Gretchen McCord
I spent the first 8-1/2 years of my legal career in law firms where most clients were big corporations. I worked on exciting projects and developed good relationships with my clients and colleagues, but I felt like I was just another cog in the wheel.
I wanted to know that the help I give my clients is meaningful to them at a personal level, not just meaningful to their corporate bottom line.
I wanted to work with clients who are passionate about what they’re doing.
I wanted to help my clients follow their dreams.
So I quit. I started my own practice. And since 2010, I’ve been working with the clients I love: small, often family-owned, businesses; solo entrepreneurs; educational institutions; and non-profits. Their business isn’t just a career — it’s part of who they are.
My philosophy
My philosophy for working with clients is simple: I am part of my client’s team, and my job is to help my client succeed.
I help my clients make the decisions that are best for them by considering both practical and legal issues. My job is to:
- Understand my client’s goals, culture, priorities, and budget
- Analyze the legal situation and explain to my client how it affects them
- Present my client with all available options and explain the pros and cons of each
- Work with the client to find the solution that best fits their needs
I am proud and honored to be part of the teams that make my clients successful, make their dreams come true, and help them make a difference in the world!
My non-lawyer side
I live with my husband, Dominick, on a small ranch in Milam County, Texas, exactly half-way between arch-rivals University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Dominick and I are engaged in the perpetual project of reverting most of our acreage from hay fields to native habit, participating in both the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Wildlife Management program and the TPWD – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services collaborative Pastures for Upland Birds program.
We love our rural community, where I am an active Rotarian and participant in other local programs and, occasionally, local politics. We spend our fun time going dancing, entertaining friends on our beautiful and peaceful ranch, or escaping to West Texas and Big Bend National Park.
I know that finding the right legal team is about more than the attorney’s experience and skill; it’s about relationships. Like choosing a doctor, mechanic, or childcare provider, you need someone you can trust, have confidence in, and work well with.
My experience as a solo practitioner and small business owner allows me to relate to my clients in a very personal and honest way. As a result, my clients and colleagues know me as an attorney who cares about her clients’ success and who sets high standards for herself and her staff to ensure their success.
Rebecca DeMont
I have worked as an administrative and legal assistant for Gretchen since 2015. In 2017, I earned my trademark paralegal certificate and now serve as her paralegal.
I thrive on new experiences and love solving intricate challenges. I’m a collaborator by nature, and my position with Gretchen gives me the opportunity to help clients protect what’s most important to them. It’s a wonderful responsibility!
My prior work experience gave me great preparation for working in a legal environment. Prior to working with Gretchen, I worked at an independent oil and gas company in Buffalo, New York. I started as a GIS Tech in land management, interpreting lease agreements and mapping company assets. I eventually branched out to work on access and regulations, design pipeline routes, file well permits, and assist with environmental compatibility studies. After four years, I became an executive assistant to the CEO and relocated to Houston, Texas. With the executive team, I coordinated business development and marketing to attract partners and investors, facilitated acquisitions and divestitures, and maintained compliance with the Oslo Stock Exchange.
I currently call Austin, Texas, home and enjoy life with my fiancé and our twin daughters. We love to explore and travel the world. In fact, our daughters visited 27 states before the age of 2!
A fixer-upper first home and those rambunctious toddlers keep me busy most of the time, and a love of nature with a strong emphasis on health keep me balanced. For fun, we entertain friends, host barbecues and game nights, and plot our next adventures.
