Mediator Resume

Thirty-plus year lawyer focusing on dispute resolution services as an arbitrator, mediator and hearing officer in a variety of industries. Significant experience in employment law and well versed in contract and business law, consumer law, education law, and medical device and health care compliance and related laws.

S Lauro, P.C., d/b/a Lauro Legal & Dispute Resolution Services - Principal and Partner

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Investigator

Attorney, S. Lauro, PC, 2010 - Present; Senior Independent Consultant, DeDe Church & Associates, LLC, 2012 - Present; Associate General Counsel, St. Jude Medical (Neuromodulation Division), 2011 - 2012; Partner (Head of Labor & Employment Law Section), Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslet & Moser, 2010 - 2011; Attorney, Jones Day, 2003 - 2010; Attorney, Cowles & Thompson, 2000 - 2003; Attorney, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, 1995 - 2000; Attorney, McKenna & Cuneo, 1994 - 1995; Attorney, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, 1993 - 1994.

Significant experience in complex employment, commercial, consumer and general business disputes, including the following: consumer credit disputes; deceptive trade practices disputes, wage and hour actions, discrimination claims, mass litigation, non-competition and non-solicitation disputes; business to business contract disputes, healthcare service contracts, physician contracts; telecommunications and airline industry disputes. Visiting Adjunct Business Law Professor for University of Arkansas (2024). Taught course on consumer law, business torts, antitrust, bankruptcy, trade secret protections, intellectual property and technology rights in business context.

Brings extensive experience mediating employment, consumer, education, health care, and life sciences disputes across the hospitality, health care, life sciences, retail, oil and gas, and banking industries. Employment mediation experience includes wage-and-hour disputes, including FLSA matters, non-competition and other restrictive covenant agreements, disability discrimination, and harassment based on sex and other protected classifications. Has mediated complex disputes between physicians and other health care professionals and their hospital or employer counterparts, including physician employment, compensation, and ownership arrangements. Also regularly serves as a neutral in consumer disputes involving retail and automobile transactions, credit reporting and correction, tax services, and energy-related matters. Known for an even-handed, pragmatic approach and a settlement rate exceeding 90 percent. Mediation of disputes between two parties, multiple parties and class actions, including involvement by insurers.

Brings extensive experience mediating employment, consumer, education, health care, and life sciences disputes across the hospitality, health care, life sciences, retail, oil and gas, and banking industries. Employment mediation experience includes wage-and-hour disputes, including FLSA matters, non-competition and other restrictive covenant agreements, disability discrimination, and harassment based on sex and other protected classifications. Has mediated complex disputes between physicians and other health care professionals and their hospital or employer counterparts, including physician employment, compensation, and ownership arrangements. Also regularly serves as a neutral in consumer disputes involving retail and automobile transactions, credit reporting and correction, tax services, and energy-related matters. Known for an even-handed, pragmatic approach and a settlement rate exceeding 90 percent. Mediation of disputes between two parties, multiple parties and class actions, including involvement by insurers.

Draws on more than 34 years of experience as an attorney advocate to assist parties in realistically evaluating litigation risks, costs, and potential outcomes, and in understanding the benefits of mediation as an effective means of resolving disputes. Having served as in-house counsel and represented both organizations and individual litigants, offers a practical, well-rounded perspective on business realities, client concerns, and settlement decision-making. Approaches mediation with a calm, empathetic presence and an understanding that emotions often play a meaningful role in dispute resolution. Allows space for parties to acknowledge and process those emotions, while guiding discussions toward a rational, solution-oriented evaluation of the dispute. Addresses challenges and risks candidly and constructively, in a manner designed to preserve relationships, avoid embarrassment to counsel, and maintain forward momentum toward resolution. With respect to process, prefers a pre-mediation conference with counsel to discuss sensitive issues, client dynamics, or logistical considerations. Favors a “light” opening session in which the mediator addresses process, expectations, and ground rules, rather than extended advocacy presentations. Requests concise mediation statements that clearly and succinctly describe the relevant background facts, claims, and defenses. When settlement is reached, typically memorializes the agreement in a short-form written term sheet or memorandum for counsel to formalize following the mediation, unless the parties prefer to work toward a final settlement agreement during the mediation session. If counsel requests the mediator’s assistance in facilitating execution of a formal settlement agreement during the mediation, counsel is asked to provide a proposed template in advance and to anticipate that additional time may be required to complete and execute a more detailed agreement.

Experienced in use of online platforms (Zoom, Teams, etc.), closed AI systems, and willing to conduct mediation sessions virtually. Successfully completed Clearbrief Academy, June 2026.

University of Michigan Law School (JD-1993); Wayne State University (BA-1990).

Admitted to the Bar: Texas (1993). Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1995 to Present).

State Bar of Texas Consumer and Commercial Law Section; State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section; State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel Section; State Bar of Texas Women's Lawyers; Dallas Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section, Education Law Section, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section); Association of Attorney Mediators; Hearing Officer for Baylor University (Waco, TX); Hearing Officer and Student Hearing Advisor for George Washington University (Washington, DC); Association of Attorney Mediators; Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Education Law Section; former Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Employment Law Section. Texas Board of Specialization Certification in Labor and Employment Law.

Speaker, "Understanding Board of Director Fiduciary Duties," Texas Realtors (October 2025); Speaker, "Equal Pay Act Developments - Focus on Education," Dallas Bar Association Education Law Section (Jan. 2025); Speaker, "How to Be An Ethical Ally (When You Work with a Bunch of Attorneys)," Dallas Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section ( July 2020); Speaker, "Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Employment Law Setting,” Texas Business Conference Employment Law Update (July 2018).

Dallas (100 mile radius from Dallas) Bentonville or Fayetteville Arkansas

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: Not provided Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Plano, Texas