About Michelle May O’Neil

About Michelle May O’Neil

Firm picture

(Michelle May O’Neil pictured, center, with Senior Paralegal Christina Garcia, right, and Paralegal Lisa Hanna, left.) 

Education and Licenses:

  • Board Certified, Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization 1997, recertified 2002 and 2007
  • Licensed by Supreme Court of Texas 1992 and United States Supreme Court 1999
  • Juris Doctor, Baylor University School of Law 1991
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Baylor University School of Law 1989

Honors:

  • A-V Peer Review Rating, Lexis-Nexis, Martindale Hubbell Legal Directories
  • Annette Stewart Inns of Court
  • Who’s Who in America, multiple editions
  • Who’s Who in American Law, multiple editions
  • Who’s Who in American Women, multiple editions 

 Published appellate cases by Michelle May O’Neil:

  • In re Rowe, 182 S.W.3d 424 (Tex. App. – Eastland 2005, orig. proceeding).
  • Peck v. Peck, 172 S.W.3d 26 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2005, pet denied).
  • Harleaux v. Harleaux, 154 S.W.3d 925 (Dallas, Texas 2005, no pet.).
  • In Re Dupree, 118 S.W.3d 911 (Tex. App. – Dallas, 2003, pet. denied)(orig. proceeding).
  • Smith v. Smith, 115 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.)
  • Valley Forge Insurance Co. v. Austin, 65 S.W.3d 371 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2002), pet. denied, 105 S.W.3d 609 (Tex. 2003).
  • Saenz v. The Insurance Company for the State of Pennsylvania, 66 S.W.3d 444 (Tex. App. – Waco 2001, no pet.).
  • Gainesville Mem. Hosp. v. Tomlinson, 48 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. App. – Ft. Worth 2001, pet. denied).
  • In Re Aramark Corp., 38 S.W.3d 291 (Tex. App. – Tyler 2001, orig. proceeding).
  • Dickens v. Willis, 957 S.W.2d 657 (Tex. App. – Austin 1997, no writ).
  • Lemley v. Miller, 932 S.W.2d 284 (Tex. App. – Austin 1996, no writ).

Professional Service Activities:

  • State Bar of Texas, Family Law and Appellate Sections
  • Dallas Bar Association, Family Law and Appellate Sections
  • Collin County Bar Association, Family Law Section
  • Collin County Bench Bar Foundation, CLE Chair 2006 and 2008
  • Plano Bar Association
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists

Community Service Activities:

  • Altrusa International Inc. of Dallas, Texas, President 2005-2007
  • Golden Corridor Republican Women, Lincoln Day Dinner Chair, 2008
  • Dallas Republican Career Women, Legislative VP 2005-2006 

Publications and Presentations by Michelle May O’Neil:

“Discovery in Mid-Sized Litigation Under the New Rules: Discovery Strategy for Neither Very Large Nor Very Small Cases”, Civil Discovery Under the New Rules, University of Houston Law Foundation, February 1999. “Discovery in Family Law Cases”, Family Law Practice Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, September 1999.”Top Ten Rules for an Effective Voir Dire”, Litigation and Trial Tactics, University of Houston Law Foundation, December 1999. “Attorney-Client Privilege Communication Issues”, 13th Annual Juvenile Law Conference, Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, February 2000. “Enforcement of Court Orders and Decrees”, Family Law Practice Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, April 2000. “Representing the Unsympathetic Party”, Litigation and Trial Tactics Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, December 2000. “Enforcement of Court Orders and Decrees”, General Practice Institute, University of Houston Law Foundation, April 2001; Family Law Practice Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, June 2001; Family Law Practice Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, March 2003.. “When Custody Is At Issue”, Pro Bono Family Law Seminar, October 2001. “Family Violence”, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas, December 2001. “Advice from a Divorce Lawyer: Whether or Not You Are Thinking About Getting a Divorce”, Today’s Dallas Woman Magazine, January 2002. “Maintenance and Alimony: Why Can’t I Get No Satisfaction?”, Family Law Practice Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, June 2002. “Maintenance is Alive and Well in Texas,” Advanced Family Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, August 2002 (co-author with Mary Jo McCurley and Jim Penn). “Standards of Review in Family Law Appeals,” Family Law Practice Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, November 2002. “Family Law Appeals Distinguished”, Appellate Advocate, Vol. XV, No. 4, Winter 2003. “Ground Rules: Annulment”, Texas’ Divorce Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, Fall 2003. “Court Orders and Decrees”, Family Law Boot Camp 2003, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio, Texas August 17, 2003. Challenges and Rewards of Solo Practice, Texas Lawyer, October 2003. “Protecting Your Client’s Case for Appeal (and You From Malpractice)”, Advance Civil Litigation Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, April 2004. Alimony/Maintenance Enforcement By Contempt, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, April 2004. “Anatomy of an Appeal”, Collin County Paralegal Association, November 2004. “Preservation of Error When Offering and Excluding Evidence”, How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, January 2005.