We’re proud to share that Attorney Kate Smith has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 in two practice areas: Family Law and Collaborative Law: Family Law.
This recognition is especially meaningful because Kate has now been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2024. Best Lawyers bases its selections on peer review, with attorneys evaluated by other lawyers practicing in the same geographic region and legal field.
For a family law attorney, being recognized by fellow lawyers is a meaningful professional distinction. For our firm, it is also a reflection of the trust and confidence Kate has built throughout more than two decades of practicing law.
What This Recognition Means
Family law cases rarely fit neatly into one category.
Some situations call for negotiation and careful problem-solving. Others involve complicated financial issues, strong disagreements between spouses, or matters that ultimately need to be resolved in court. Having experience with different approaches allows an attorney to help clients choose a strategy that fits their particular circumstances.
Kate’s recognition in both Family Law and Collaborative Law: Family Law reflects those two sides of her practice.
Collaborative law can provide couples with a structured way to work toward a divorce settlement outside of traditional litigation. For some families, that approach can offer more privacy, flexibility, and control over the process.
At the same time, not every case is appropriate for collaboration. When litigation is necessary, clients need an attorney who is prepared to advocate firmly for their interests in court.
Kate brings experience in both settings.
More Than 20 Years of Family Law Experience
Kate Smith has built her legal career around helping clients navigate difficult and often deeply personal legal matters.
She earned her J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 2004 and later earned an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law. Her background in dispute resolution complements her experience handling family law matters where negotiation, strategy, and litigation may all play a role.
Kate is also Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a designation she has held since 2015. Board certification involves requirements relating to experience, continuing legal education, peer and judicial evaluations, and a written examination.
That combination of experience matters when a family law case involves more than simply completing paperwork.
Divorce and other family law disputes can involve significant financial assets, closely held businesses, real estate, child custody, support, and long-term decisions that affect an entire family. A lawyer needs to understand not only the legal issues but also how those issues fit together.
Recognition That Builds on a Longer Track Record
The Best Lawyers recognition is one of several professional honors Kate has received throughout her career.
She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers, including selections as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2014 and 2015 and subsequent Super Lawyers selections. She has also received recognition from Fort Worth-area publications.
While awards are never a substitute for experience or personal attention, they can provide useful information when someone is researching an attorney.
The more important question is always whether the lawyer has the knowledge, judgment, and approach needed for your particular family law matter.
Why Experience Matters When Choosing a Family Law Attorney
If you are searching for a family law attorney in Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, or elsewhere in Tarrant County, you may quickly find that there are many lawyers to choose from.
Online reviews can tell you about other people’s experiences. Professional awards can provide another point of reference. Credentials such as board certification can help demonstrate a lawyer’s commitment to a particular area of practice.
But none of those things should replace a conversation about your own circumstances.
A divorce involving a closely held business may require a very different strategy from an uncontested divorce. A custody dispute may present issues that have little to do with the financial questions involved in a high-asset divorce. Likewise, some couples may benefit from a collaborative approach while others need strong courtroom advocacy.
The right legal strategy depends on the facts.
That is why Kate takes the time to understand what each client is facing before determining how to move forward.
A Recognition We’re Proud to Share
Being named to The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 in both Family Law and Collaborative Law: Family Law is an honor we are proud to share.
It represents professional recognition from fellow attorneys and adds another chapter to Kate’s longstanding commitment to family law and dispute resolution.
Most importantly, we are grateful to the clients who have trusted Kate with some of the most significant and personal legal decisions of their lives. Their trust is what makes this work meaningful.
If you are facing a divorce, custody dispute, property division issue, spousal support matter, or another family law concern in Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, or Tarrant County, the Law Offices of Kate Smith can help you understand your options and determine the best path forward.
Schedule a consultation with Kate Smith to discuss your family law matter and learn how her experience may apply to your situation.
