From Mentorship to Partnership: The Story Behind the Acquisition of a North Texas Law Firm

Kristen Carr's first job as an attorney was with The Griffin Firm, a family law practice in North Texas near and dear to her heart. She started as an intern there during law school and the owner, Wade Griffin, had an associate position waiting for her as soon as she passed the Texas Bar Exam.

Wade had become her mentor and friend, teaching her the ins and outs of practicing law but also instilled in her a deep appreciation for helping families navigate difficult legal situations. She also became very close with his legal assistant and wife, Sarah Griffin, and longtime paralegal, Lamour Kongaika.

It truly felt like family at their quaint office in Keller.

“Wade took a chance on me when I knew nothing and he taught me everything," she said. "Everyone was always so wonderful to me. They came to my wedding and all my family functions."

As the years went by, Kristen moved with her husband and two children to Aledo, a small town about 45 miles away where her husband is a home builder. The commute to the Keller law office, which took about 1.5 hours each way, became increasingly difficult.

"My kid's school called me one day because he was sick, and I had to tell them it would take me an hour and half to get there," she said. "I realized it just wasn’t practical to work so far away and  still be there for my husband and two little boys."

As fate would have it, Turner Thornton, a colleague with whom Kristen attended Texas A&M University School of Law, called seeking recommendations for an associate to join the family law division of Varghese Summersett - one of the fastest-growing personal injury, criminal defense, and family law firms in Fort Worth. Turner, a partner at the firm, described the type of attorney he was looking for that would fit the Varghese Summersett culture.

“I told Turner, 'I know you are calling me to get my advice, but I think you are describing ME,'"' Kristen said. "We started talking."

Kristen said the decision to leave The Griffin Firm was excruciating.

"It was extremely hard because, minus the location, working at The Griffin Firm was the best thing ever," she said. "They were family to me and treated me wonderfully. So, I was extremely scared to leave and worried the grass was not greener.

"It was very important to me that Wade and I remain close friends and that he remain a mentor of mine. I wrote him a very long letter telling me how grateful I was to him.”

Fast forward a year and a half.

Kristen is now a senior associate at Varghese Summersett and Wade - her former boss, mentor, and friend - is also now a partner there. He has an office just down the hall from hers.

Last month, Varghese Summersett acquired The Griffin Firm and its staff, including Wade, Sarah and Lamour.  The old team was back together but bigger and stronger than ever, operating under the Varghese Summerset logo with more staff, resources, and opportunities to help more people.

Kristen said she and Wade never stopped talking on the phone or when they saw each other in court and, when she told him how much she loved working at Varghese Summersett, they began discussing whether he and his team would be a good fit with the firm.

Partner Turner Thornton, who leads the family division, took the idea to Benson Varghese and Anna Summersett, the firm's owners.

"When Turner and Kristen suggested that Wade and his team might be open to joining forces, I immediately set up a meeting," said Varghese, managing partner at Varghese Summersett. "We have always admired The Griffin Firm and their commitment to serving families in North Texas, particularly in the Southlake and Keller area.

"We are thrilled to add this outstanding team to our family law division. We have integrated their expertise with ours, strengthening our ability to provide exceptional legal representation to more North Texas individuals and families. It just goes to show that relationships and strong connections in the legal community can lead to great things."

Kristen said having Wade and his staff at Varghese Summersett has been a blessing and they’ve had some fun, too. The firm’s social media team recently make a TikTok about their reunion.

"Being able to continue to work with people that I am close to, respect, and admire is amazing," she said. "It has truly come full circle."