Riesel Family Lawyers

As the founder of the Law Offices of David L. Thornton, Galveston County lawyer David L. Thornton offers legal counsel in family law and personal injury cases. Since 1976, he has been licensed to practice as an attorney. He is also a certified mediator who received meditation training at Harvard Law School. On four occasions, Mr. Thornton has been selected for inclusion in the list of Super Lawyers®. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association for Justice and Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. For a free case evaluation, contact his firm today.

Originally from the Beaumont area, Malachi Daws is familiar with the heritage of Southeast Texas. He is dedicated to providing the people of this community with personalized legal care and advocacy.
Malachi has seen how the momentary actions of others can bring about consequences that forever change the lives of those injured and their families. Many times, these injuries leave behind more than physical scars, often causing mental anguish and emotional heartache. He is committed to helping his clients repair all aspects of their lives touched by personal tragedy.

Malachi has tried multiple cases resulting in multi-million dollar jury verdicts, including a...

2025 Super Lawyers Rising Star 2024 Avvo Client Choice Award 2024 Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion - Silver If you would like to discuss a customized approach for your case, call me at (361) 579-2490 or email cole@eckhoffpllc.com. My consultation fee is 300. I represent clients seeking strategic representation for divorce, child custody, child support, modification, enforcement, CPS, adoptions and appeals in family law cases where the Court has abused its discretion or misapplied the law in Victoria, Texas and the surrounding area, including Edna, Ganado, La Ward, Port Lavaca, Seadrift, Point Comfort, Cuero, Yoakum (DeWitt portion only), Yorktown, Goliad, Refugio, and Woodsboro. Learn more at...

John R. Gilbert joined his father, Ralph W. Gilbert’s practice in 1973, when they established the law firm of Gilbert & Gilbert. He has continued and built upon the tradition of client service and excellence in representation that has been a hallmark of the firm since its founding. Mr. Gilbert maintains a civil litigation and appellate practice focusing on commercial litigation, personal injury, and products liability. He has tried cases before state and federal courts on a range of challenging issues, and has handled a number of significant appeals. Mr. Gilbert’s practice includes serving as counsel for numerous...

I grew up in Anson, Texas, not far from Abilene. I was raised on a ranch out in the country, and it helped shape my early life. I graduated Valedictorian of my high school in 1995, and went to Texas A&M University where I graduated in 1999 in the top 10% of my class with a B.B.A. in Accounting. After graduation with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from A&M, I went straight to law school at Texas Tech University School of Law on a full scholarship. I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from...

Rudy Taylor is a past Assistant District Attorney and a Special Prosecutor. He has practiced only Criminal Law since 2006 and has over 30 Jury Trials to his credit. He is experienced in all areas of criminal law from Capital Murder/Death Penalty to Simple Assault, Meth to Marijuana, Sex Crimes, and everything in between. He has recently began representing the Director of Morale @StoolFrederic in the Chicago Cubs @cubs baseball organization in Trademark matters.

Board Certified Family Lawyer, Texas Board of Legal Specialization and obtained certification in 1999, licensed since 1991. Office located in San Antonio, Texas. We represent Spanish speaking clients with bilingual staff. Certified mediator, speciality in Family Law with 20 years experience as Mediator Experienced trial lawyer Guardianship certified Prior to law school I became a Registered Nurse, and still maintain license. Active in legal, community and nonprofit organizations. President, Family Law Bar Association San Antonio, 2022 CCA, Dress for Success and Canines for Warriors volunteer Proud parent of two professional children - not attorneys Graduate, University of Texas School of Law

Attorney Derek S. Ritchie – the founder and managing partner of The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC – is an accomplished lawyer focusing his practice on family law and criminal defense.
Derek obtained his law degree in London where he practiced criminal defense, handling a variety of sex crimes, gang-related crimes, and violent crimes. From there, Derek moved to the U.S. and earned his LLM from The University of Texas School of Law. He gained prosecution experience while working for the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office. After graduating with his LLM, Derek worked for a criminal defense firm in...

I have been a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas since 2003. In that time, I've focused on family law and estate planning/probate matters, with a special emphasis on child abuse and neglect cases. When it comes to child abuse and neglect cases, I've sat at every table in the courtroom, having represented parents, children and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services during my career.

At Roberson Duran Law, PLLC, we take a client-centered approach to legal representation, where we take into consideration the unique and specific needs of each client. We treat each...

Attorney Sylvia A. Cavazos is a former prosecutor and worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Bexar county for 10 years. She has extensive criminal trial experience in Felony and Misdemeanor cases including 1st Degree Aggravated Felonies. Ms. Cavazos opened up her private law office in 2007. She is a highly motivated and aggressive attorney who knows the law and the criminal justice system. Ms. Cavazos is one of the top criminal lawyers in San Antonio and surrounding counties. She also practices in Federal Court in the Western District of Texas and also has federal...

Wilfried P. Schmitz is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and received this certification in 2000. He has practiced law for over 30 years after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.

Mr. Schmitz is a fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists and Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists.

He is licensed to practice law in all State...

Over 20 years of litigation and counseling experience. We make every reasonable attempt to resolve and settle disputes. If the opposition is unreasonable, we file a lawsuit and litigate as far as necessary. Sometimes a dispute is settled in litigation and other times we prepare for and conduct trials. We also do appeals if necessary in both the Civil and Criminal arenas.

Mr. Sanchez is licensed in Texas and Nevada and practices law in both states. He began his legal career working for a mid-sized law firm in Las Vegas, Nevada practicing in corporate law, business structuring, and estate planning. Mr. Sanchez taught seminars on Asset Protection, Tax and Estate Planning, and business strategies for companies around the country.

After several years he decided to go on his own, opening his own practice that handles personal injury law, family law and civil litigation. After years of practice, he decided to move back to his hometown of New Braunfels, Texas and open...

Chad Zubi is the founding attorney of The Law Office of Chad Zubi, a criminal defense and family law firm in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Humble, Kingwood, and Atascocita. Through experience, Chad is a great help for people accused of a crime whether it be small or large, or who are going through a divorce or other family law matter. Chad has deep knowledge of the Texas criminal justice system and family courts, which make him uniquely qualified to achieve the desired result for his clients. Chad Zubi is a trusted attorney who is capable of...

Jennifer represents clients in adoptions, premarital planning and estate planning.

We understand nobody desires to hire an attorney. But serious circumstances require a seriously-effective attorney. Whatever issue you face, you don’t have to face it alone. Let us help you solve your problem so you can get on with your life.

After gaining 13 years’ experience as a collaborative law divorce attorney, litigator and mediator with extensive experience representing families in Plano, Richardson, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, and Dallas in Texas courts, Sharon Corsentino made the decision to dedicate her practice exclusively to mediation. Sharon recognizes the value of taking a non-adversarial approach to family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and child support, to help parties maintain long-term relationships and keep children’s best interests at heart.

Sharon helps couples settle their disputes privately in a dignified manner, without involving a judge who could impose decisions on them that do not meet their...

Linda Risinger has been in private practice since 1989, focusing on the needs of North Texans primarily in Collin, Dallas and Denton Counties. However, her expertise has been called upon in cases across Texas. Linda is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and Southern Methodist School of Law in 1983 with a Juris Doctor. In 1989, she moved to Collin County, preferring the opportunity to meeting her client's needs in a more personal, committed level. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Collin County Bar Association. Her commitment to maintaining the highest level of knowledge and experience...

Sandy M. Liu concentrates her practice in the areas of family law and immigration law. With roots in Taiwan, China, and France, Ms. Liu's background and experience have given her a unique understanding of the goals and struggles of the immigrant family. Ms. Liu received her bachelor's degree in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of Texas at Dallas and her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2003. A member of Phi Delta Phi, Ms. Liu became licensed by the State Bar of Texas in 2003 and began her legal career at Legal Aid of NorthWest...

Carla De La Cruz was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Carla has practiced family law in DFW and surrounding counties since 2017 and joined the Bogdanowicz Family Law team in 2020. She has experience in all areas of family law and is a native Spanish speaker.

Carla graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and later attended Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law. While in law school, she gained family law experience interning at the Child Support Offices in the District Court of Ponce, Puerto Rico. She further developed her skills...

Megan was a family law paralegal for 16 years before becoming a family lawyer, and has seen firsthand what matters to clients: knowing their case is in good hands with an attorney who understands their personal situation and who is capable of providing personalized options for addressing their legal issues. With a combination of sound legal counsel and practical advice, Megan guides clients toward goal-oriented decision-making that positions them for a better future. Megan was named to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch © list in the field of Family Law.

Tom Trahan is proficient in all facets of family law, from out-of-court settlements to courtroom litigation. His deep understanding of the litigation process enhances the chances of reaching negotiated or amicable resolutions, as opposing counsel and clients often realize that finding common ground can lead to beneficial outcomes.

ABOUT BEN
Dallas-based attorney Benjamin Palatiere is a courtroom veteran with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses in civil disputes.


Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Texas State University, magna cum laude, 2005


Licensed/Admitted

Benjamin is admitted to the Texas Bar and licensed to practice in all district and county courts at law throughout the state.


Groups / Clubs

Dallas Young Lawyers Association
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

I am Attorney Kesney Nichols, and I assist the firm in managing cases and achieving favorable outcomes for our clients. My responsibilities encompass conducting legal research, drafting documents, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing for hearings and trials, and aiding in the formulation of legal strategies aimed at resolving cases favorably for each client. I am dedicated to supporting clients through the most challenging periods of their lives and tirelessly advocating on their behalf. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy golfing and spending time with my rescue dogs, Nash and Ollie.

I am a Family Law Attorney with over 25 years of experience in the family law field. I am a bilingual speaker fluent in both English and Spanish.

I graduated from Michigan State University in 1990 with a degree in Political Philosophy and a minor in Criminal Justice. This minor led me to an internship and eventually to a career as an Intelligence Research Specialist for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). I served at the DEA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and in regional field offices in San Francisco and Houston. In 1992, I enrolled at the University of Houston Law Center, earning my Juris Doctorate in 1995. Following law school, I practiced civil litigation, focusing on oil and gas trucking and oilfield injury litigation. However, a personal tragedy involving...

Learn more at www.thewhitelawfirm.com.

Shahzad R. Khan is an accomplished attorney/litigator. He has over ten-years of experience in the practice of law in Immigration, domestic relations, estate planning, and corporate matters. He is experienced in civil litigation and an author of several published articles on family law issues. Over the course of his career, Shahzad has honed his highly strategic legal skills by successfully litigating and settling numerous cases involving family law issues in Texas and Illinois.
Moreover, Shahzad is well experienced and versed in the areas of Employment and Family Based Immigration. He has prepared and overseen the preparation of...

The Barrows Firm provides effective solutions in high conflict divorce cases, criminal and juvenile criminal matters, probate, guardianship and more.

I have been on the Board of Directors of TRINITY METRO since 2013, served as Secretary 2015-2016 and Vice Chairman 2017-2019. TRINITY METRO operates all transportation services for Tarrant County, Texas, including bus, commuter rail, Zip Zone and Access for handicapped persons.
I have served on the Irving, Texas, Planning and Zoning Commission 1971-1975 and the Southlake, Texas, City Council 1992-1995.
I have been a member of the Grapevine Rotary Club since 1992 and served on their Board of Directors.
TEXAS MONTHLY Super Lawyer 2003 to present.
FORT WORTH MAGAZINE Top Lawyer 2009 to present.
Martindale-Hubbell AV rated & Preeminent Lawyers
Who's Who in American...

Katherine's fervor lies in leveraging her experience and talents to aid others, a trait instilled in her by her upbringing as the daughter of two dedicated public school teachers in the Dallas area. This early exposure to community service molded her aspiration to pursue a career in family law, shaping the very essence of her professional approach. In 2012, Katherine attained her juris doctorate with honors from the University of Oklahoma, College of Law. Throughout her tenure there, she excelled as the Symposium Editor of The Oklahoma Law Review, earning recognition with the Gene H. and Jo Ann Sharpe Award for...

LaQuisha Batson provides knowledgeable and sound counsel in all cases related to family law. Her services encompass legal matters involving divorce, prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, child custody, and post-divorce modification. As a compassionate lawyer, Ms. Batson zealously fights for the rights of her clients. She recognizes the delicate nature of family law matters and handle every case with the sensitivity it deserves. She is diligent and professional, committed to achieving her clients’ needs.

Even before founding The Ramos Law Firm, Guillermo Ramos has been devoted to advancing his client’s causes. First as a real estate agent then Real Estate Broker, Mr. Ramos, represented his clients in real estate transactions across North Texas. In 2004, he formed G R Realtors & Associates LLC a Texas real estate brokerage. He has taught agents in Texas the art of the real estate deal ever since. Desiring more out of his career he attended Texas A&M University School of Law. He graduated in December 2009 and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas as a...

Amber Shemesh is a divorce and family law attorney in Dallas Fort-Worth area with passion and dedication of helping her clients with complex divorce and family law matters. She has represented clients in different counties of Texas, including Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, Denton, Rockwall, and Ellis. Amber Shemesh has been practicing family law in Texas for over 10 years now, and over the years she has helped her clients with contested divorce, uncontested divorce, child support, child custody, parental rights, property division, domestic violence protection, and restraining orders. Her passion to help her clients with their legal matters, dedication to...

In life, nothing imparts knowledge better than experience. Having endured a high conflict divorce that ended her twenty-year marriage, Robin Rubrecht Zegen understands her client’s fears and concerns first-hand. Compassionately, but zealously, helping her clients get through the process and ready for a happy and healthy future is her main focus. With over twenty years of experience Robin Rubrecht Zegen will help you identify and prioritize your goals and she will explain the options available for achieving them. She knows that divorce is a life changing and very personal event. She guides...

A graduate of Tarleton State University and Oklahoma City University School of Law, during which he was inducted as a Member of the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi - Hand Inn, Chad Allman founded Allman Law, a general practice firm, in 2007 with the intent of serving those in need. Having grown up in a large family, Chad easily relates to people, allowing him to be sensitive to his client’s needs. 

My practice is focused on Family Law, and Business Law, especially startups. I have been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and I have have served my Bar Association as a Qualified Mediator and Past President of the Denton County Young Lawyers Association.

Desireé Marie Bedasa is committed to helping families facing challenging family law issues, such as divorce. Due to her own personal experiences growing up, Desireé is inspired to advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves, primarily children. As an individual who did not experience a "traditional" upbringing, Desireé knows the potential trauma of a child being caught in the middle of a custody battle. She has dedicated her career to assisting families with children determine what solution is in the best interest of a child. Desireé is dedicated to and experienced at advocating for families in a wide...

Attorney Chrysandra S. Bowen believes in putting her clients first. Passionate about the best interest of her clients, she has earned a reputation for aggressively advocating on their behalf. As a mother herself, she is keenly aware of how divorce can adversely affect the children. She helps clients minimize the impact that divorce and separation have on their children. She has long had an affinity for children and family issues.