R. Scott Downing

Bar / Professional Activity

• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; Director, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists; Member, State Bar of Texas Family Law Council; Barrister, Annette Stewart American Inn of Court; Member, State Bar of Texas Collaborative Law Institute; Member, Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section; Member, College of State Bar of Texas; Member, American Bar Association; Advisory Board Member, James Publishing Inc., "Texas Family Law Evidence.”

Representative Clients

• Due to the nature of Family Law, clients are kept confidential.

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Honors

• Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas, Thomson Reuters, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• The Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2007-2021
• 500 Leading Family Lawyers in America by Lawdragon, 2020
• AV®Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Top 100 Super Lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Best Lawyers in Dallas, Family Law, D Magazine, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
• Recognized as a Divorce, Trusts & Estates Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, 2017
• Best Family Law CLE Article, "Property Puzzles: Characterization, Tracing, 25 Rules and More," 2006
• Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003-2020
• Named to the list of 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas/Fort Worth by D CEO Magazine, 2016
• The Honorary Serjeant’s Inn award from the Dallas-Fort Worth Inns of Court

Educational Background

• University of Texas at Austin, BA, 1988
• 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.
• University of Houston, J.D., 1991

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Scott 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.
• How to Manage a High-Stakes Divorce, Texas Lawyer, February 2017
• A Hush-Hush Half-Billion-Dollar Divorce Goes Public, Houston Chronicle, October 16, 2016
• Keeping Your Business Together, Cleaner, January 2016

Other Outstanding Achievements

• In 2017, Downing was recognized by The National Law Journal among the Divorce, Trusts & Estates Trailblazers. He was the only North Texas attorney named to NLJ's list.
• Scott 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.

• Trial Practice