Empowering, Educating, and Guiding Clients to Achieve the Most Advantageous Outcome
Clients can count on me to be straightforward, honest, and compassionate. I approach each client’s unique story with genuine curiosity, offering guidance to navigate the best path forward. My goal is to help clients acquire the tools they need to begin the next chapter of their lives successfully. When clients need me most, I’m a dedicated advocate, giving my all.
My interest in helping families was inspired during my college years when I worked with vulnerable children at an early education agency. Family law became the obvious fit for me, as it provides me the opportunity to improve the outlook for families and children when faced with serious legal problems. In my legal practice, I guide my clients in working constructively with their spouses, while also implementing court orders and other tools, such as creative parenting plans to ensure safe relationships and promote effective co-parenting. I have extensive experience in contested custody cases, providing clients with a clear path forward. I excel at helping clients set and achieve realistic goals.
Here’s how:
- Provide clients with guidance and structure to help them envision what their future will look like after divorce
- Create legal strategies and set realistic expectations to help clients achieve what is truly important to them without prolonging conflict
- Assure clients that they are not walking this path alone. Whether they are facing a negotiated divorce, contested divorce, or other family law issues, I am by their side to provide them with the support, advocacy, and legal knowledge they need to get through this challenging time.
- Educate clients about their legal issues so they feel equipped to make sound decisions and work constructively with their spouses
Experience and Professional Credentials
Karen’s education, career, and family law experience make her an impressive member of Goranson Bain Ausley. After graduating cum laude from Howard University, Karen attended Syracuse University College of Law, where she earned her law degree. While enrolled at Syracuse University, Karen also interned at the city attorney’s office in Alexandria, Virginia, and the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Karen began her career working for nonprofit agencies, including Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, the Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps at Mosaic Family Services, the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Family Unit, and the Dallas City Attorney’s Office. She was also a family law associate at a private practice before joining the team at Goranson Bain Ausley as a divorce lawyer. Her experience with contested divorce, negotiated divorce, complex property division, contested custody, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and other family law matters makes her an invaluable part of our firm.
Interests
In her free time, Karen stays active, playing tennis, swimming, walking, and hiking. She devotes time to friends and family and mentors future JD candidates. She loves to travel, explore new places, meet new people, and appreciate art.
Services
Services
- Family Partner Violence And Divorce
- Divorce
- Divorce for Women
- Divorce for Men
- Amicable Divorce
- Adoption
- Parenting Schedules
- Visitation Rights
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- Complex Property
- Paternity
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights in Texas
- Modification and Enforcement
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Modifying Child Support
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- High-Conflict Divorce
- LGBT Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
Honors & Awards
- Best Lawyers, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2025
Articles
Articles
- What Are the Five Stages of Divorce? November 22, 2024
- Preparing for a Divorce Consultation: Questions to Ask a Divorce Lawyer in Your First Meeting June 13, 2024
Professional Associations
Professional Associations
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Member
- State Bar of Texas, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- Member
- Dallas Women Lawyers Association
- Member
Education
Education
Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, NY, May 2016
- Juris Doctor
- Seeley Johnson Award Recipient
- Pro Bono and Community Service Award Recipient
Howard University, Washington, DC, July 2012
- Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Bar Admissions
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Texas, May 2017
Certifications
Certifications
- Trained Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator, New York State
