Atty. Kathryn J. Murphy

Atty. Kathryn J. Murphy

Kathryn J. Murphy is a Board Certified family law partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Plano and one of the most highly credentialed family law attorneys in Texas.

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Profile Summary

About Kathryn J. Murphy at a glance

Kathryn J. Murphy is a family law and adr attorney based in Plano, Texas, practicing at Goranson Bain Ausley PLLC. Admitted to practice in Texas, State Bar of Texas. Educated at The University of Texas at Tyler (B.A., 1996) and Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1989). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Collaborative Law: Family Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Family Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Family Law Mediation (2026). Serands clients in Plano, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Kathryn J. Murphy is a Board Certified family law partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Plano and one of the most highly credentialed family law attorneys in Texas
  • She has been named the Best Lawyers in America© Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas three times — in 2015, 2017, and 2019 — a distinction awarded to only one lawyer per practice area in each community
  • Kathryn has also been recognized continuously in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law since 2003, with additional recognition beginning in 2024 in Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law Mediation
  • That longstanding peer recognition reflects a career defined by leadership, courtroom experience, and sophisticated family law representation
  • Kathryn is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers — an invitation-only organization limited to 100 family law trial attorneys nationwide — and a Fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers
  • She served on the AAML Board of Governors from 2015 to 2017 and chaired the Family Law Council of the State Bar of Texas in 2016
  • In 2021, she received the Sam Emison Award, one of the most respected honors in Texas family law, recognizing exceptional contributions to the field
  • Kathryn’s practice focuses on high-net-worth divorce, complex property division, business valuation, executive compensation analysis, and contested custody litigation
  • She regularly represents business owners, executives, and individuals whose divorce matters involve closely held businesses, private equity interests, inherited wealth, and sophisticated marital estates
  • Clients turn to Kathryn when their divorce involves substantial assets, business interests, or complex parenting issues that require seasoned judgment and strategic insight
  • She is known for guiding clients through sophisticated family law matters with discretion, clarity, and the credibility that comes from decades of leadership and courtroom experience

Practice Areas Explained

Kathryn J. Murphy's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Kathryn J. Murphy handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Family Law

Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.

Kathryn J. Murphy is one of 187,066 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Texas →

Mediation & Arbitration

Mediators and arbitrators for civil, commercial, family, and employment dispute resolution.

Kathryn J. Murphy is one of 73,906 adr attorneys indexed nationally. Browse adr attorneys in Texas →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Texas

Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Plano are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Plano or all attorneys in Texas.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Kathryn J. Murphy

Where is Kathryn J. Murphy's law office located?
Kathryn J. Murphy's law practice is located in Plano, Texas. The firm is Goranson Bain Ausley PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Kathryn J. Murphy handle?
Kathryn J. Murphy focuses on family law, adr. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Texas.
Where did Kathryn J. Murphy go to law school?
Kathryn J. Murphy earned their education at (B.A., 1996); (J.D., 1989).
How can I contact Kathryn J. Murphy for a consultation?
You can contact Kathryn J. Murphy directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Kathryn J. Murphy received?
Kathryn J. Murphy's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Collaborative Law: Family Law; Best Lawyers in America — Family Law; Best Lawyers in America — Family Law Mediation; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Family Law Arbitration.

Education

B.A.
The University of Texas at Tyler
- 1996
J.D.
Southern Methodist University
- 1989

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Collaborative Law: Family Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Family Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Family Law Mediation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Family Law Arbitration
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Annette Stewart Inn of Court, Serjeant of the Inn Award
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the “Best Women Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2010
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the “Best Personal Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2009
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the “Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2022 & 2024
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2004 – 2006, 2008-2009, 2011, and 2013- 2022 & 2024
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/ Fort Worth Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2004 – 2009, and 2011 – 2022 & 2024
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2024
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Best Family Law CLE article, State Bar of Texas, 2004
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2001, 2005- 2010, and 2017 - 2019
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Family Law (Dallas/Fort Worth)
- 2019
Lawyer of the Year — Family Law (Dallas/Fort Worth)
- 2017
Lawyer of the Year — Family Law (Dallas)
- 2015

Bar Admissions

Texas, State Bar of Texas

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