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Skillern Firm: Both Founding Partners Board Certified in a Firm That Does Nothing but Family Law

Matthew Skillern and Caitlin Thorpe are both Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a credential the firm’s own materials note only about 1 percent of Texas family lawyers hold — anchoring a 30-plus-attorney Houston firm that the firm states is 100 percent focused on family law and nothing else.

At a Glance

Origin and Background

Matthew A. Skillern earned his political science degree from Baylor University and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, financing his education as a first-generation college graduate. He began his career as a prosecutor in Smith County before joining a top Houston defense firm and later founding his own family law practice. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential he holds alongside co-founder Caitlin Thorpe. Skillern has been a Texas Super Lawyer from 2015 to 2023 and a Rising Star in earlier years (2010–2011, 2014–2015).

Practice Concentration

The firm states its 30-plus legal professionals are 100 percent focused on family law: divorce, custody, child support, property division, enforcement, and protective orders, with particular depth in high-net-worth divorce involving closely held businesses, stock options, ESOPs, and private equity holdings. See this Houston Family Law directory for how this dual-board-certified, single-practice-area firm compares to other Harris County family law practices. The firm’s office sits at the intersection of Post Oak Road and Memorial Drive in the Uptown/Galleria corridor, providing access for clients in Memorial, Tanglewood, and Spring Branch.

Track Record

Awesome Attorneys did not identify a published, itemized case-results table with specific settlement or property-division figures on the firm’s site, consistent with the confidential nature of most family law resolutions. This has not been independently re-verified against court dockets by this profile; past results do not guarantee similar outcomes, and every case depends on its own specific facts.

Client Voice

Published client reviews describe Skillern as having helped a client “grow into a better parent and person” through multiple cross-state hearings and opposing-side delays, and another describes the firm’s overall track record as one that “stood by my side.” Awesome Attorneys did not identify a pattern of negative or unresolved reviews warranting disclosure.

Beyond the Courtroom

Skillern’s earlier career as a Smith County prosecutor and his Smith County Bar Association Outstanding Pro Bono Award (2010, 2012–2015) reflect public-service and pro bono contributions distinct from his private family law caseload. Caitlin Thorpe’s 2025 recognition as Top 10 Family Law Female Attorney in Texas by Attorney & Practice Magazine, alongside Houston’s Top Lawyers honors in 2015 and 2017, reflects sustained individual recognition beyond the firm’s collective credentials.

Recognition

Skillern’s and Thorpe’s Board Certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is the state’s official specialty credential, held by both named founding partners rather than one. Their Texas Super Lawyers selections, 10.0 Avvo ratings, and Expertise.com and Texas Monthly recognitions are separate, independently administered peer-review and publication-driven distinctions.

Texas Legal Backdrop

Texas is a community property state, meaning property acquired during marriage is generally presumed community property subject to a “just and right” division at divorce under Texas Family Code Chapter 7, though separate property owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance remains separate if properly traced. High-net-worth divorces often require forensic valuation of closely held businesses, stock options, and private equity interests, since these assets rarely have a straightforward market price. None of this is legal advice; anyone facing a divorce or family law matter should consult a licensed Texas attorney about the specific facts of their case.

Awesome Attorneys Assessment

Skillern Firm’s clearest, most checkable differentiator is having both founding partners — not just one — hold TBLS Family Law certification, backed by a firm structured to do nothing but family law and specific depth in tracing and valuing complex, closely held business assets. The honest trade-off: Awesome Attorneys did not identify a published, itemized case-results table, consistent with family law’s typical confidentiality, and a 30-plus-attorney firm means prospective clients should confirm during intake which specific attorney will handle their case. For a Harris County client facing a high-asset or business-owner divorce specifically, this dual board-certified, single-practice-area focus is a genuine, checkable basis for a shortlist.

Methodology and Sourcing

This profile was researched from Skillern Firm’s official website (skillernfirm.com), its Yelp and FindLaw directory listings, and Matthew Skillern’s Cornell Legal Information Institute attorney profile confirming State Bar licensure, certifications, and awards.

Publisher Disclosure and Independence Notice

Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal directory and editorial publication. This profile was not paid for, commissioned, or reviewed by Skillern Firm prior to publication. Awesome Attorneys may in the future offer sponsored placement products to attorneys and firms, including this one, but sponsorship has no bearing on the editorial content, inclusion, or findings of this profile.