KATHRYN J. MURPHY
GORANSON BAIN AUSLEY, PLLC
Dallas, Plano and Austin, Texas
(214) 473.9696
Email: kmurphy@gbafamilylaw.com
Website: www.gbafamilylaw.com 
	
EDUCATION:
J.D.	1989		Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
B.A.	1986		University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, with Honors
							
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS:
Partner 	- 	Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 1995)

Fellow		-	American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2004 - Present)
Board of 
Governors	- 	American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2015-2017)
Fellow		-	International Academy of Family Lawyers
Fellow		-	Texas Chapter of the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Executive Committee (2006 - 2010; Past President)
Member	-	Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (1995 - Present)
Member/Chair-	Family Law Council, State Bar of Texas (2005 - Present)(Executive Committee, Chair 2016-2017)
Diplomate	-	American College of Trial Lawyers – Fellowship is extended by invitation only to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality.
Member	-	State Bar of Texas Board of Directors (3-year elected term beginning 2019)
Member	-	Collaborative Divorce Texas
Member	-	State Bar of Texas (Family Law Section)
Member	-	American Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member	-	College of the State Bar of Texas
Member	-	Dallas Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member	-	Collin County Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member	-	Denton County Bar Association 
Member 	-	Plano Bar Association
Co-Chair	-	DAYL People’s Law School (1995 & 1996)
Instructor	-	Southeastern Paralegal Institute (1993-1996)
Member	-	Fee Dispute Committee - Dallas Bar Association (1998 - 2000)
Fellow		-	Collin County Bench Bar Foundation
Lifetime Fellow	Texas Family Law Foundation (State Bar of Texas)
Fellow		-	Texas Bar Foundation – Nominating Committee Member
Chair		-	Program Committee, Collin County Bench Bar Conference, 2000
Board Member-	Past Board Member of the Advisory Board in CASA of Collin County
Member/Chair-	Grievance Committee, District 1A (2002 - 2007);  (Chair – 2006-2007)		
Certificate	-	Advanced Mediation - Family Law (1995)
Member	-	Annette Stewart Inn of Court (Board Member 2005-2012)

AWARDS AND HONORS:
	
Named the “Best Lawyers in America” 2015, 2017 and 2019 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas – only a single lawyer in each practice area within a community is honored with this distinction.  

Recipient of the Sam Emison Award – each year, this award is bestowed upon one exceptionally distinguished family law practitioner or judge who has demonstrated a significant commitment and made significant contributions to the practice of family law in the State of Texas.  The Sam Emison Award is one of the most coveted awards in Texas family law.  

Recipient of the Dan Price Award from the State Bar of Texas in 2018 – this award is presented to a lawyer who has had a significant impact on the Family Law Section for the past year – teaching, writing, and advancing the practice of family law.							

Recipient of the Annette Stewart Inn of Court, Serjeant of the Inn Award in 2013 (awarded to an attorney who has significantly contributed to the profession and the community through his or her career).

Recipient of the University of Texas at Tyler, Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award (2016).
							
Best Family Law CLE Article, State Bar of Texas, 2004.

Named "Best Lawyers in Dallas" Family Law by D Magazine (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).
Named “Best Female Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine (2010).
Named “Best Personal Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine (2009).
Named “The Best Lawyers in America” – Woodward and White Press (2003 - 2020).
Named “Top 50 Women Texas Super Lawyers” by Texas Monthly (2003 - 2020).
Named “Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers” by Texas Monthly (2004 - 2009; 2011; 2013-2019).
Named “Top 100 Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers” by Texas Monthly (2003-2009; 2011-2020).
Named “Texas Super Lawyer” in Family Law by Texas Monthly (2003 - 2020).

Diplomate of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2020 – The organization consists of 100 of the top family law attorneys in the United States.  Fellowship is extended by invitation only to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality.

PUBLICATIONS:

Co-Author, Thomson Reuters Publishing Company, TEXAS FAMILY LAW PRACTICE GUIDE (published March 2000, supplemented each year to the present) – This 3-volume set is written for lawyers and judges, and contains the substantive law regarding family law matters, including marital property (characterization, tracing, valuation), children and divorce.  The treatise is updated each year to contain the current law on each topic.  

Primary Author, PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS FROM A TEXAS DIVORCE, Professional Solutions Group (2005).

Co-Author, Protecting Children from Incompetent Forensic Evaluations and Expert Testimony, Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2006).

Author, Family Law at Your Fingertips – Property, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2015, 2016, 2019.

Author, Family Law at Your Fingertips – Children, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2018, 2019.

Author, Family Law at Your Fingertips – Evidence, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2019.

Author, Evidentiary Issues in Family Law Cases, Dallas Bar Headnotes, 2020.

Author, Fraud on the Community and the Reconstituted Estate, Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas Winter Section Report, 2020.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

PROTECTIVE ORDERS, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2021)

JUDGES PANEL MODERATOR and COURSE DIRECTOR, Innovations in Child Custody Litigation 2021, State Bar of Texas (May 2021)

MAINTAINING SEPARATE PROPERTY WITHOUT A MARITAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT, Estate Planning Council of North Texas (March 2021)

CHARACTERIZING & VALUING ASSETS TO CREATE AN INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT THAT WORKS FOR YOUR CLIENT, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2020)

DIRECT AND CROSS EXAMINATION OF A TRACING EXPERT, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2019)
	
REIMBURSEMENT, FRAUD, WASTE AND THE RECONSTITUTED ESTATE, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas (April 2019)

COLLABORATIVE LAW, State Bar of Texas (March 2019)

TRIAL OF A CUSTODY CASE, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Child Custody Litigation, State Bar of Texas (January 2019)

DRAFTING: ARE YOUR PLEADINGS AND DISCOVERY READY FOR TRIAL, State Bar of Texas (December 2018)

PROFESSIONALISM AND CIVILITY, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (November 2018)

MARITAL AGREEMENTS, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas (October 2018)

PREMARITAL AND POSTMARITAL AGREEMENTS, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2018)

TRIAL PRESENTATION OF A CUSTODY CASE, Annual TAFLS Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (February 2018)

MARITAL PROPERTY AGREEMENTS, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2017)

PROPERTY CASE LAW UPDATE, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas (April 2017)
						
CHARACTERIZATION OF PROPERTY, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2016)

PROFESSIONALISM – THE KEY TO A SATISFYING CAREER, Marriage Dissolution 101, State Bar of Texas (April 2016)

NEGOTIATION TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2015)

JUDGES PANEL, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Child Custody Litigation, State Bar of Texas (June 2015)

PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND FAMILY VIOLENCE, Southern Methodist University School of Law (October 2014)

NEGOTIATION TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES, 40th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2014)

EXPERTS, EXAMINATIONS AND ETHICS – A GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS – DIRECT AND CROSS, ATTACKING AND DEFENDING RECOMMENDATIONS, DAUBERT CHALLENGES AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Child Custody Litigation, The University of Texas School of Law (June 2014)

USING A COMPUTER FORENSIC EXPERT, Family Law Technology Course, State Bar of Texas (December 2012)

PROPERTY UPDATE, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2012)

TURBO CHARGE YOUR COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2012)

ATTORNEY’S FEES AGREEMENTS, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2011)

CHARACTERIZATION OF PROPERTY, Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law (June 2011)

ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE WORKSHOP, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2009)

THE ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE BIBLE, University of Texas School of Law (June 2009)

CHARACTERIZATION, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas (April 2009)

PREMARITAL AGREEMENTS, Collin County Bar Association (February 2009)

ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE – CIVIL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS, University of Texas School of Law, Parent-Child Relationships; Critical Thinking for Critical Issues (January 2009)

PREMARITAL AGREEMENTS, Collin County Bar Association, Estate Planning Section (September 2008)

RELOCATION, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2006)

TEMPORARY SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE AND ALIMONY, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas (April 2006)

CHILD SUPPORT UPDATE: WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE GUIDELINES, Marriage Dissolution Institute (April 2006)

RELOCATION, American Bar Association, Section of Family Law, Spring CLE Conference, Washington D.C. (May 2006)

COLLABORATIVE LAW, “A Panel of Texas Authors on Texas Collaborative Law” (April 2006)

MARITAL PROPERTY 101, State Bar College “Spring Training” 2006, State Bar College (March 2006)

HIGH TECH EVIDENCE, Collin County Bar Association, Family Law Section (December 2006)

HIGH TECH EVIDENCE, WEBSITES, HARDDRIVES, E-MAILS, ETC., Advanced Family Law Drafting Course (December 2006)

CHILD SUPPORT, 31st Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2005)

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (March 2005)

RELOCATION, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program and Family Law Section, “Nuts and Bolts” Family Law Training (February 2005)

OPENING STATEMENTS AND CLOSING ARGUMENTS, Ultimate Trial Notebook – Family Law, State Bar of Texas (December 2004)

HIGH TECH EVIDENCE, WEBSITES, HARDDRIVES, E-MAILS, ETC., Williamson County (October 2004)

RELOCATION DEBATE, 30th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2004)

COLLABORATIVE LAW PANEL, Collaborative Law Spring Retreat (March 2004)

HIGH TECH EVIDENCE, WEBSITES, HARDDRIVES, E-MAILS, ETC., 29th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2003)

FAMILY LAW EVIDENCE, Collin County Bench Bar Conference (May 2003)

FAMILY LAW EVIDENTIARY ISSUES, 16th Annual Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas (March 2003)

PARENTAGE: ESTABLISHING, ATTACKING & UNDOING, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (January 2003)

PARENTAGE: CURRENT ISSUES, University of Houston Law Center (October 2002)

OBJECTIONS AT TRIAL, American Bar Association, Section of Family Law, Fall CLE Conference, Orlando, FL (November 2002)

DIVISION OF PROPERTY AND DIVIDING SPECIFIC ASSETS, University of Houston Law Foundation (June 2002)

FAMILY LAW FOR THE NON-SPECIALIST, J. Reuben Clark Law Society (April 2002)

DIVISION OF PROPERTY ON DIVORCE, University of Houston Law Foundation (September 2001 and September 2002)

FAMILY LAW UPDATE, Ten Hot Topics in Family Law, Collin County Bench/Bar Conference (June 2000)

FAMILY LAW UPDATE, J. Reuben Clark Law Society (June 2000)

DIVISION OF PROPERTY ON DIVORCE, University of Houston Law Foundation (April 2000)

FAMILY LAW DISCUSSION, J. Reuben Clark Law Society (October 1999)

BUSINESS VALUATIONS IN DIVORCE AND CROSS-EXAMINATION OF A VALUATION EXPERT, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, San Diego (October 1999)

OPENING STATEMENT - JURY OR NONJURY, 25th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 1999)

UPDATE ON FAMILY LAW, Dallas Women’s Lawyers Association (December 1998)

FAMILY LAW FOR THE NON-SPECIALIST, Dallas Bar Association (December 1998)

OBTAINING RECORDS FROM NON-PARTIES, 24th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 1998)

DISCOVERY UPDATE, Dallas Bar Association Friday Clinic (December 1996 and July 1998)

OPENING AND CLOSING THE FILE, Family Law Conference for the General Practitioner and Legal Assistant, South Texas College of Law (February 1998 and February 1999)

DISCOVERY UPDATE, 23rd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 1997)

DISCOVERY UPDATE, 22nd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 1996)

BUSINESS VALUATION IN DIVORCE, Dallas Chapter Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Fifth Annual Divorce Conference (September 1996, September 1998)

DISCOVERY, Dallas Bar Association Family Law Training Seminar (October 1996)

ATTORNEY’S FEES, Family Law Practice Institute, University of Houston (September 1996)

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

COURSE DIRECTOR, Innovations in Child Custody Litigation 2021, State Bar of Texas (May 2021)

CO-COURSE DIRECTOR, 39th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (August 2013)

CO-COURSE DIRECTOR, INNOVATIONS – BREAKING BOUNDARIES IN CUSTODY LITIGATION, The University of Texas School of Law (January 2012)

COURSE DIRECTOR, Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas (March 2011)

CO-COURSE DIRECTOR, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas (October 2010)

ASSISTANT COURSE DIRECTOR, Collaborative Law Course, State Bar of Texas (2010)

MODERATOR, Collin County Bench/Bar Conference (2000)

CO-CHAIR, Collin County Bench/Bar Conference (2001)