I grew up in the suburbs of Memphis Tennessee, and like many people here in Charlotte, I relocated to North Carolina after completing my graduate studies. In law school I spent my time studying and working at my internships. Unlike most of my classmates, I attended law school after completing a postgraduate degree and entering the workforce. My postgraduate studies were focused in criminology and criminal justice, in which I largely focused on studying the generational transmission of domestic violence. I had every intention of then pursuing a career in law enforcement after law school, and spent my law school years working at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I also interned at a well-established family law firm before receiving my law license. Following law school I decided to practice law for a period of time before planning on returning to the Bureau. It was during this time that I decided to commit to the practice of law. I worked at the firm I had interned at and another highly respected family law firm in Charlotte before opening Freedom Law | North Carolina. While I am grateful for my past opportunities and the experience I gained from my former positions, over the years I realized there is a disconnect between the traditional ways of practicing law and meeting today’s clients’ needs. If I were a client, I would not only want an attorney who is competent and able to handle my case, I would want an attorney that I could relate to and really feel like my story is important. That is what I hope to bring to my clients at Freedom Law | North Carolina. It is your life, your path, and your choice. I’m just here to help guide you through it.

Kristofer (“Kris”) is the owner and managing partner of O’Brian and Associates. Prior to practicing law, Kris graduated near the top of his class at the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and the Indiana University - Maurer School of Law. After completing his schooling, Kris began his legal career as a law clerk to the Chief Judge on Nevada’s Eight Judicial District Business Court where he gained first-hand, in-depth experience in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation disputes. Following his clerkship, Kris continued practicing in business litigation with two nationally recognized law firms where he provided legal counsel to large corporate clients, including a number of Fortune 500 companies. Eventually, Kris started his own practice and turned his attention to family law. Kris quickly found his compassionate nature made him an empathetic counselor to his clients as they navigated emotionally demanding divorce, child custody, and child visitation disputes. Kris also found his business education and experience with business litigation made him an exceptional advocate when it came to dividing high-value assets, such as homes, businesses, and retirement plans. While Kris is well prepared to aggressively litigate to defend his clients’ best interests, he is also well equipped to find creative alternative solutions that are advantageous to his clients.

Focusing her practice on family law, Theresa Lechner keeps in mind the physical, emotional and financial needs of her clients and affected children. While managing cases from beginning to completion, she maintains daily client contact and appears regularly in court. Prior to joining DSWK, Theresa served as an associate attorney at another family law firm in Chicago, Illinois. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin and the Master of Laws degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. While attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Theresa served as an extern with the Honorable Judge Angela Bartell of the Dane County Circuit Court. In addition, she served as an extern at both the Family Court Assistance Project Restraining Order Clinic and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Civil Litigation Unit. Theresa is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Emily Moore Leininger practices primarily in the areas of Divorce, Family Law, and Juvenile Law. She handles cases of divorce, child custody and visitation disputes, child support, adoption, paternity and legitimation, juvenile criminal matters, and other complex family law matters. She is actively involved in the Williamson County Bar Association, having been appointed to be the Law Day and Career Fair Chair. She is also an active member of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, an exclusive organization comprised of the best lawyers and judges in Williamson County, which is committed to promoting the goals of legal excellence, civility, professionalism, and ethics. Emily is also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association. Emily practices primarily in the Greater Nashville area, including Williamson, Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Maury, Wilson, Hickman, and Marshall Counties. Emily is licensed to practice law in all of the state trial courts in Tennessee, as well as the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Tennessee.