Divorce Coach, Mediator, Arbitrator: Serving Clients in New and Beneficial Roles
As an experienced family attorney, I have seen firsthand how difficult and disruptive the divorce process can be for all parties. While my work has previously focused on providing legal advice and counsel to business owners and people who may be involved in a high-net-worth divorce, I now offer a different level of care. By drawing on my background in mental health counseling, I’m helping clients navigate the divorce process and deal with the complicated emotions involved. I serve clients in several ways, including divorce coaching, mediation, witness and client preparation, and arbitration. As a divorce coach, I help clients minimize conflict, improve communication, find good coping skills, make better decisions, and set post-divorce goals. In mediation and arbitration, I use my expertise in complex property division and business valuations to offer clients expedited and creative solutions for settling their divorce out of court. Overall, my objective is to reduce the stress of clients going through divorce, give them more of a sense of control, and reach a better outcome.
Here’s how:
- Work alongside other Goranson Bain Ausley attorneys as a member of a client’s divorce/family law team to help clients understand and navigate the process.
- Equip clients with the skills to communicate better with their children, their ex-spouse, their attorney, and the court to make their divorce go more smoothly.
- Draw on my background in psychology and my training in mental health and addiction counseling to help clients find healthy ways to manage their emotions and alleviate their stresses and anxieties.
- Use my extensive knowledge of marital property and contested custody issues to assist clients in successfully resolving their divorce through mediation and arbitration.
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Experience and Professional Credentials
Eric Robertson’s focus on divorce coaching, mediation, and arbitration represents the culmination of a 30-year career in practicing family law. It brings together his deep experience with divorce litigation, training in alternate dispute resolution, and background in psychology and mental health counseling. Eric goes beyond providing legal advice and counsel to guiding clients through the whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties that divorce often raises. By offering support and understanding at a critical time, Eric helps clients feel more at ease and stable as they go through a divorce. In addition, Eric serves as a neutral third party in arbitration and mediation, affording clients an efficient means of resolving divorce outside of the courtroom.
Board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Eric is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past president of the Texas chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and served as president of the Family Law Section of the Austin Bar Association. In addition to his law degree, Eric holds a master’s in psychology. He is a licensed professional counselor-associate, supervised by Lisa Blackwood, LPC-S, LCDC, and he is also a certified mediator, and a graduate of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Matrimonial Arbitration Institute.
Services
- Divorce
- Divorce Coaching
- Collaborative Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Property Division
- Dividing the Marital Home
- Complex Property
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Divorce Arbitration
- Divorce for Men
- Divorce for Women
- Parenting Schedules
- Visitation Rights
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights in Texas
- Modification and Enforcement
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- High-Conflict Divorce
- Paternity
- Adoption
- Cohabitation Agreement
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Contested Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- LGBT Divorce
- Litigated Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
Honors & Awards
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2005 – 2024
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Mediation, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Named the Best Lawyers© Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Austin, Best Lawyers, 2018
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2009–2023
- Inclusion in the Top 50: Central/West Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2020- 2022
- “AV” Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Articles
Articles
- Understanding Divorce Coaching for Men December 13, 2023
- How Does Arbitration Work in a Divorce? Understanding the Arbitration Process November 9, 2023
- Divorce Arbitration vs. Mediation: What Is the Difference Between Mediation and Arbitration? November 8, 2023
- What Are the Benefits of Working With a Divorce Coach? October 25, 2023
- What Is a Divorce Coach, and What Do They Do? August 30, 2023
- What Is Arbitration in a Divorce? July 27, 2023
- Unusual Employment Benefits: Carried Interests September 5, 2018
Published Works
- Chair of Drafting Committee and Contributor: State Bar Family Law Section’s & Texas Family Law Foundation’s Annotated Texas Family Code
- Author and Speaker, 2012 Marriage Dissolution Institute 101, “Client Management”
- Author and Speaker, 2012, Marriage Dissolution Institute, “Transitioning from the Collaborative Case-What you Really Need to Know”
- Course Director, 2011 Advanced Family Law 101 (Boot Camp)
- Author and Speaker, 2005 University of Texas School of Law 5th Annual Family Law on
the Front Lines, “Collecting Judgments.” - Author and Speaker, 2005 State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Conference “Child Support
and Visitation Enforcement.” - Author and Speaker, 2003 University of Texas Continuing Legal Education Series
- Family Law on the Front Lines, “How to Look Prepared, Even if You Just Met Your Client Yesterday.”
- Author and Speaker, 2000 State Bar of Texas Legal Assistant’s University “Discovery for Family Law – One Year Later: How the New Rules Apply to Family Law”
- Author and Speaker, 1999 State Bar of Texas Legal Assistant=s University “Modification in Family Law Cases.”
Presentations
- “House of the Rising Sun: Real Estate Issues in Family Law,” Advanced Family Law Course, 2020
- “Disproportionate Division and Spousal Maintenance for the Non-Monied Spouse”, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2019
- “Mischaracterized Employment and Retirement Benefits”, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018
- Speaker, 2017 Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, “Securing the Deal.”
- Speaker, 2017 Advanced Family Law Course, “Daubert and Other Pre-Trial Matters.”
- Speaker, 2017 Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation “Children of Divorce-What You Need to Know.”
- Speaker, 2016 Advanced Family Law Course, “Rights & Duties and the Legal Meaning of the Phrase ‘Exclusive Right to Designate the Primary Residence’.”
- Speaker, 2015 Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation “Do You Have a Prescription for That?”
- Speaker, 2013 Advanced Family Law Course “Declaratory and Summary Judgments.”
- Speaker, TAFLS 2012 Trial Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Author and Speaker, 2012 Marriage Dissolution Institute 101, “Client Management”.
- Author and Speaker, 2012, Marriage Dissolution Institute, “Transitioning from the Collaborative Case-What you Really Need to Know”.
- Speaker, 2008 Austin Bar Association Divorce Basics Seminar, “Child Support.”
- Speaker, 2006 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Family Law Section CLE Event, “Property Division.”
- Author and Speaker, 2005 University of Texas School of Law 5th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines, “Collecting Judgments.”
- Author and Speaker, 2005 State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Conference “Child Support and Visitation Enforcement.”
- Speaker, 2004 Williamson County Bar Association Annual Family Law Seminar “Preparing for the Temporary Orders Hearing.”
- Speaker, 2003 Williamson County Bar Association Annual Family Law Seminar “Economic Contribution, Reimbursement, and Tracing.”
- Author and Speaker, 2003 University of Texas Continuing Legal Education Series Family Law on the Front Lines, “How to Look Prepared, Even if You Just Met Your
Client Yesterday.” - Author and Speaker, 2000 State Bar of Texas Legal Assistant’s University “Discovery for Family Law – One Year Later: How the New Rules Apply to Family Law”
- Author and Speaker, 1999 State Bar of Texas Legal Assistant=s University “Modification in Family Law Cases.”
- Speaker, 1999 Advanced Family Law Course “Securing and Collecting What Your Client Got.”
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Delegate, Board of Governors, 2018-2020
- Fellow
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter
- President, 2016 – 2017
- Member
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Member
- Austin Bar Association
- President, Family Law Section, 2002-2003
- Member
- State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, District 9A
- Past Chair
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Member
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Family Law, Legal Assistants
- Member 2004-2007
- Williamson County Bar Association
- Member
Education
- Seminary of the Southwest, 2023
- M.A.M.H.C.
- South Texas College of Law, 1991
- J.D., Law
- University of Texas at Arlington, 1986
- M.S., Psychology
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1992
- New Mexico, 2015
Certifications
- Licensed Professional Counselor – Associate, Supervised by Lisa Blackwood, LPC-S, LCDC, 2023
- Certified Arbitrator, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Matrimonial Arbitration Institute, 2018
- Certified Mediator, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, University of Texas School of Law, 2006
- Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1997
