Kathleen Debra Coble

Kathleen has been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since 2005. She became Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2010 and was selected as a Fellow in the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2017. Kathleen has practiced exclusively family law since her second year in law school. Kathleen has extensive experience in the courtroom and in negotiating strong settlements. She and John Barrett have tried many cases together since they joined forces in 2007, including bench trials (trials to a judge) and jury trials. Kathleen believes that court should be a last resort in family law cases. Kathleen has experience in trials and settlements involving all of the tough issues facing families. Strong experience in the courtroom is invaluable for a mediator.In her years of practice, Kathleen has emphasized the importance of working hard to settle a family law case and giving her clients the options and tools necessary to know whether settlement is the right course of action for the client and the client’s family. A family law case is a complicated, emotional process for the clients and Kathleen strives to be the reasonable, calm, experienced and thorough attorney and mediator the clients need to get a positive resolution.

Kathleen grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas School of Business with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in International Business with a specialty in Accounting. Kathleen worked as a corporate accountant for five years before attending law school and that experience serves her well in cases involving small or large businesses, trusts, inheritance, or financial investigations. Kathleen graduated from the University of Houston Law Center (magna cum laude-high honors) in 2005. While in law school, Kathleen represented clients in the Family Law Clinic and mediated cases as part of the mediation clinic. She was also the President of the Order of the Barons Honor Society at the University of Houston Law Center. She is also a member of the Order of the Coif National Honor Society, which is a National Honor Society for lawyers who graduated in the top 10% of their class from a qualified law school. She opened her own family law firm in Austin upon her graduation from law school and joined John Barrett’s firm in 2007. John and Kathleen became law partners in 2010 and remain in practice together. Kathleen’s business and accounting background serves her well in complex property cases and she also has a great deal of experience in litigating high-conflict custody cases. Kathleen serves as a mediator and is certified in Civil Mediation and Advanced Family Law Mediation. Kathleen is also trained in Collaborative Law.

Kathleen has served on the board and as Chairman of the Austin Bar Association Family Law Section and is currently the President of the Travis County Family Law Advocates. Kathleen also served for six years on the Texas State Bar grievance committee and has spoken to various groups around the country about issues related to mediation and business.