I have practiced law for 40 years with the vast majority as a “construction” lawyer. I have seen great… and bad… construction lawyering, both when representing a party and when serving over 300 times as a mediator or arbitrator in construction disputes. To be clear, I have made my share of mistakes. I learned from
Mediation
Mistake No. 3 of the Top 10 Horrible, No-Good Mistakes Construction Lawyers Make: Failing to Perform Due Diligence on Potential Mediators and Arbitrators
I have practiced law for 40 years, with the vast majority as a “construction” lawyer. I have seen great… and bad construction lawyering, both when on the other side of a dispute, as well as when serving over 300 times as a mediator or arbitrator in construction disputes. To be clear, I have made my…
The Top 10 Horrible, No-Good Mistakes Construction Lawyers Make: Mistake No. 1: Not Realizing It’s All About the Facts
I have practiced law for 40 years, with the vast majority spent as a “construction lawyer.” I have seen great… and bad… construction lawyering, both when on the other side of a dispute, as well as when serving well over 300 times as a mediator or arbitrator in construction disputes. To be clear, I have…
Read Your Contract: It May Cost You Your Arbitration Award
Imagine receiving an arbitration award in favor of your client. You move to confirm the award, and the award is vacated because the parties failed to mediate prior to arbitration. That is exactly what happened in Burke v. Roberson.
In December 2020, the First Court of Appeals in Houston affirmed the vacatur of an…
No. 1 of the Top 10 Horrible, Terrible, No Good Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations
Let’s assume the mediator sticks his head into your room with a grin at 8pm after an exhaustive day when your client is still upset he made the 8th counteroffer and the Mediator says: “Great news! Counter-offer accepted! We have a deal!” Wonderful, right? Even though your client was pushed way past what he…
No. 2 of the Top 10 Horrible, Terrible, No Good Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations
This post is a continuation of the 10 most horrible, terrible, no good, “bang your head against the door” mistakes that I have seen lawyers make before, during and after mediations in which I was the mediator. As stated in previous posts, it takes more than throwing together a mediation statement at the last second…
No. 3 of the Top 10 Horrible, Terrible, No Good Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations
This post is a continuation of the 10 most horrible, terrible, no good, “bang your head against the door” mistakes that I have seen lawyers make before, during and after mediations in which I was the mediator. As stated in previous posts, it takes more than throwing together a mediation statement at the last second…
No. 4 of the Top 10 Horrible, Terrible, No Good Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations
This post is a continuation of the 10 most horrible, terrible, no good, “bang your head against the door” mistakes that I have seen lawyers make before, during and after mediations in which I was the mediator. As stated in previous posts, it takes more than throwing together a mediation statement at the last second…
No. 5 of the Top 10 Horrible, Terrible, No Good Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations
This post is a continuation of the 10 most horrible, terrible, no good, “bang your head against the door” mistakes that I have seen lawyers make before, during and after mediations in which I was the mediator. As stated in previous posts, it takes more than throwing together a mediation statement at the last second…
No. 6 of the Top 10 Horrible, Terrible, No Good Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations
This post is a continuation of the 10 most horrible, terrible, no good, “bang your head against the door” mistakes that I have seen lawyers make before, during and after mediations in which I was the mediator. As stated in previous posts, it takes more than throwing together a mediation statement at the last second…