Hillery is the first attorney in her family. She was sometimes quiet as a child, but her family always commented how it was clear that she was a quiet observer, always analyzing the situation and the people in it. Her mom reports that on the first day of Kindergarten, Hillery stood at the doorway for quite a while, observing the class and everyone in it. It was only after some time, after having analyzed the environment, personalities, and class dynamics did Hillery enter the classroom.
Hillery’s analytical approach has carried through to the way she practices law today. She takes time to analyze the case and client’s objectives, and then strategizes, crafts, and customizes her strategy to achieve her client’s goals and yield the best possible result.
Hillery’s own parents divorced when she was in high school and she remembers well what it was like to live through the major changes in her own life caused by the divorce. She understands how important it is to preserve the ability to co-parent post-divorce. That goal is best served when the parties are able to negotiate an agreement on parenting and property issues without the necessity of going to Court.
However, Hillery also excels in the Courtroom and enjoys the craft of it, which began as early as law school. She attended Emory University School of Law where she was the National Moot Court Champion earning several awards in oral advocacy and legal writing nationwide.
Hillery was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and graduated top of her class from one of the best private schools in the city. She then attended University of Texas at Austin, where she met her husband Dave, and they have been together for 20 years. They reside in Northwest Austin and have two adorable daughters, ages 10 and 5. Her oldest daughter consistently remarks that she wants to be a lawyer and a mom when she grows up, just like her mother.
Hillery enjoys playing tennis and has played since she was 5 years old. She is fiercely competitive when she plays and while always a good sport, does not like to lose. She also greatly enjoys cooking, traveling, and scuba diving with her family.
Recent representative cases:
- Obtained a disproportionate division in a divorce involving a multi-million dollar business which husband was claiming was his separate property. By utilizing a tracing expert, Hillery forced husband to concede that the business was community property, which therefore increased wife’s settlement significantly.
- Obtaining ruling denying the existence of a man’s common law marriage claim in a 2-day bench trial. Hillery represented the woman who maintained that she never agreed to be married and therefore did not want to be divorced.
- Obtained majority possession of children in Williamson County, Texas despite damning evidence against client by presenting expert testimony of mother’s strong bond with the children and demonstrating why mother retaining possession was in children’s best interest.
Experience:
- Family law practice including custody and property issues, since 2002
- Enforcement actions and modification suits
- General civil litigation
- Employment discrimination litigation
- Registering and protecting trademarks
Honors & Affiliations:
- Austin Young Lawyers Leadership Academy 2014
- State Bar of Texas Family Law Section
- Austin Bar Association: Family Law Section
- Austin Young Lawyers
- Congregation Agudas Achim
