Developing professional relationships can be life-changing.  For Diana S. Friedman, early career mentoring and active participation in the Family Law Bar opened the door to service and leadership in the field of family law. It has led to a career in which the GoransonBain Partner has risen to the forefront of the practice and recently earned her recognition as the 2016 Sam Emison Award recipient from the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists.

The Sam Emison Award is earned in recognition of a significant impact on the practice of family law and the family law bar association.

The award has special meaning to Friedman.  As a law clerk more than 25 years ago, her mentors invited her to the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Annual Dinner.  The Sam Emison award presentation was one of the defining moments that shaped her career.  

It provided a great example of leadership in the field of family law and demonstrated to Diana the importance of embracing collaboration, intellectual inquiry and legislative advocacy.

 A leader in driving legislative changes that will improve Texas divorce laws, she is an active member and past chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, serving as Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee. She is the Past President of the Texas Family Law Foundation, a member of the Family Law Council State Bar of Texas, Past President of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, and Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section. 

She is a frequent course director, speaker and author of matters related to family law.

 She is equally invested in paying it forward with the next generation of family lawyers.  The mentors she had played an instrumental role in her understanding not just the business of family law but the practice.

There is not a more personal practice of law than family law. She believes the relationships you develop through active participation in your professional associations and networking benefit not only you but your clients.

 A fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Friedman has earned the 2016 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law by The Best Lawyers in America and Dallas 500 – The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas-Ft. Worth awards.  In 2014, the Family Law Section presented her with the Dan R. Price Award.   Friedman has been named a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2003, and a Best Lawyer in America for the past seven years.