Velasques, Misty A.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1997 and former Associate Judge of the 245th District Court, Harris County, Texas (1998-2000), Patricia J. Lasher has been certified in the practice of family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1992. As a litigator, her representation has included divorce, disputed property valuations and divisions of property, contested custody and child support matters, paternity, grandparent rights, common law marriage. With trial and settlement experience, alternative dispute resolution training and service on the bench, she also brings valuable insight to her practice as a mediator and arbitrator. She has been named a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Ms. Lasher has been rated AV (their highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 15 years. She completed mediation training at the A.A. White Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of the University of Houston, collaborative law training in 2003 and the AAML/ Harvard Negotiation Training program in Boston in September, 2006.

A former member of the faculty of the ABA's Trial Institute, Ms. Lasher is now on faculty at the Houston Trial Institute Family Law at South Texas College of Law. She serves as a faculty member of the AAML Institute for New Associates in Chicago and was a member of the planning committee of ABA's Families First symposium, Baltimore, 2010. A frequent speaker and author on family law issues, Ms. Lasher has presented papers and participated in trial demonstrations for the Family Law Section of the ABA, the State Bars of Texas, Colorado, Kentucky and South Carolina, along with the UH Law Center, South Texas College of Law, the ABA, and AAML.

Ms. Lasher has been a Director of the Family Law Section of the HBA, a member of the State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education Committee, and a board member of the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and of Lone Star Legal Aid. In addition to the State Bar of Texas and the Houston Bar Association, in both of which she is a Life Fellow, Ms. Lasher is a member of the American Bar Association, the AAML and the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Ms. Lasher is a past President of the University of Houston Law Center Alumni Association, former chair of the Houston Public Library Board; she is a member of the advisory board of INPRINT. Past board service has included the Urban Libraries Council, the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston Child Guidance Center, Friends of St. Luke's Nursing and Greater Houston Women's Foundation.