Meet The Team
At Atrium Legal Group, primary office located in Rockwall, Texas, our team of attorneys handles Probate, Guardianships, Estate Planning, Civil Litigation, Family Law, Business Formation, and Real Estate Law. Our attorneys are here to help you direct your future and protect your wealth. Contact us at 469-402-3030 to see what an experienced attorney can do for you.
Jeffery L. Butler
Attorney - Partner, Financial Advisor
As a Founding Partner and Financial Advisor, Jeff excels at analyzing not only your Estate planning goals, but also factoring in your financial strategies. Jeff’s areas of practice are Estate Planning, Financial Advising, Probate Administration, and Business Formation.
After 10 years as a Telecommunications Manager, Jeff Butler decided to change his stars and pursue a career he was passionate about – the law. He quit his job, packed up his wife and four children, and returned to school in Moscow, Idaho.
Jeff graduated near the top of his class from the University of Idaho College of Law, where he served as Editor of the Law Journal for Critical Legal Studies, volunteered in the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic and the Small Business Clinic, and served as the student body Sergeant at Arms.
Jeff focuses on a straight-forward approach, with the client’s needs at the focal point. He prides himself on being honest, upfront, efficient, and realistic when working with clients. Jeff works with his clients to put together a comprehensive plan that meets their specific needs.
When not at the office he enjoys golfing, the shooting range, and spending time with his four children (ages 15-25) and his wife of 20+ years, Angel.
Christopher Ash
Attorney - Partner
Chris co-founded Atrium Legal Group as a way to help more clients find the help they need. Chris’ expertise in Complex Business matters, Adult Guardianships, Probate Administration, and Complicated Estate Plans have earned him countless accolades and awards. including: Outstanding Young Attorney by Texas Monthly and “Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters. Most recently, Chris was voted “Best Attorney” in the 2017 -2022 Lakeside Editions of Living Magazine.
Chris graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 2001. While attending law school, Chris worked for the Texas Journal of Business Law and received the Dean’s Achievement Award for the highest grade. In his more than 19 years of practicing law, Chris has represented individuals and small businesses, including many local businesses in Rockwall County and the greater DFW area, as well as large national/international companies such as Sony, Bass Pro Shops, Smith & Wesson, DHL, Coach USA, Tracker Marine, Kroger, and Plains Capital Bank.
Chris believes that litigation is not always necessary, or even the best option, to resolve disputes. With a Graduate Portfolio in Dispute Resolution (University of Texas), and as a Certified Mediator with nearly two decades of experience, Chris brings a complete set of tools to each matter, saving his clients the stress and expense of a courtroom battle when possible.
A member of the Rockwall Bar Association, Chris is actively involved with his faith and community. He is a proud sponsor of Billie Stevenson Elementary, a member of the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.
When not practicing law, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and three amazing children, and the outdoors.
Jason G. Smith
Attorney
One of the best probate lawyers on our Rockwall team, Jason joins Atrium Legal Group as the only Board Certified Estate Planning Attorney in the Lakeside area. With more than 25 years of legal expertise, Jason is the “go-to” for legal advice, not only for clients, but also for other attorneys.
A native of Rockwall, Texas, Jason grew up watching his father, (a local prosecutor) in Court. He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and graduated from Texas Tech Law School in 1998. He went on to earn his Board Certification in Estate Planning (a rigorous program with intense requirements and testing) in 2006.
Jason focuses his expertise on Real Estate, Taxation, Complex Business Matters, and Contested Probate Cases.
Jason spends his free time with his three children, at his Ranch, on the Farm, or hunting.
Rwan Hardesty
Senior Attorney
Rwan brings more than thirteen years of trial experience, including multiple jury trials and contested hearings, in Civil, and Family Matters (Divorce and Custody). A significant amount of her time involves working in the appellate process, which includes: briefing appeals and oral argument in civil, criminal, and family matters, with a focus in the family law appellate arena. With that experience and knowledge, she is able to successfully and diligently ensure preservation of error for trial attorneys.
Rwan is a compassionate attorney who is focused on assisting her clients in strategically planning for, preparing for, and navigating the litigation and appellate process while dealing with any difficulties encountered during the cases which she tackles. She tailors her strategy to each specific case and to the client’s needs, while responding to any changing dynamics caused by the litigation or appellate process. She is dedicated to delivering results for her clients and keeping them well-informed about all aspects of their case.
J. Spencer Smyth
Attorney - Associate
Spencer Smyth (pronounced “Smith”) brought his years of legal experience from Idaho to join Atrium Legal Group. With two Bachelor of Art degrees –History and Political Science–he brings a wealth of information and knowledge to every encounter. Spencer interned with Pendlebury Law Office, during his last year of law school, where they immediately offered him a position, following graduation and the passing of the bar. After working there, and gaining valuable experience, Spencer started his own practice in Southeastern Idaho, with a focus on Estate Planning and Business Formations. During this time, he taught religion as an adjunct professor at the local college. His teaching skills allow him to explain complex details and strategies thoroughly and efficiently to clients, as they go through the Estate Planning and probate processes. Spencer uses his analytical insights to hone in on unique aspects of each case in order to find creative and intricate solutions to both simple and complex situations.
His direct, no-nonsense approach allows him to set client expectations and then exceed them with his quality of work, making him a valuable part of our team of probate lawyers in Rockwall.
Spencer’s downtime is spent raising eight children, with his wife Sarah, serving the community through his church affiliations, cooking, and occasionally fitting in time to read.
Jonathan Lyle
Attorney - Associate
Jonathan Lyle joined Atrium Legal Group after working as a Probate and Estate Planning Attorney in Forney, Texas, for a little more than a year. Jonathan graduated from Texas A&M University, cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. He then went to law school at Texas A&M University, where he served in the Tax Law Resolution Clinic before graduating with his law degree. Jonathan is passionate about Probate law and enjoys practicing throughout the DFW area, where he has handled a variety of cases, ranging from standard Probate to Real Estate Litigation. When not at work, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog, as well as reading, cooking, and volunteering at his local church group, where he works with a wonderful group of 6th grade boys, helping them prepare for their future.
Angel Butler
Director of Operations
Angel uses her degree in communication to bridge the language gap between the attorneys and the clients. She is fluent in translating Legalese into English. She also oversees the operations of all office locations, manages the attorneys’ schedules, staff training, hiring, marketing, social media, and anything else needed. She excels at creating cohesive relationships between the attorneys, the staff, and the clients in all interactions.
Angel is happily married to our attorney Jeff Butler, and together they have four amazing children, Emerson, A.J., Chloie, and Lauren, and three adorable puppies: Ranger, Cookie, and Bogey. As a result, her spare time revolves around the kids, the dogs, and Jeff. Every once in a while, she likes to read a good book or watch a cheesy movie.
KellyAnne Roberts
Paralegal
KellyAnne assists our attorneys in the drafting, filing and tracking of all Probate Cases. She uses her obsession with detail to keep cases moving smoothly, and on proper communication with our clients. KellyAnne comes to us with years of experience at a Subrogation Law firm, where she also worked as a Legal Assistant. KellyAnne brings laughter and energy into our office and we are honored to have her as a member of our team.
KellyAnne is married to Russell, and outside of the office she enjoys watching her two daughters (Hailey and Caroline) and son (Preston) participate in various activities.
Mellissa Tucker
Paralegal
Originally from Austin, Texas, Mellissa moved to Ocala, Florida, in 2002. While living there, she worked at the Marion County Clerk’s office as a Deputy Clerk for more than 18 years. During that time, she gained experience in the various processes and procedures of the court system, document preparation, and file management. She also learned how to deal with the public and to be sensitive to various situations, helping her to expand her communication skills. Mellissa prides herself on paying attention to the big and little details of each case, on being well organized, and having the background knowledge of preparing and processing documents.
In March of 2023, Mellissa and her family moved back to Texas to be closer to her parents. She joined Atrium Legal Group in July as one of our Probate/Guardianship Assistants.
Her extra time is spent with her husband Anthony and two girls Kaylah and Noelle, and family. Since moving back to Texas, she has enjoyed exploring different areas and experimenting with various foods and loves bike riding and walking.
Terri Rust
Paralegal
Terri Rust moved to Rockwall from Wichita Falls in 2014 and has a degree in transcription. She used her degree, and her meticulous skills in accuracy, proofreading, creating and implementing customizable templates, and indexing to become a legal assistant in 2017. After honing her skills and learning about e-filing, legal drafting, and legal procedures, she transitioned to being the Senior Probate Clerk with Rockwall County, after which she joined Atrium Legal Group as a Probate and Guardianship Paralegal.
Away from the office, Terri and her husband spend time traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with their two boys, (Tyler and Kaden), family and friends.
Kelly Loveless
Administrative Assistant
Kelly loves the details and knows how to research. She handles deed research as well as tracking down missing information from and for our clients. A lot goes on behind the scenes of every estate plan and Kelly handles all the little details. Additionally, she ensures all supplies are ordered, mail is shipped, and files printed. Kelly’s positive attitude and work ethic make her irreplaceable to the Atrium Legal Team!
Kelly loves spending time with her two daughters: Katey and Kalley, as well as her three dogs!
Nikki Abbe
Scheduling Coordinator
The role of the Client Relations Specialist at Atrium Legal Group requires a person with exceptional organization and patience. Nikki Abbe has those skills and more. Along with working more than 10 years as a receptionist, Nikki brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to customer service to her role at Atrium Legal Group. She thrives in our fast-paced environments and excels at managing client interactions with professionalism and care. Her ability to multitask and maintain a welcoming atmosphere ensures that every visitor feels valued and supported. She is passionate about contributing to a positive workplace and helping our team deliver exceptional service.
In her spare time, she immerses herself in the joys of cooking and reading. To Nikki, there’s something incredibly satisfying about experimenting with new recipes and getting lost in a good book. However, her true happiness comes from spending time with her three daughters. Whether they’re whipping up delicious meals together or curling up for story-time, those moments are priceless to her. She loves fostering their curiosity and creativity while creating lasting memories. Family, food, and literature are the cornerstones of Nikki’s life, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Rockwall Office
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Address: 1131 W Yellow Jacket Lane,
Rockwall, TX 75087 - Phone: (469) 402.3030
- Fax: (469) 453.3026
- Email: info@atriumlegalgroup.com
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Address: 101 E Park Blvd
Suite 111
Plano, TX 75074
Office Hours
- Monday-Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
- Friday: 9am to 3pm
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
- Evening appointments available upon request
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