After practicing for almost a decade at well-respected Dallas law firms, Andrew J. Anderson decided to form Anderson Legal Group, P.C. The focus of the new firm was to assist clients in family law related matters (such as divorce, custody, adoptions, premarital agreements, wills and child support issues) and/or criminal defense matters. These particular cases are extremely stressful for the client and often plague clients until they are resolved. Mr. Anderson explains all options available to the clients, which empowers them to make good decisions during these difficult times. Mr. Anderson supplemented his legal education with an extensive hearing and trial practice. Specifically, he has tried numerous cases before the Judges of Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, and Collin county courts. Further, Mr. Anderson often writes and presents seminars to teach other attorneys through the Texas Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education programs. Mr. Anderson is also Board Certified in Family Law which is the highest award for specialized competence issued by the State Bar of Texas and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2011. Mr. Anderson represents clients by listening to their goals, and then creating a specifically tailored plan for achieving their goals as quickly as possible. He firmly believes that clients must be thoroughly informed, and then he strives to develop and present all possible options. When an attorney offers all possible options, along with the potential outcomes, it allows the client to make informed decisions about their case. Due to Mr. Anderson’s extensive courtroom experience, clients are confident that if their case cannot be resolved before trial, that Mr. Anderson will work to receive all possible relief from the Judge. The majority of Mr. Anderson’s caseload involves complex divorce matters with substantial assets. Typically, these cases deal with businesses, Family Limited Partnerships, Sports Contracts, or complex benefits for officers of large corporations. Mr. Anderson structures the property transactions to obtain the best possible results for his clients. Often these complex divorce matters also have emotionally charged custody litigation. Mr. Anderson is able to objectively craft a plan to obtain as much time with the children as the client desires. Mr. Anderson also represents clients in criminal matters. While typically these cases stem from divorce and family law litigation, this is not always the case. Specifically, Mr. Anderson deals with Federal and State authorities mainly dealing with charges regarding: drug possession, pornography, abduction, alcohol, sex offenses, assault and weapons charges. Mr. Anderson is respected by Texas attorneys and judges. To evidence this, Mr. Anderson has received the highest peer review rating as established by Martindale-Hubble (for both ethics and legal competence). Further, Mr. Anderson is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas which is a prestigious group of lawyers that pride themselves in exceeding the minimum requirements for continuing legal education.

With 36 years of legal experience, Jane Mapes has dedicated the past 26 years to Family Law in Texas. After starting her career in real estate and personal injury law in Florida, she moved to Texas in 1996 and quickly became well-versed in the courts of Tarrant and Dallas Counties. Since joining Bailey & Galyen in 1999, she has focused exclusively on helping families navigate complex legal matters.

Attorney Lori Shannon focuses her practice on family law, representing clients out of the Bailey & Galyen offices in Bedford, Texas. Originally from Sweetwater, Texas, Lori graduated for Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, earning her bachelors degree in advertising. She then worked in television and radio before returning to school, completing her juris doctor at the Texas Tech School of Law. Upon graduation and admission to the Texas State Bar, Lori honed her trial skills as a city prosecutor. An Assistant Attorney General in Texas for 23 years, she has extensive experience in matters related to both paternity establishment and exclusion, as well as establishment, modification and enforcement of child support and medical support. Her practice experience also includes employment law, criminal law and general civil law. She has also served as a managing attorney for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas.

Mark S. Cochran exclusively practices Family Law, which includes divorce, visitation establishment and enforcement, child support establishment and enforcement, modification, custody, paternity, contempt, pre-marital agreements, step-parent adoption, and other child and family-related matters. Mr. Cochran has extensive litigation experience, and is qualified and capable of the trial of complex or large estates. We believe it is essential that a client be fully informed of his or her options and the progress of the case. We zealously represent our clients' interests while frankly advising as to the reality of the clients' expectations, given the specific circumstances of the case. Although Mr. Cochran is a trial attorney, we acknowledge that most family law matters are best settled and resolved prior to trial. Settlement, when fairly done, can save a client significant time and money. Settlement also allows the parties to have total control over the decision-making involving their children and property. Each attorney, therefore, has extensive experience in alternate dispute resolution, including mediation, settlement conferences, access facilitation and old-fashioned negotiation between lawyers. While encouraging alternate dispute resolution, we recognized that certain cases and issues must be tried by a Judge or jury, and are prepared to do so. Most importantly, we believe that an effective family law attorney must work to resolve problems, not create conflict and escalate hostilities.

Sakinna Thomas is a practicing lawyer in the state of Texas. Attorney Thomas received her J.D. from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2002.

Anna Nika was admitted to the Texas Bar in May, 2005, after graduating from the Baylor University School of Law. She attended Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in history. For more than 18 years, Anna Nika has protected the rights of women and men in family law and divorce matters. She also handles tax disputes. Before entering private practice, she served as an assistant district attorney in Cameron County, Texas, where she honed her trial skills handling criminal matters. Originally from Springfield, Illinois, she moved permanently to Texas in 2002. She has practiced extensively in North-Central Texas, representing clients in Harris County, Bexar County, Travis County and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Anna is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and is currently working toward her board certification in family law. She has considerable trial experience, handling a wide range of divorce and family law disputes. She also advocates for clients in matters involving Child Protective Services. Anna is proud to be a part of the Bailey & Galyen team, thriving on helping families with all types of legal issues.