Houston’s Award-Winning Family Law Attorney | Nancy L. Rommelmann, PLLC

Nancy Rommelmann has provided strong
and knowledgeable legal representation in family law for more than 35 years
in Houston and the greater metropolitan area and counties throughout
Texas. With a well-proven track record and well-honed trial
skills, she has the skill and experience to adeptly navigate clients through
family law matters, including complex family law cases involving high

net worth estates and contested custody cases.

Nancy has
been a monthly contributing columnist in several local magazines for over ten
years and has been consulted by local media for her on-air analysis about
family law.

Savvy Litigator and Negotiator, Certified in
Mediation and Trained in Collaborative Law

Many family law cases can be settled without
going to court. Certified in mediation and trained in collaborative law,
Nancy helps her clients reach agreements through negotiations. Successful
mediation often results in lower legal fees as well as less emotional trauma
compared to a courtroom battle.

Meet Nancy
Rommelmann

Nancy attended a Lutheran Elementary School
in St. Louis and graduated number 2 in her class. She then
attended a public high school where she graduated in 3 years in the top 2% of
her class. Based on her record, she obtained a scholarship to St. Louis
University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. At the age of 21, Nancy
started law school at South Texas College of Law. Having
plans at that time to return to St. Louis, during law school one summer, she
worked for the Circuit Attorney’s office there, which was the beginning of
her exposure to litigation. She
subsequently worked in Houston for legendary family law attorney and
litigator, David Gibson. She topped her mock trial class in law school which
skills she continued to develop. Texas won
Nancy’s heart and after graduating from law school she decided to practice
law in Houston and not return to the Midwest.

Nancy’s first position after law school was
with Phibro Oil and Gas (subsequently purchased by Salomon Brothers) where
she was General Counsel. “Those were the heydays of the oil and gas
business!” she laughed. The company had a chef who was trained at the school
of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. On the days he cooked, Nancy recalls getting some
cooking tips from the chef. “The wafts of aromas from the professional
kitchen was divine!” she exclaimed. “Back in those days in the oil and gas
business, it was the norm to leave for lunch on Fridays at 11:30am and not
return to the office due to long lunches – of course making business deals,”
she said with a laugh. Nancy recalled, “Restaurants touting 3 martini lunches
was common and there were few women in the oil and gas industry so she would
find herself sipping slowly on a glass of chardonnay that lasted her all
afternoon during the long lunches while she was the recipient of countless
and fascinating stories told by the independent oil men. During those years,
Nancy met and had dinner with a small group of friends and actor Larry Hagman
and his daughter (when he was starring in the TV series “Dallas” the most
successful prime-time soap in TV history at the time.) She literally bumped
into John Travolta two-stepping at the then popular bar called “Cowboys”
during the time when he was shooting the movie “Urban Cowboy” at “Gilley’s.”
She goes on to tell how she visited with Paul Newman when he was in Houston
for a Grand Prix event. “That was pretty cool for sure! His blue eyes were
incredible!”

She subsequently was hired as General Counsel
for Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in South Korea. There Nancy
negotiated multimillion dollar contracts with companies worldwide. “It was
absolutely fascinating work with the international component to the
position,” said Nancy. “At that time, the companies she negotiated with were
only men from countries other than South Korea. There were no women in
management positions there whatsoever. One time when a group of men entered
the room from a country I’ll not name and when they saw me, a woman, after
being introduced as the general counsel, introduced themselves, did NOT shake
my hand, talked in their native tongue among themselves and turned around and
walked out!” With an easy wave of her hand in a light tone, she said with an
easy laugh, “Times were different then for sure.”

When she repatriated, Nancy started her law
practice in the Galleria, but eventually settled in the Memorial area close
to her home.

Nancy found her penchant for family law after
successfully trying a divorce case involving a high asset, complex estate
involving a wide array of retirement benefits. Her client, a woman and
royalty from a Southeast Asian country, was married to a man promoted to the
position of president of an Exxon subsidiary and received a “golden
parachute,” a form of compensation paid to “top hat executives,” during their
marriage. At the time the law was not entirely clear on how retirement
benefits should be divided. The Court of Appeals of Texas in Houston stated
that this was a case of first impression and there was no controlling
precedent. This case clarified how retirement benefits should be divided. Her
success in this case resulted in Exxon employees, both women and men, hiring
Nancy to represent them in their divorces.

“Family law deals with a broad spectrum of
assets and issues including business valuations, trusts, hidden assets, fraud
and waste. Cases can include a wide variety of assets as well as the array of
psychological issues. The strengths and weaknesses of the human spirit are
involved and emerge while handling child custody cases.”

Nancy is blessed with 3 adult children, 2
grandchildren and is active in the community. She believes in a life
involving faith in God and service to her family, community, and
practice.

Whether you are ready to start divorce
proceedings, wish to explore your options, or plan for your future and the
future of your children, the first step is a consultation with Nancy
Rommelmann.