Joan Foote “Jo” Jenkins, named partner of Jenkins & Kamin, LLP, has devoted her practice solely to family law for her entire 35 year career. In recent years Jo has expanded her litigation practice to include collaborative law and service as a mediator and arbitrator.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Jo is a sixth generation Texan who spent four years in the Chicago area where she graduated from high school. After acquiring her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in 1972, Jo worked in business and politics, raising her two children, Jessica and John, while attending law school. Graduating from South Texas College of Law in 1982, Jo joined the firm in 1985.
Jo was board certified in family law in 1987 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Over the years Jo has devoted countless hours to the advancement of the family law profession, including serving as Chair of the Texas Family Law Foundation, a state wide organization devoted to promoting legislation to protect Texas families who must seek help from our judicial system. Jo is also the past Chair of the Pattern Jury Charges Committee for Family Law. She served as an ex officio membership of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, responsible for advising the Court on necessary changes to our Texas procedural and evidentiary rules and a member of the Texas Supreme Court Child Support and Visitation Guidelines Committee. Jo was elected Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar in 2002 and she continued to serve as member of the Legislative Committee of the Family Law Section until 2014.
Jo is also a member of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, having handled many cases involving cross-border issues.
Recognized by her peers for high ethical standards, in 1995 Jo received the highest honor bestowed upon a family lawyer in the Houston area, the David Gibson Award for Professionalism and Excellence in the Practice of Family Law awarded annually by the Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists. Jo was selected by her peers to be included in the current edition of Best Lawyers in America, an honor she has received for over 15 years and was selected as the 2010 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. Jo has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer, a Thomson Reuters business published by Texas Monthly magazine each year since the inception of this award. She has also been named as one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Texas and Top 100 Houston Region Attorneys; all by a Thomson Reuters business published by Texas Monthly magazine.
A frequent author and speaker at family law related seminars, Jo’s bibliography includes a diverse range of topics from complex property issues to child custody, evidence, trial tactics and summary judgments. Jo is a co-author of O’Connor’s edition of the Texas Family Code, entitled Family Code Plus and the O’Connor’s Family Law Handbook.
Her commitment to continuing legal education has also included her leadership as course director for some of the most respected family law seminars sponsored by the State Bar of Texas as well as her inclusion as a faculty member and speaker at many seminars, including those sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, the University of Texas, and other organizations devoted to the continuing legal education of family law attorneys.
The mother of two grown children and a proud grandmother, Jo understands the high stakes that can be involved in family law litigation and she takes her responsibilities to heart. When she’s not in the courtroom or at work in her office, Jo enjoys spending time with her family and spending weekends at her home in the Hill Country.
Board Certified, Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1987
Arbitrator, Certificate of Achievement, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Mediator, A. A. White Dispute Resolution Institute
2010 Lawyer of the Year – Houston, Best Lawyers in America, Woodard/White
2014 Collaborative Law Lawyer of the Year – Houston, Best Lawyers in America, Woodard/White
Voted Texas Super Lawyer in a poll sponsored by a Thomson Reuters business published in Texas Monthly magazine each year since inception of this award in 2003, also selected as one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Texas in 2004 and 2007 through 2010 and Top 100 Attorneys in Houston Region in 2007 through 2010.
Named One of The Best Lawyers in America, Woodard/White, 1998 – 2018
Recipient, David A. Gibson Award for Professionalism and Excellence in the Practice of Family Law, presented by Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists, 1995
Course Director and Program Chair, New Frontiers in Marital Property, State Bar of Texas, 2000
Assistant Course Director, Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1997
Co-Course Director, Advanced Family Law Seminar, 1995, 2003
Chair, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 2002 – 2003
Bankruptcy, Before, During and After Divorce Advanced Family Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas
Standing in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship Advanced Family Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas
Wrapping Up the Case Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas, August
The Strategy of a Custody Case (Co-Author), Encyclopedia of Matrimonial Practice
Developing a Winning Theme, Witnesses and Effective Demonstrative Evidence, American Journal of Family Law
Jurors’ Perspectives of Family Law Trials – A Survey and Analysis, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Bankruptcy and Divorce, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Proving and Collecting Attorneys Fees, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Recent Cases, Interesting, Alarming and Otherwise, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Standing in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas
Professionalism in Family Law, Family Law Conference for the Practitioner and Legal Assistant, South Texas College of Law
Protective Orders, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Daubert Examination of a Psychological Expert, Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
Summary Judgment: An Overlooked, Underused But Useful Tool, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Expect the Unexpected, Winning Techniques Seminar
Attorney Fees (Setting and Collecting Fees), Annual Family Law Institute
Retracing: Conflicting Rules of Tracing, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
Premarital Agreements: Negotiation and Litigation, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Court, State Bar of Texas
Modifications Made Easy, Family Law Conference for the General Practitioner and the Legal Assistant, South Texas College of Law
Getting Clients and Keeping Them (And You) Happy: Contracts and Fee Collections, Getting Hired, Getting Paid, Getting, Out, Third Annual Family Law Institute
How to Try a Reimbursement Case, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Protective Orders, TRO’s and Other Emergency Measure, Family Law Seminar, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
Reliability and Validity of Psychological Testing for Custody Determination, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Avoiding the Reinvention of the Wheel or Trial Preparation Made Easy – Where to Look – What to Use, The Ultimate Trial Notebook, State Bar of Texas
Characterization of Trusts and Business Entities, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Closing the File, Including Closing Documents, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Economic Contribution, Texas Lawyer
Valuation, Characterization and Division of Unusual Assets, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
Winning Trial Techniques for the Property Case, Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over! Closing the File: Practice Tips & Checklists to Avoid the “M” Word, Family Law on the Front Lines, University of Texas
Relocation – Where is Anyone Going?, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Relocation – Where is Anyone Going?, Legal Assistants University, State Bar of Texas
Brainteasers – Unresolved Questions of Property Law, New Frontiers in Marital Law, State Bar of Texas
Relocation Issue is on the Move, Texas Bar Journal
Modifications, Family Law Seminar, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
Dividing Business Entities; Stock Options; Enforcing Property Divisions Through Receiverships; Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans; Trust Property, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Conflicts of Laws – Texas Law and the Restatement and Its Applicability to Our Practice, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
Relocation of Children After Divorce and Children’s Best Interests: New Evidence and Legal Considerations, AFCC Judicial Conference
Discovery Don’ts, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Modifications, Family Law Seminar, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
The Burden of Pleading & Proof When Seeking Economic Recovery in Divorce Cases, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
Practical Preparation for TRO Hearings, Temporary Orders Hearings and Trial, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Valuation Discounts for Closely Held Companies, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
Divorce and Domestic Violence: Dealing with Protective Orders in Divorce Court and Criminal Court, Criminal Law Conference, South Texas College of Law
Maximizing the Take at a Final Property Hearing, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Business Valuation Scenarios, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
Professionalism, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Issues for the Advanced Collaborative Law Practice, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
A Dictionary of Business Organizations and Trusts Encountered in the Family Law Case, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas
ADR Drafting Issues: Collaborative Law, Mediation and Arbitration, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas
Family Law Legislative Update, Family Law Institute, Houston Bar Association
Legislative Update, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Practical Preparation for Final Non-Jury Trials, Advanced Family Law Boot Camp, State Bar of Texas
Legislative Update – Presenting Our New Statutes and a few Reflections on the Mystery that is Democracy – the 81st Legislative Session in Action, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Legislative Updates in Family Law, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, State Bar of Texas
Arbitration: Does It Have a Place in Family Law?, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
The ADR Playing Field today, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas
Reimbursement, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Liabilities: Personal and Property, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas
Evolution of Texas SAPCR, History of Texas Supreme Court Jurisprudence, State Bar of Texas
