R. Scott Downing
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.
Areas of Practice
- 100% Family Law
Certified Legal Specialties
- Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1999 / Recertified 2004
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1992
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
- J.D. - 1991
- Honors: American Jurisprudence Award Contracts
- Honors: American Jurisprudence Award Civil Trial Advocacy
- Law Review: Houston Law Review, Associate Editor
- University of Texas, Austin, Texas
- B.A. - 1988
Published Works
- 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
Classes/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
Honors and Awards
- Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2003 - 2010
- Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2009 - 2010
- The Best Lawyers in America, Family Law
- Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas, D Magazine, 2004
- Best Family Law CLE Article, "Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 25 Rules and More", 2006
- 2009 Marriage Dissolution Course Directory, 2009
- District 1A Grievance Committee Panel, 2005 - 2008
- District 1A Grievance Committee Panel Chairman, 2008 - 2011
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Course Co-Director, 2007
- Director: "Family Law Essentials." State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, May 2006; May 2007
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Board of Directors, 2005 - Present
- College of the State Bar of Texas, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Council, Member, 2005 - Present
- 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", Advisory Board Member, 1998
