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Goranson Bain Ausley Expands Leadership in High-Stakes Family Law Arbitration with Two Additional AAML-Certified Arbitrators
John J. Kappel, Kristal Thomson | June 9, 2026
Goranson Bain Ausley is proud to announce that partners John J. Kappel and Kristal Thomson have earned arbitration certification from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), one of the nation’s most respected organizations of family law attorneys.
With the addition of Kappel and Thomson, Goranson Bain Ausley now has four AAML-certified arbitrators, among the largest concentrations of AAML-certified family law arbitrators in Texas. This credential recognizes advanced training and experience in resolving complex family law disputes outside the courtroom. Certified arbitrators are qualified to serve as neutral decision-makers in sophisticated family law matters involving substantial assets, business interests, executive compensation, trusts, and complex custody disputes.
For high-net-worth individuals and families, arbitration can offer a more private, efficient, and highly tailored alternative to traditional courtroom litigation — particularly when discretion, financial complexity, and specialized legal experience are priorities.
John J. Kappel is a partner in the firm’s Plano office and is Board Certified in both Family Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a rare distinction that reflects substantial experience in both trial and appellate family law matters. His practice focuses on complex divorce, property division, business valuation disputes, and appellate issues arising from high-conflict family law litigation.
Kristal Thomson is a partner in the firm’s San Antonio office and is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys. She is also a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization limited to 100 of the top family law trial lawyers in the United States. Kristal is widely recognized for handling sophisticated divorce, custody, and high-asset family law disputes.
“These certifications further strengthen the depth of experience our firm brings to complex family law matters throughout Texas. Clients facing significant financial, business, or parenting issues often benefit from attorneys and arbitrators who understand both the legal complexity and the importance of strategic, efficient resolution.”
– Lindley Bain, Managing Partner
For more than 40 years, Goranson Bain Ausley has been recognized as one of Texas’ leading family law firms, representing clients in complex divorce, custody, property division, collaborative law, mediation, arbitration, and appellate matters.
About Goranson Bain Ausley
Goranson Bain Ausley is the largest family law firms in Texas, focused exclusively on family law matters. The firm is nationally recognized for its depth of experience in complex and high-net-worth family law disputes, with offices in Dallas, Plano, Austin, Fort Worth, Granbury, Midland, and San Antonio.
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