Joan (Jo) Foote Jenkins

partner

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 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization limiting participation to those family law specialists who have achieved a reputation for excellence in their field.  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.

Year Joined Organization:

1985