemplating or going through a divorce. They know the entire family suffers in a high-conflict, lengthy, antagonistic battle. Based on her background in collaborative divorce, Ms. Hargrave encourages clients to approach their divorce using non-adversarial techniques to minimize conflict as much as possible, diminishing the destructive effect on the family. She also encourages clients to hold on to their core values as they go through this stressful process. Ms. Hargrave and her team are especially skilled at helping clients construct creative settlement agreements, helping clients strategize how to work toward the best possible solution, which in turn enables them to better maintain control of the outcomes in their case. Empowering clients to craft a solution that serves their family's interest is the focus. Her firm specializes in addressing the many different areas involved in a divorce, including: dividing marital assets and liabilities, child custody and visitation, child support, mental health issues, and others. As well-seasoned litigators, Ms. Hargrave and her team is also prepared and equipped to provide a strong courtroom presence when necessary to advocate for their clients. The priorities are always protecting what clients value the most and helping them get on with their life.
Ms. Hargrave and her team also regularly prepare prenuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements, and assist clients who are seeking modifications to child support and parenting orders.
Highly regarded by her peers for the sensitive and ethical way that she handles these matters, Ms. Hargrave and her team focus on finding creative solutions for long-term outcomes. This empowers clients to reach a resolution in a manner that is consistent with their values, and to start a brand new chapter with hope.
Jennifer L. Grinke is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization assists clients in all areas of domestic and family law. She has litigated family law matters of all types to successful resolution and has represented Dallas Cowboys players and executives in complex cases involving multi-jurisdictional questions of law.
Recognizing the sensitivity of family law matters, Jennifer strives to gain an honest understanding of the issues that are important to her clients. She provides a customized legal experience to ensure her clients' needs are met and always fights to earn the best possible outcomes. Jennifer also recognizes the high costs and stress of prolonged litigation, and she works to honor her clients' financial needs while protecting the legal integrity of their cases.
Jennifer received her Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. During her time there, she earned a coveted position on the Dean's List and served as an associate editor of the Gonzaga Journal of International Law. She also served as Secretary for Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and was a member of the Moot Court Honors Council, where she helped organize and facilitate Moot Court competitions. Additionally, Jennifer was selected to the Gonzaga's National Trial Team, with which she competed in all phases of the civil trial process. Prior to attending law school, Jennifer attended Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, where she received a B.S. in Political Science and a B.S. in Finance.
While still in law school, Jennifer gained valuable experience and strengthened her litigation skills through an internship with a private law firm and an externship with Honorable Judge Ken Tapscott of the Dallas County Court at Law 4. She discovered her passion for family law in law school, when she served as a Guardian Ad Litem through the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (C.A.S.A.), where she volunteered as an advocate for abused and neglected children. During her time as a volunteer, she gained firsthand knowledge of and experience with the different aspects of family law cases. Jennifer continues to support the CASA program and currently sits on the Advisory Board of CASA Collin County.
Attorney Jennifer Richardson approaches family law in a unique way by taking a solutions-first, court-last approach. Well-respected in the legal community, she has received numerous accolades for her work in family law. As a former accountant, she provides clients with a full-range, cost benefits analysis to help them get the most from her services. She is also a divorced parent who truly understands what her clients are going through.
Ms Rule is a Family Law litigator experienced in a full spectrum of divorce... more
Laura Jones | Mackoy, Hernandez, Jones and Woods LLP
Laura Jones has been representing clients throughout North Texas since 2011. Laura's legal practice is devoted to family law, probate, and estate planning, with a focus on divorce and child custody matters. Laura is committed to providing clients with strong advocacy, while also providing an honest evaluation of the facts and legal options to help guide clients through the difficult process of litigation.
Laura is active in the legal community and maintains memberships in the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, the College of the State Bar of Texas, and multiple local bar associations. Laura has been recognized in the Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and is part of the 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys elected as a Fellow to the Texas Bar Foundation. Laura has provided outstanding contributions to the delivery of legal services to low-income Texans and was recognized as a member of The Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas in 2015.
Laura graduated cum laude from Austin College and received her juris doctor with honors from The University of Tulsa College of Law.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Family Law Section and the Child Welfare Section of the State Bar of Texas
is a partner with the law firm of Mackoy, Hernandez,... more
Lisa Hernandez | Mackoy, Hernandez, Jones and Woods LLP
Ms. Hernandez is a long-standing member of the Family Law Section and the Child Welfare Section of the State Bar of Texas. Well versed in all aspects of family law, Ms. Hernandez has also served as instructor for the National Mediation Academy Family Law Course. Ms. Hernandez is also a member and served in numerous officer positions in both state and local bar associations and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her professionalism and service.
Attorney Lisa R. Hernandez is a partner with the law firm of Mackoy, Hernandez, Jones and Woods, LLP in Frisco, Texas. Ms. Hernandez was one of the founding members of the firm which was established in Frisco in 2004. The firm has always been focused on providing family law services to clients throughout Collin and Denton counties. Ms. Hernandez provides unmatched legal representation in all areas of family law.
Lon is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal... more
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner at Debnam
- Founding Partner at DebnamRust
Michael G Debnam is a Founding Partner at DebnamRust, practicing divorce and... more
Michael G. Debnam is a Founding Partner at DebnamRust, practicing divorce and family law. Michael's practice focuses on navigating the sensitive and nuanced issues facing families in litigation. At DebnamRust, we seek to keep families out of the courtroom as much as possible, instead focusing on reaching creative settlements that meet your family's needs. We emphasize helping you and your family move on peacefully and with dignity.Michael is known for his calm, nonjudgmental demeanor and thoughtful approach. He is soft-spoken, well-reasoned, and articulate. Most of his clients are going through acute trauma, and for that reason, Michael believes in listening first. He focuses on understanding what his client is going through before proposing potential solutions or approaches. He wants his clients to leave his office with a sense of peace, saving as much money as possible for their families rather than spending it on litigation. Though Michael believes that a settlement between the parties is often the best-case scenario, Michael also thrives in the courtroom. He is a very accomplished litigator and courtroom advocate. Michael has tried Family Law cases all over Texas and practices exclusively Family Law.Michael practices all areas of family law, but a considerable amount of his practice is dedicated to protecting the LGBTQ+ community. He considers fighting for equality of the LGBTQ+ community to be his life's work, which is what originally led him to start practicing family law.
Clients throughout the Greater Dallas area hire Robert Epstein when they need...
Scott is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Montana School of Law and he has been a resident of North Texas for over twenty years. When you want someone to deliver personal service and not treat you like a number, he's the one you want in your corner.
Thomas Little's life was full of diverse experiences before settling into the practice of law. After growing up in Kilgore, Texas, Thomas attended Texas A&M, where he played football as the 12th Man on the kickoff team for 3 seasons. He received my B.A. degree in Political Science.
After college Thomas enlisted in the Infantry in the Army. He was selected to go to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Armor Officer. He served as a tank commander stationed in Germany, and completed one deployment to Kosovo as a tank platoon leader, reaching the rank of Captain prior to his honorable discharge.
After leaving the Army, Thomas earned his MBA from Texas A&M and then became a licensed project management professional while working for a Big Four consulting firm.
After several years of working in the corporate world, Thomas used the GI Bill to earn his law degree from St. Mary's University. After law school he became a trained mediator.
Thomas has lived an exciting and storied life with highlights that include playing college football, jumping out of airplanes at the U.S. Army Airborne School and traveling around the world. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain; attended the Oktoberfest multiple times in Munich, Germany; and has been scuba diving around the world. Now most of his free time is spent being a full-time father, and coaching youth sports.
Thomas has been recognized with several awards and accolades, including being voted the Best Family Lawyer in Denton County in 2020, and being voted in the top 3 divorce lawyers in Denton County in 2021 and 2022. He has been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year from 2019 to 2023 and also has a rating of 10 on Avvo.com.