Attorney Profiles

Dallas Family Law Attorneys at O’Neil & Attorneys

Michelle May O’Neil

Ms. O’Neil founded the firm based on her desire to provide clients with high-quality representation in a personalized atmosphere. She has over 18 years of experience representing men, women, and children related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes genuine compassion for her client’s difficulties, yet she can be relentless when in pursuit of a client’s goals.

Ms. O’Neil became a certified family law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1997 and has maintained her certification since that time. Representing clients in litigation before the trial court is an important part of her practice. In addition, family law appellate matters are a niche of Ms. O’Neil’s practice. Lawyers frequently consult with Ms. O’Neil on their litigation cases about specialized legal issues requiring particularized attention both at the trial court and appellate levels.

Ms. O’Neil has authored two books, the first was entitled All About Texas Law and Kids, published by Texas Lawyer Press in the Fall of 2009. The second, Basics of Texas Divorce Law (link: http://www.amazon.com/Basics-Texas-Divorce-Michelle-ONeil/dp/0557829720), provides a primer on Texas law for the layperson and is available on Amazon.com.  The State Bar of Texas and other providers of continuing education for attorneys frequently enlist Ms. O’Neil to provide instruction to attorneys on topics of her expertise in the family law arena. She has, further, been honored by her peers with an “A-V” peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directories for the highest quality legal ability and ethical standards, as well as selection as a Barrister in the Annette Steward Inns of Court, an organization devoted to the professionalism of the practice of law.

In addition to her service to the legal profession, Ms. O’Neil actively serves the community. Altrusa International Inc. of Dallas, Texas, a professional women’s community service organization, selected Ms. O’Neil to serve as president from 2005 to 2007. During her term, the group received the Nina Fay Calhoun Award for International Relations for their work with Refugee Services. She also founded the project D.U.N.K. – Dallas Uniforms for Needy Children – providing donated uniform clothing to underprivileged children in the Dallas Independent School District.

Ms. O’Neil shares with many of her clients the joys of having a blended family, having married her husband John in 2006, who has an 11-year old son.

Published Cases

Teaching & Writing

Community Service Activities

Download Michelle May O’Neil’s bio

LinkedIn Profile

Ashley Bowline Russell

Ashley Bowline Russell is a 2006 graduate of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where her passion for family law began. During law school, Ms. Russell served as president of the Family Law Association, acted as the SMU student liaison for the Family Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, and participated in the W.W.W. Caruth Jr. Child Advocacy Clinic, where she served as guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem in cases involving children in CPS custody.

After graduating from law school, Ms. Russell joined The May Firm, now O’Neil & Attorneys. She was honored in 2007 to be invited to join the Annette Stewart Inn of Court, an organization devoted to ethics and professionalism in the practice of family law, as an Associate member. Clients often praise Ms. Russell for the personal attention, compassion, and understanding that she brings during this extremely difficult time in their lives.

Prior to law school, Ms. Bowline Russell graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College at the University of Oklahoma where, in 2002, she received a Bachelor of Arts in both English and Psychology.  She is a member of the highly regarded Phi Beta Kappa honors fraternity, as well as Phi Beta Phi sorority. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ms. Russell lives in Dallas with her husband.

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Christina Garcia, Lead Paralegal

Christina Garcia has been a paralegal for 13 years, 11 of those for Michelle May O’Neil. Ms. Garcia graduated from El Centro College in 1997 with an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies. Ms. Garcia’s professionalism has been praised by judges, attorneys and clients alike.

Sandra Allen, Paralegal

Sandra Allen has been a paralegal for 16 years.  For the first three years, she worked for the Tarrant County Domestic Relations Enforcement Division focusing solely on the enforcement of visitation and child support.  For the last 13 years, she has worked in the private family law arena.  In 2007, Ms. Allen obtained her board certification in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  Ms. Allen lives in Arlington with her husband and step-children.