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Richard R. Orsinger

Richard R. Orsinger

Partner
Location:
Dallas, Texas
Phone:
866-875-2429 (Toll Free)
Fax:
214-273-2470
E-mail:
E-mail Me

One of the best-known and most well-respected Family Lawyers in Texas, Richard Orsinger was recognized in 2011 as the Family Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. He also was included in the listing of the Top 10 attorneys in the state by Texas Super Lawyers in both 2009 and 2010, and has been named among Super Lawyers' "Top 100 Lawyers" in Texas each year since 2003.

No stranger to such accolades, Richard was selected in 2007 as the state's top Family Lawyer in Texas Lawyer newspaper's Go-To Guide, which is published every five years. He also has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in Family Law each year since 1987 and in Appellate Law since 2007. Richard earned the 2009 College of the State Bar of Texas' Franklin Jones Best Continuing Legal Education Article Award and the 2008 State Bar of Texas' Best Family Law CLE Article of the Year Award.

In 2003, Richard was awarded the prestigious Sam Emison Award by the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists for his accomplishments in Family Law. He received a State Bar of Texas Presidential Citation in 2001 for "innovative leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence for continuing legal education." The same year, Richard earned the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section's Dan R. Price Award for outstanding contributions to Family Law. Richard was honored with the Gene Cavin Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education from the State Bar of Texas in 1996, and has garnered four State Bar Certificates of Merit. He has planned and directed many State Bar's Continuing Legal Education courses, and chaired the State Bar's Continuing Legal Education Committee for two years.

A frequently sought-after lecturer, Richard speaks on Family Law, business valuations, trial and appellate procedure, evidence and law. He has authored more than 200 continuing legal education articles and has authored law review articles since 1982, as well as a 900-page treatise on Texas appellate procedure for Bancroft-Whitney Co. He was Chief Editor of the State Bar Family Law Section's Expert Witness Manual, and was editor-in-chief of the State Bar of Texas' Practice Before the Texas Supreme Court Manual.

Richard has extensive experience in jury and non-jury trials in courts across Texas. He also handles Family Law matters in appellate courts. He has appeared before most of Texas' 14 Courts of Appeals and has secured two reversals from the Supreme Court of Texas. He is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization reserved for lawyers with extensive experience in jury trials. Richard handles complex property disputes, as well as other Family Law litigation, including child custody cases.

Richard is licensed to practice law in all Texas state district courts, as well as Federal District Courts in the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, and earned his Bachelor of Arts, with honors, in economics from the University of Texas in 1972. He has been Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law since 1980 and Civil Appellate Law since 1987, one of few Texas attorneys to be board certified in two areas of law.  Richard handles trial court cases in North Texas, South Texas, Austin, Houston & Corpus Christi, and appellate cases anywhere in the state.

Areas of Practice

  • 72% Family Law
  • 3% Marital Property Issues in Probate Disputes
  • 25% Civil Appellate Law

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1980
  • Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1987

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 1975
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1979
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1997
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1979
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1981

Education

  • The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
    • J.D. - 1975
  • University of Texas, Austin, Texas
    • B.A. - 1972
    • Honors: With Honors
    • Major: Economics

Published Works

  • Texas Supreme Court Practice Manual (Editor in Chief), State Bar of Texas, 2005
  • Expert Witness Manual, State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, Vols. II & III (Editor in Chief), 1999
  • 6 McDonald, Texas Civil Practice: Texas Civil Appellate Practice (Book), Bancroft-Whitney Law Publishers, 1992
  • A Guide to Proceedings Under the Texas Parent Notification Statute and Rules, (Co-Author) (Law Review Article, co-author), South Texas Law Review, 2000
  • Obligations of the Trial Lawyer Under Texas Law Toward the Client Relating to an Appeal (Law Review Article), South Texas Law Review, 1999
  • Asserting Claims for Intentionally or Recklessly Causing Severe Emotional Distress in Connection with Divorce (Law Review Article), 25 St. Mary's Law Journal 1254, 1994
  • Asserting Claims for Intentionally or Recklessly Causing Severe Emotional Distress in Connection with Divorce (Journal Article), Republished: American Journal of Family Law, 1994
  • Asserting Claims for Intentionally or Recklessly Causing Severe Emotional Distress in Connection with Divorce (Law Review Article), Republished: Texas Family Law Service NewsAlert, 1994, 1995
  • Characterization of Marital Property (Law Review Article, co-author), Baylor Law Review Symposium, 1988
  • Fitting a Round Peg Into A Square Hole: Section 3.63, Texas Family Code, and the Marriage that Crosses States Lines (Law Review Article), 13 St. Mary's Law Journal 477, 1982
  • Practicing Family Law in a Depressed Economy, Part I: Your Law Practice and Your Clients (2009 College of the State Bar of Texas' Franklin Jones Best Continuing Legal Education Article of the Year Award), State Bar of Texas' 35th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2009
  • Property Puzzles: 30 Characterization Rules, Explanations & Examples (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 35th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2009
  • When an Officer Divorces: How a Company Can Be Affected By an Officer's Divorce (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 8th Annual Advanced In-House Counsel Course, 2009
  • Different Ways to Trace Separate Property (2008 State Bar of Texas Family Section's Best Family Law Continuing Legal Education Article of the Year Award), State Bar of Texas' New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2008
  • Judicial Review of Arbitration Rulings: Problems and Possible Alternatives (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 22nd Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2008
  • The Law of Interpreting Contracts: How to Draft Contracts to Avoid or Win Litigation (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 34th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2008
  • Effect of Choice of Entities: How Organizational Law, Accounting, and Tax Law for Entities Affect Marital Property Law (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 34th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2008
  • Tracing, Reimbursement and Economic Contribution Claims In Brokerage Accounts (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' New Frontiers in Marital Property Law Course, 2007
  • The Law of Interpreting Contracts (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2007
  • A New Approach to Distinguishing Enterprise Goodwill From Personal Goodwill (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 33rd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2007
  • Important Topics in Family Law (CLE Article), Texas Center for the Judiciary 2007 Regional Conference, 2007
  • Distinguishing Personal Goodwill From Enterprise Goodwill (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' New Frontiers in Marital Property Law Course, 2006
  • The Road Ahead: Long-Term Financial Planning in Connection With Divorce (CLE Article), Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2006
  • Hot Topics in Litigation: Restitution/Unjust Enrichment (CLE Article), Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, State Bar of Texas, 2006
  • Recent Developments in the Daubert Swamp (CLE Article), Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, State Bar of Texas, 2005
  • Pearls of Wisdom from Thirty Years of Practicing Family Law (CLE Article), Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2004
  • Trends in the Supreme Court (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' Practice Before the Texas Supreme Court, 2004
  • Recent Developments in Family Law (CLE Article), Judicial Section Annual Conference Spring Training, 2004
  • Hot Topics in Family Law (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' Judicial Section Annual Conference, 2004
  • Supreme Court Trends (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 18th Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2004
  • Those Other Texas Codes: Things the Family Lawyer Needs to Know About Codifications Outside the Family Code (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 30th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2004
  • Pre-Trial Motions: Daubert /Robinson (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' Annual Meeting: Ultimate Trial Notebook, 2004
  • Admissibility of Fact, Lay Opinion & Expert Witness Evidence (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 4th Annual Advance Expert Witness Course, 2004
  • Special Problems Admitting Business Records Containing Expert Evidence (CLE Article), State Bar of Texas' 4th Annual Advanced Expert Witness Course, 2004
  • The Right Stuff: Choosing Expert Witnesses (CLE Article), Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute, 2004
  • Family Law Updates (CLE Article), Texas Center for the Judiciary Winter Regional Conference, 2004
  • Evidentiary Issues, College of Advanced Judicial Studies, 2001

Classes/Seminars

  • "The Role of Reasoning in Constructing a Persuasive Argument", State Bar of Texas 37th Annual Advanced Family Law Course , 2011
  • "The Role of Reasoning and Persuasion in Appeals", State Bar of Texas’ Handling Your First Civil Appeal, 2011
  • "The Role of Reasoning and Persuasion in the Legal Process", State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2010
  • "Troubling Issues of Characterization, Reimbursement, Valuation, and Division Upon Divorce", State Bar of Texas 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2010
  • "Separate & Community Property: 30 Rules With Explanations & Examples", State Bar of Texas 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2010
  • "Reassessing Some of Our Approaches to Family Law Cases", State Bar of Texas New Frontiers in Marital Property Law Course, 2009
  • Course Director:
  • "Practice Before the Supreme Court of Texas" , State Bar of Texas, 2009
  • "Practice Before the Supreme Court of Texas", State Bar of Texas, 2007
  • "Practice Before the Supreme Court of Texas", State Bar of Texas, 2005
  • "Advanced Expert Witness Course", State Bar of Texas, 2001 - 2004
  • "Practice Before the Supreme Court of Texas", State Bar of Texas, 2002
  • "Enron, The Legal Issues" (Winner of the Association for Continuing Legal Education Best Program Award), State Bar of Texas, 2002
  • "Advanced Civil Appellate Course", State Bar of Texas, 1987
  • "Advanced Family Law Course", State Bar of Texas, 1987
  • "Advanced Expert Witness Course", Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1987
  • Panelist:
  • "International & Cross Border Issues", State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 2002
  • "Predicates and Objections Every Lawyer Should Know and Use", Houston Bar Association, 5th Annual Family Law Institute, 2002
  • "Predicates and Objections", State Bar of Texas 14th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, 2001
  • "Vaccine for the Plague of the 21st Century Equitable Liens & Reimbursement: Getting Them and Beating Them", Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 15th Annual Trial Institute, 2001
  • "Ethics: The Effect of Technology on the Profession and the Professionals", Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, 2001
  • "Valuation of Business Interests in Divorce", State Bar of Texas 27th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, 2001

Honors and Awards

  • Top 10 Lawyers in Texas, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal Division, 2009 & 2010
  • Franklin Jones Best Continuing Legal Education Article Award for "Practicing Family Law in a Depressed Economy," College of the State Bar of Texas, 2009
  • Best Family Law Continuing Legal Education Article Award for "Different Ways to Trace Separate Property," State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, 2008
  • Top Family Lawyer in Texas, Texas Lawyer newspaper, 2007
  • State Bar of Texas Certificates of Merit, 2004
  • TTop Family Lawyer in Texas, Texas Lawyer newspaper, 2002
  • Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 1987 - 2011
  • Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Law, 2007 - 2011
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal Division, 2003 - 2011
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal Division, 2003 - 2011
  • Top 50 Central and West Texas Region Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal Division, 2004 - 2011
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal Division, 2003
  • Best Personal Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2009
  • Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2006 - 2007
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Sam Emison Award, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2003
  • Association for Continuing Legal Excellence Best Program Award, 2002
  • Dan R. Price Award, State of Texas Family Law Section, 2001
  • State Bar of Texas Presidential Citation, 2001
  • State Bar of Texas Certificate of Merit, 1997
  • Gene Cavin Award, For Excellence in Continuing Legal Education, State Bar of Texas, 1996
  • State Bar of Texas Certificate of Merit, 1996
  • State Bar of Texas Certificate of Merit, 1995

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Member & Former President
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Associate
  • Dallas Bar Association, Member
  • Houston Bar Association, Member
  • San Antonio Bar Association, Member
  • Supreme Court of Texas, Member, Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure
  • Supreme Court of Texas, Chair, Rules 16-165a Subcommittee of Rules Committee
  • Supreme Court of Texas, Member, Jury Charge Task Force
  • Texas Judicial Committee on Information Technology, Supreme Court Liaison

From Our Clients

  • "I call the McCurleys The First Family of Family Law, and I don't consider that an exaggeration. They were so attentive and so caring, while at the same time being excellent, hardball lawyers, that I recommend them to anybody facing a divorce. I wish I hadn't needed to hire a 'divorce lawyer,' but I'm glad they were there for me."
    Molly Ann Huie

  • "Thanks to all of you for your help, support, responsiveness, experience and the work you put into this case on my behalf. I have often been told that I have the best family law firm in Texas representing me, and now I can certainly vouch for that with first-hand experience. The entire team was engaged, focused and cohesive, and that is how you get positive results. THANK YOU and best wishes to all of you."
    Bob Tennison

In Our Words

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5950 Sherry Lane :: 8th Floor :: Dallas, Texas 75225 :: Map and Directions :: Phone: 877-562-6504 :: Fax: 214-273-2470

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