Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer
Friedman, Diana S.

Diana S. Friedman - Dallas, TX

Attorney at Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC

Family Law Lawyers in Dallas, TX

8350 N. Central Expressway Suite 1700 Dallas, TX 75206

  • 35 Years
    Experience

Dallas Family Law Lawyer

Updated: 06/03/2026

Areas of Practice

  • Family Law

Attorney Information

Overview

Diana recognizes that divorce and other family law issues are very personal experiences, and strives to build comfortable, trusting relationships with her clients. She works with clients to establish goals for their cases, giving them the benefit of her experience in weighing the pros and cons of different courses of action. She advocates tenaciously for her clients both in and outside of the courtroom. Diana thrives on the connections she makes with clients and the opportunity to provide assistance that really matters in clients’ day-to-day lives as well as their long-term futures.

With an undergraduate degree in business and a background in a family business, Diana excels in cases that involve complex property issues. She brings a cutting-edge knowledge of the law to her clients, and utilizes her creativity in effectively resolving challenging and difficult cases.

Diana is also passionate about working on legislation that will improve divorce laws. She is co-chair of a family law section Legislative Committee that recently secured passage of a bill establishing qualifications for court-appointed child custody evaluators. She believes that working on the front lines of divorce law and being aware of trends helps her better inform her clients and explain the law to them.

Diana has been widely recognized for her expertise in family law. She has been honored as one of the Dallas 500—The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth 2016 and was named Lawyer of the Year in Family Law, Dallas/Ft. Worth by The Best Lawyers in America 2016. In addition, she has been named to The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward White, Inc.—2010-2026, and to D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas—2013, 2015- 2017, among other recognitions. Diana has written numerous articles on family law topics, and she speaks frequently throughout Texas.

As a GBA partner and well-recognized luminary in Dallas divorce law, Diana has the experience and acumen to handle high-asset, high-net-worth divorce cases.

She and her husband of 26 years enjoy hiking, traveling, and wine.


Awards and Honors

Awards

AV Preeminent® award

Honors

  • Sam Emison Award, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2016
  • Dallas 500 – The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas Fort-Worth, 2016
  • Lawyer of the Year in Family Law, Dallas/Ft. Worth, The Best Lawyers in America, 2016
  • Dan R. Price Award Recipient, Texas Bar Foundation, Family Law Section, 2014
  • Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2010 – 2021, 2024 – 2026
  • “A Standing Ovation” Award, Texas Bar CLE, 2015
  • Selected to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2013, 2015 – 2017
  • Selected to the “Best Lawyers Under 40″, D Magazine, 2004
  • Selected to the Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2025
  • Selected to the “Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters – 2004- 2007, 2010 – 2015, and 2018 – 2020
  • Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Region Super Lawyer”, Thomson Reuters – 2011 – 2015, 2017
  • Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2011, 2013, 2017
  • Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024
  • “AV” Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory

Other Sources of Feedback About Diana S. Friedman

Included on the 2026 Texas Super Lawyers list


Past Lists

  • 2025 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2024 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2023 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2022 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2020 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2019 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2018 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2017 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2016 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2015 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2014 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2013 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2012 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2011 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2010 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2009 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2008 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2007 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2006 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2005 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2004 Texas Super Lawyers list
  • 2003 Texas Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education

  • Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas, May, 1991
    J.D.
    Honors: cum laude
    Honors: Order of the Coif

Non Legal Education

  • Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, December, 1984
    B.S.
    Major: Marketing

Current Employment Position(s)

  • Partner

Past Positions

  • McCurley, Kinser, McCurley & Nelson, L. L. P., Partner, 1992 - 2001
  • Webb, Kinser & Luce, P.C., 1991

Classes and Seminars

  • Ten Top Family Law Cases of the 90s, Grand Prairie Bar Association, 1992
  • Case Law Update, Dallas Bar Family Law Section, 1992 - 1998
  • 1993 Legislative Update, Plano Bar Association, 1993
  • 1993 Legislative Changes Affecting Texas Family Law Seminars, Inc., Houston and Dallas, 1993
  • Relocation - Divorce Camp '96, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1996
  • Participant, State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Workshop, 1994
  • Participant, Advanced Family Law Seminar, "The Art of Persuasion and Cross-Examination", State Bar of Texas, 1994 - 1995
  • Family Law Overview, Bridge the Gap Seminar, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and Southern Methodist University, 1996
  • Evidence Without Witnesses - How to Offer and Exclude Evidence, Houston, 1996
  • Working as an Expert Witness, 5th Annual Dallas Chapter TSCPA Divorce Conference, 1996
  • Child Custody Visitation in Texas, National Business Institute, 1996
  • Why Mediation? - Rules that Govern Alternatives, Texas Center for the Judiciary, College of Advanced Judicial Studies, 1997
  • Trying a Property Case on a Shoestring, State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, 1997
  • The Secrets to Preparing for the Certification Exam, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1997
  • Stock Options and Pension Plans, 6th Annual Dallas Chapter TSCPA Divorce Conference - Dallas Chapter, 1997
  • Overview of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Bridge the Gap Seminar, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 1997
  • Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course, State Bar of Texas, 1997
  • Sex, Lies and Liabilities, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1998
  • Bankruptcy, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2000
  • Bankruptcy and Family Law, Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2001
  • Attorneys Fees, Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants, South Texas College of Law, 2002
  • Deal with Debt: Bankruptcy and Beyond, Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2003
  • Experts: Where Are We Now?, Marriage Dissolution, 2003
  • Complex Trust Issues, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2003
  • Marital Property and Estate Issues: Characterization and Attacking Trusts, Family Limited Partnerships, FLPS, 2003
  • Current Rules of Disciplinary Procedure: "The Good News Is, There is No Grievance Committee; The Bad News Is There is No Grievance Committee", 2004
  • Hoping for the Best and Planning for the Worst: Creative Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements, 2004
  • Ethics and Financial Experts, 2004
  • Bankruptcy for the Family Lawyer: When Hearts AND Wallets Break, 2005
  • Ka-ching, Ka-ching, Kachina? "The Modern Day Cash Register", 2005
  • "Ethical Dilemmas", Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2005
  • Bankruptcy Reform for the Family Law Lawyer: "New Code, New Day", 2005
  • Who Gets the Debts, or Worse, I'm Gonna File for Bankruptcy, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2006
  • Marital Property Agreements: Still Crazy After All These Years, State Bar of Texas, 2007
  • Sex, Lies & The Internet: Internet Behavior, University of Texas School of Law, 2007
  • "Making the Most of Social Studies and Psychological Evaluations," Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2008
  • "Characterization Challenges", 2008
  • "Finding Solutions for Dividing Property in a Troubled Economy", 2009
  • "Family Law Contracts: Pre and Post Marital Agreements; Divorce Decrees; AID's; Application of Transactional Contract and Related Law; Enforcement Breach and Contractual Defenses", 2009
  • "The 2 Steps to the 12 Steps: How to Determine if a Parent is a Druggie, a Drunk, or Just Dry", 2010
  • "The New Parent Coordination/Facilitation Statutes: What's In, What's Out", 2010
  • "Obtaining and Modifying Above Guidelines Child Support", Advanced Family Law Course, 2013
  • "Legislative Update – Current Issues", Marriage Dissolution, 2013
  • "Who Are You and What Do You Do", Innovations, 2013
  • "Attachment Issues/Visitation Under Three", Marriage Dissolution, 2012
  • "Social Studies, Psychological Evaluations, Child Custody Evaluations – What's in a Name", Marriage Dissolution, 2012
  • "If you don't know where you're going, you will probably end up someplace else: Legal and psychological Principles and methodologies applied to successful complex custody litigation" Innovations, 2012
  • "Possession and Access for Children Under Three", Advanced Family Law Course, 2011
  • "Plutoed Parents: Preventing and Overcoming Parental Alienation", Family Law on the Front Lines, 2011
  • "Application of Child Development Research to Crafting Age-appropriate Possession Orders for Children Under Three", Family Law on the Front Lines, 2010
  • "Premarital and Post-marital Agreements with Ethical Considerations", Advanced Family Law Drafting, 2010
  • "The Sixth Sense: I Hear Voices, But Is The Child Being Heard? (Which Perspective Really Matters to the Court?)", Parenting-Child Relationships: Critical Thinking for Critical Issues, 2009

Representative Cases

  • Seidel v. Seidel

Published Works

Articles

  • “Premarital Agreements: Making Your Own Rules!”, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2019
  • Panel Discussion, Legislative Update, State Bar of Texas, Panelist, 2019
  • “Defending the Accused”, Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, State Bar of Texas, Panelist, 2019
  • “Parental Alienation and Childhood Trauma”, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018
  • Different Strokes for Different Folks, Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, State Bar of Texas, Moderator, 2017
  • Pick a Number, Any Number: Valuing Business, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas, Moderator, 2017
  • Direct & Cross of a Tracing Expert, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2016
  • 2015 Legislative Update: Family Law, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2015
  • Legislative Update, Legislative Update 2015, Family Law
  • The Witness You Don’t Want and How to Deal With Them, Innovations, 2015
  • Contempt Trial Demonstration, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2014
  • You Don’t Own Me – Alienation and Reunification, Innovations, 2014
  • Obtaining and Modifying Above Guidelines Child Support, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2013
  • Legislative Update – Current Issues, Marriage Dissolution, 2013
  • Who Are You and What Do You Do, Innovations, 2013
  • Attachment Issues/Visitation Under Three, Marriage Dissolution, 2012
  • Social Studies, Psychological Evaluations, Child Custody Evaluations – What’s in a Name, Marriage Dissolution, 2012
  • If you don’t know where you’re going, you will probably end up someplace else: Legal and psychological principles and methodologies applied to successful complex custody litigation, Innovations, 2012
  • Possession and Access for Children Under Three, Advanced Family Law Course, 2011
  • Plutoed Parents: Preventing and Overcoming Parental Alienation, Family Law on the Front Lines, 2011
  • The 2 Steps to the 12 Steps: How to Determine if a Parent is a Druggie, a Drunk, or Just Dry, 2010 Parent Child Relationships Conference, 2010
  • The New Parent Coordination/Facilitation Statute: What’s In, What’s Out, Marriage Dissolution, 2010
  • Application of Child Development Research to Crafting Age appropriate Possession Orders for Children Under Three, Family Law on the Front Lines, 2010
  • Premarital and Post marital Agreements with Ethical Considerations, Advanced Family Law Drafting, 2010
  • The Sixth Sense: I Hear Voices, But Is The Child Being Heard? (Which Perspective Really Matters to the Court?), Parenting Child Relationships: Critical Thinking for Critical Issues, 2009
  • Family Law Contracts: Pre and Post Marital Agreements; Divorce Decrees; AID’s; Application of Transactional Contract and Related Law; Enforcement Breach and Contractual Defenses, 2009
  • Finding Solutions for Dividing Property in a Troubled Economy, 2009
  • Characterization Challenges, 2008
  • Making the Most of Social Studies and Psychological Evaluations, Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2008
  • Sex, Lies & The Internet: Internet Behavior,” Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2007
  • Who Gets the Debts, or Worse, I’m Gonna File for Bankruptcy, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2006
  • Ethical Dilemmas, Family Law on the Front Lines, The University of Texas School of Law, 2005
  • Ka-ching, Ka-ching, Kachina? The Modern Day Cash Register, 2005
  • Hoping for the Best and Planning for the Worst: Creative Pre- and Post- Marital agreements, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2004
  • Experts Where Are We Now, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas, 2003
  • Marital Property and Estate Planning Issues: Characterization and Attacking Trusts, Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs), etc., Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2003
  • Complex Trust Issues, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2003
  • Bankruptcy and Family Law, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2000
  • Sex, Lies & Liabilities: Bankruptcy and Family Law, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1998

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 1991

Specialties and Certifications

  • Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1996

Other Affiliations

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Fellow)
  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (Board of Directors)
  • The Annette Stewart American Inn of Court, 2003 - Present
  • Southern Methodist University, 1993 (ATLA Mock Trial Team Coach)
  • Dallas Inn of Court LVI, 1993 - 1994
  • Family Law Practice Manual Committee, State Bar of Texas, 1993 - 1994
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 1995 - 1997 (Chair, CLE Committee)
  • District 6-A Grievance Committee, 1996 - 2002
  • State Bar Mentoring Program
  • American College of Barristers, 2001
  • Dedman School of Law at SMU (Alumnae Steering Committee)
  • Texas Family Law Foundation, 2013 - Present (President)
  • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Council, 2002 - Present (Member)
  • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Council, 2013 - 2014 (Immediate Past Chair)
  • Advanced Family Law Course, 2012 (Co-Course Director)
  • Texas Association of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute, 2007 (Course Director)
  • New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2006 (Co-Course Director)
  • Legislative Committee (Co-Chair)
  • Dallas County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialist (Past President)

Fraternities and Sororities

  • Delta Zeta

Be the first to write a review!

There are currently no reviews for Diana S. Friedman. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a Review

Photo

Contact

Google Map

Dallas, TX

8350 N. Central Expressway
Suite 1700
Dallas, TX 75206

Directions

Phone Number: 469-490-1430

Email: Send a message

Hours: Weekdays 8am-5pm

  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Virtual Appointments

Contact Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC Today

Preferred contact method
DISCLAIMER: By submitting this form you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Disclaimer

Your Profile?  Update Now

When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.