Jack H. Emmott, a board certified family law attorney and member at Gray Reed & McGraw, was one of two Houston-area lawyers included in Collaborative Divorce Texas’ inaugural class of Master Credentialed Collaborative Professionals.

Achievement of this designation demonstrates Emmott’s commitment to the highest standards of collaborative practice, a client-centered approach that gives couples the opportunity to confidentially create their own customized divorce, focusing on protecting their families and preserving their resources and assets through solutions-oriented, interest-based negotiation.

Requirements for the designation include meeting rigorous standards of education and training, passing a confidential peer reference process, significant collaborative case experience and notable leadership and service to the collaborative community.

“I believe litigation should be a matter of last resort, especially for couples and their children who are caught up in the emotional underbrush of divorce, which is why I’ve devoted my career to collaborative law,” Emmott says.

Over the last 14 years, he has been involved with more than 100 successful collaborative law matters representing entrepreneurs, empire builders, business owners, sports professionals, medical professionals and other attorneys.

Emmott regularly gives speeches to organizations around the state to educate attorneys, financial advisors and mental healthcare professionals about the collaborative resolution process. He’s spoken to groups at University of Houston Law Center and Law Foundation, South Texas College of Law, National Institute of Sports National Convention, Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Convention, Center for Anger Resolution, Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists and National Association of Social Workers (Texas Chapter).

Along with bringing pro bono collaborative law process to the poor in Houston and throughout Texas, Emmott is involved in various organizations including:

• State Bar of Texas Collaborative Law Section (former chair, current elected council member)
• Collaborative Divorce Houston (president)
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (past member of its Access to Collaboration Task Force)
• Collaborative Divorce Texas (formerly The Collaborative Law Institute of Texas) (current board member)
• Alliance of Collaborative Family Law Attorneys and Allied Professionals (co-founder and past president)
• Houston Bar Association Collaborative Law Section (former chair)

About Collaborative Divorce Texas

Collaborative Divorce Texas is a non-profit organization which provides its members with training, education and resources dedicated to helping families navigate divorce using an alternative to litigation. For more information about Collaborative Divorce Texas, go to www.CollaborativeDivorceTexas.com.

About Gray Reed & McGraw

Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 120 lawyers practicing in Dallas and Houston. Gray Reed & McGraw offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, intellectual property, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.