R. Scott Downing - Dallas, TX

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R. Scott Downing Overview

R. Scott Downing is a skilled trial lawyer who has tried numerous complex high-dollar property and custody cases. Recognizing, however, that not every situation requires a courtroom, Scott also has opened his practice to the use of Collaborative Law.

AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Scott has earned recognition on every Texas Super Lawyers list since its inception in 2003, receiving additional recognition among the "Top 100 Lawyers in Texas" in 2009 and 2010. He also is recognized in Best Lawyers in America and D Magazine for his work in Family Law.

He has written extensively for national and statewide publications on various Family Law topics, including complex characteristic issues, advanced evidence matters, attorney ad litem practice, jurisdictional conflicts, trial presentation and hidden asset cases in preparation for temporary hearings. He also routinely speaks before groups including the Advanced Family Law Course and Marriage Dissolution Course to address Family Law and evidentiary topics.

Scott's articles have been published by the State Bar of Texas, The Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. His article "Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 25 Rules and More" earned honors as the Best Family Law CLE article in 2006.

He served as director of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section's Family Law Essentials course in 2006 and 2007, and as Co-Director of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Course in 2007. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and as Chairman of the District 1A Grievance Committee. He also was selected to serve as the Director of the 2009 Marriage Dissolution Course.

Scott has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1999. He is a 1991 graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. During law school, he earned American Jurisprudence Awards in contracts and civil trial advocacy in addition to serving as Associate Editor of the Houston Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas. He is married to Maureen Downing. They have four children, Ryan, Kaleigh, Park and Will.

Practice Areas

• Family Law 100%

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 1992

Specialties and Certifications

• Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1999 / Recertified 2004

Other Affiliations

• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Fellow)
• Texas Bar Foundation (Fellow)
• Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2005 - Present (Board of Directors)
• College of the State Bar of Texas (Member)
• State Bar of Texas, Family Law Council, 2005 - Present (Member)
• State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section (Member)
• State Bar of Texas Collaborative Law Institute (Member)
• Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section (Member)
• American Bar Association, Family Law Section (Member)
• Annette Stewart American Inn of Court (Treasurer, Barrister)
• James Publishing, Inc. "Texas Family Law Evidence", 1998 (Advisory Board Member)

Education

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 1991
  J.D.
  Honors: American Jurisprudence Award Contracts
  Honors: American Jurisprudence Award Civil Trial Advocacy
  Law Review: Houston Law Review, Associate Editor
• University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 1988
  B.A.

Classes and Seminars

• Course Director: Family Law Essentials, State Bar of Texas Family Law Section , May 1, 2006 - May 31, 2007
• Co-Course Director: Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Course, January 1, 2007 - January 31, 2007
• Course Director: Marriage Dissolution Course, April 1, 2009 - April 31, 2009
• Course Director: State Bar Annual Meeting - Family Law Program, June 1, 2009 - June 31, 2009

Photos

Address

5950 Sherry Lane
8th Floor
Dallas, TX 75225-6563

Phones

866-875-2429 (Toll Free)

Faxes

214-273-2470

Emails

Contact Us

Accepts Credit Cards

Yes

Websites

http://www.momnd.com

Articles

Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 30 Rules and More, Texas Center for the Judiciary Family Law Conference, November, 2009

Characterization Workshop: Big, Small, Usual, and Unique; Mixed Characterization, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 2009

Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 30 Rules and More, University of Texas School of Law Family Law on the Frontlines Conference, 2009

Understanding Real Value, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 2008

Making Summary Judgment Relevant Again, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 2007

Daubert/Experts, The Ultimate Trial Notebook, December, 2006

Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, September, 2006

Be Careful What You Ask For, You May Get It; Common Sense Discovery Requests and Responses, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, August, 2006

Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 25 Rules and More (Winner of Best Family Law CLE Article), State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Course, March, 2006

Being Creative with Unusual Remedies, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, 2005

Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 25 Rules and More, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, August, 2005

Rubbish or Rembrandt: The Art of Evaluating a Custody Case, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 2004

Mission Impossible: Choosing and Admitting Expert Witnesses, Ultimate Trial Notebook, Family Law, December, 2004

Top Ten Ways to Screw Up a Premarital Agreement, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, 2003

Discovery in Mid-Size Cases Under the New Rules, Civil Discovery Under New Rules, University of Houston, 1999

Creative Decision Making in Custody Arrangements; Psychological Theories; Their Admissibility After Daubert; and Alternatives to Trial, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998

Family Law Issues That Impact the Professional Athlete, Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Volume 15, No. 2, 1998

Peculiar Characterization Issues Involving Athletes and Entertainers, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 1997

Preparing for the Petitioner's Financial Temporary Orders Hearing, Marriage Dissolution Course, 1997

Evidence Without Witnesses, Advanced Evidence and Discovery Institute, 1997

Pensions, Stock Options & Divorce, TSCPA Conference, 1997

Dallas Bar Association Case Law Update, Dallas Bar Association, 1997

Ad Litems, Marriage Dissolution Course, 1996

Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem Practice, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 1996

Preparation for and the Direct Examination of Husband (Black Hat) in a Hidden Assets, Fraud, and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Case, TAFLS 10th Annual Trial Institute, 1996

Custody Litigation, Case Evaluation, Discovery, Controlling Costs, Trial Strategy, Etc., University of Houston Family Law Practice Institute, 1996

Legislative Changes, Grand Prairie Bar Association, 1995

Beyond COntempt, Enforcing SAPCR Orders, August 2011, Advanced Family Law Course, 2011

Grievances: The Process, Responses and Most Frequent Complaints, University of Texas Schoolf of Law Family Law on the Frontlines Confererence, June, 2011

Valuation: Approaches, Assets and Authority, Advanced Family Law Course, August, 2011