Our Attorneys

Pat Barnes started Barnes & Associates, now Barnes & Karisch, P.C., in 1990, after having gained experience working with other tax specialists in Austin. She holds degrees in philosophy and law from the University of Texas at Austin and is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Handling a broad range of client needs, from basic wills and trusts to sophisticated tax planning for large estates, including family limited partnerships and other family entities, Pat is committed to providing individualized planning specific to each client and that person’s family needs and concerns. Her numerous long-time clients attest to Pat’s rigorous client-centered approach to her practice.

Pat is a past president of the Board of Directors of Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, and has previously served on the boards of Ballet Austin and the American Cancer Society, and on the planned giving committees of numerous organizations, including Hospice Austin.

Education

BA Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin 1969

JD, University of Texas Law School 1983

Professional Affiliations

Member: Austin Bar Association, Estate Planning and Probate Section (Board of Directors 1987); State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section; Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization; Estate Planning, Council of Central Texas (Board of Directors 1995); Judge, Rollingwood Municipal Court 1988-1992).

Glenn Karisch joined the firm in 1998, when the name of the firm became Barnes & Karisch, P.C. He is certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Glenn currently is Chair-Elect of the 7,000-member Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Glenn has been named one of Texas's "Super Lawyers" in Texas Monthly magazine every year since 2003. He was named one of the Best Lawyers in America for 2007. He has written and spoken extensively in advanced legal education courses for attorneys on estate planning, probate and trust topics, including drafting and administering court-created trusts for incapacitated persons, drafting estate planning documents that protect the surviving spouse, understanding and implementing the Uniform Prudent Investor Act and the Uniform Principal and Income Act, understanding recent probate, guardianship and trust law changes and using the Internet in an estate planning practice. He is the author and sponsor of The Texas Probate Web Site (www.texasprobate.net) and the Texas Probate email mailing list for attorneys (probate@io.com). He works with the Texas Legislature on probate, guardianship and trust legislation as the legislative liaison for the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Academy of Probate Lawyers.

Glenn's practice focuses exclusively on estate planning, probate and trust law. He brings special expertise to assisting clients with charitable giving strategies, calling on his experience working with the Texas Methodist Foundation. Glenn is frequently sought out by clients and other attorneys for help in handling especially difficult or out-of-the-ordinary planning and administration problems, and also testifies in court proceedings as an expert in estate planning and probate issues.

Glenn’s pro bono service includes handling guardianship cases for Family Eldercare. He is past president of the Board of Trustees of the Austin Waldorf School, where his children are students, and he has served on the boards of the Estate Planning Council of Central Texas and the local chapter of the National Committee on Planned Giving. He and his wife, Suzanne, are members of First United Methodist Church, where Glenn teaches junior high Sunday School.

Click here to see Glenn's resume.

Education

The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas

Juris Doctor with Honors, 1980
Order of the Coif

The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

Bachelor of Journalism with Highest Honors, 1977

President, Board of Trustees, Texas Student Publications

Reporter, The Daily Texan

Professional Affiliations

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas

Chair-Elect, 2006-2007
Treasurer, 2005-2006
Council Member, 1999 - 2003
Chair, Probate Legislation Committee, 2004 - Present
Chair, Trust Code Committee, 2001 - 2004
Chair, Guardianship Committee, 1999 - 2001

Texas Academy of Probate Lawyers

Estate Planning and Probate Section, Austin Bar Association

Chair, 1996-97

Estate Planning Council of Central Texas

Barbara Lipscomb has been practicing law in Austin since 1980 and is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law. A National Merit Scholar and honors graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (JD 1980), Barbara started her legal career as an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Texas, representing state agencies in federal and state court litigation, appeals and administrative proceedings. She entered private practice in 1983, working on cases ranging from commercial, insurance and products liability to will contests and family law. Her practice currently focuses on wills and trusts, estate planning for medium and large estates, probate, guardianship and trust law, with counseling on a wide range of issues including tax planning, trusts, family law and issues facing non-traditional families. Barbara also handles litigation in the areas of will contests and will construction, cases by and against executors and trustees, contested guardianships and family law.

She volunteers regularly, taking pro bono legal cases for Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (Special Recognition for Outstanding Pro Bono Contributions 2001), Family Eldercare, and the Women’s Advocacy Project.

Education

BA, Government, University of Texas at Austin 1976

JD with honors, University of Texas School of Law 1980

Special Student, Department of Art History, University of Texas at Austin 1995-1998

Professional Affiliations

Member: Austin Bar Association, Estate Planning and Probate Section (Board of Directors 2002 - 6; Chair, 2005 - 6, Chair-Elect, 2004 - 5, Treasurer, 2003-4); State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section and Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Sections; Estate Planning Council of Central Texas. Also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Ellen Stewart joined the firm in 2006. Ellen is an experienced estate planner and litigator. A 1996 graduate of the Baylor University School of Law, she has been in private practice in Austin for more than 10 years.

Ellen is active in many professional and civic groups. She frequently speaks on a number of estate planning topics to lay groups in the Austin area.

Education

Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas

Juris Doctor, 1996

Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas

Bachelor of Arts

Professional Affiliations

Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas

Estate Planning and Probate Section, Austin Bar Association

Estate Planning Council of Central Texas

Glenn M. Karisch, Patricia T. Barnes and Barbara J. Lipscomb are certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ellen P. Stewart is licensed to practice law in Texas but is not certified as a specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.