About John J.
John J. Kappel began his academic path in economics. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Baylor University in 2011. He then turned to law and received his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2014. Those years set the groundwork for the courtroom and advisory work that followed.
He entered practice as an associate at Holmes, Diggs, PLLC in 2014. That role gave him early exposure to contested matters and client counseling. Five years later he joined Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP as a partner in 2019. In 2022 he moved to Fox Rothschild, LLP, where he continues his work as a partner.
Kappel is admitted to practice in Texas and to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential that denotes additional testing and peer review. His professional affiliations include membership in the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, the Annette Stewart Inn of Court, and the Texas Bar College. He also maintains memberships in the Dallas Bar Association and the Collin County Bar Association.
His practice centers on family law. He represents clients in divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, property division matters, and related post‑decree enforcement and modification actions. He handles both trial work and appellate matters, assisting clients through hearings, settlement negotiations, and appeals when necessary. The combination of courtroom experience and board certification informs how he approaches complicated case issues.
Colleagues describe him as someone who can move between detailed case preparation and public courtroom presentation. He has worked on matters that require financial analysis and close attention to procedural rules. That background draws on his undergraduate economics training as much as his legal education.
Outside of casework, Kappel participates in continuing legal education and professional groups that address developments in family law. He serves in the Annette Stewart Inn of Court and is active in the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. He also remains engaged with local bar associations in Dallas and Collin County. He is a partner at Fox Rothschild, LLP, where his current practice concentrates on family law matters.
