Mediator Resume

Arbitrator, Mediator, Project Neutral, Company Executive, Litigation Attorney

Arbitrator/Mediator/Consultant, Stanton Brown Consultants, LLC., 2025 - Present; General Counsel, McKenney’s, Inc., 2014 - 2025; Of Counsel, Peckar & Abramson/Consultant under contract with CB&I Inc., 2013 - 2014; Vice President/Deputy General Counsel, The Shaw Group Inc./CB&I, Inc., 2005 - 2013; Partner/Associate, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, 1991 - 2005; Judicial Law Clerk, U.S. District Court, M.D. GA, 1989 - 1991.

Over three decades of experience addressing complex business disputes and contractual matters. Career includes service as a U.S. District Court Law Clerk; Law firm partner specializing in litigation/arbitration; Vice President-Litigation and Deputy General Counsel for a Fortune 500 construction/engineering firm; and General Counsel for one of the largest mechanical contractors in the U.S. Also a licensed mediator and AAA arbitrator since 2014. These roles have built a deep capacity to distill disputes to their essential issues, assess outcomes, and develop resolution strategies - honed by direct responsibility for resolving claims, arbitrations, and litigation valued in the billions. Began legal career at SGR, handling complex business disputes including breach of contract, business torts, IP matters, and product liability cases. Transitioned into working primarily with construction businesses, representing owners, contractors, developers, and suppliers. Practice focused on contract negotiations and litigation/arbitration, both domestic and international- building extensive experience in business disputes and construction issues. In 2005, recruited by Shaw as Vice President–Litigation, later promoted to Deputy General Counsel. Oversaw all legal disputes, with direct responsibility for all “Major Claims.” Participated in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and litigation arising from business disputes in HR, Finance, Operations, Sales, Procurement, Compliance, and construction disputes across power (nuclear, coal, gas, biomass), energy (refineries, LNG), chemical, infrastructure, industrial, and military housing. Took part in eight arbitrations through award and two jury trials to verdict, involving nearly a billion dollars in claims. Also played role in evaluating projected claim recoveries and setting litigation reserves in connection with Shaw’s financial disclosure obligations as a publicly traded NYSE listed corporation. In 2012, shifted focus to Shaw’s $14 billion Vogtle nuclear power project, working on-site as Legal Counsel. Managed all legal matters and claims - through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation - with subcontractors, suppliers, and project owners exceeding $1 billion. Continued in this role through early 2013 after CB&I’s acquisition of Shaw and then worked as a consultant for CB&I while also serving as Of Counsel at Peckar & Abramson until June 2014. Joined McKenney’s in 2014 as General Counsel and later added the role of Chief Compliance Officer. Engaged in extensive contract negotiations, played active role in establishing company's cyber security protocols, and supported a wide range of projects, including commercial office buildings, data centers, hospitals, sports arenas, manufacturing, industrial, and government. Oversaw all legal matters, Risk Department, and dispute resolution. Notably, oversaw successful litigation in 2022 before the U.S. District Court (E.D. Va.) involving delays, disruptions, acceleration, and out-of-scope costs - securing a favorable verdict. In 2025, transitioned from General Counsel to full-time neutral work. Throughout law career exceeding 30 years, handled contract review, negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and litigation across a broad range of clients and claims. Developed a deep appreciation for the varied perspectives and priorities that shape disputes. Particularly formative were 8½ years overseeing a claims portfolio often exceeding $1 billion and 1½ years working full-time on-site at Vogtle. Additionally, have substantial experience as a neutral. For 12 years have successfully leveraged decades of extensive industry experience to mediate fair and effective resolutions. More recently, serving as an AAA arbitrator handling large, complex construction and commercial cases, and serving as Project Neutral on $10 billion data-center project.

Served as a mediator in more than 100 matters, applying a career’s worth of business and legal expertise to support fair and efficient resolution of disputes. The mediations have involved data breaches, general contractor/subcontractor disputes, supplier/vendor disputes, breach of contract, contract scope disputes, performance delays, cost overruns, debt collection, and insurance claims. Shaped by years of experience as both in-house counsel and outside counsel, provides a balanced understanding of the mediation process from the perspectives of both advocate and decision-maker. Played a key role in scores of mediations involving high-stakes claims with disputed amounts ranging from thousands of dollars to a billion dollars. This experience informs a results-oriented approach to helping parties navigate complex legal and commercial issues in mediation.

Recent mediations have involved: • Cyber security dispute involving claims by a financial institution against its vendor based on a data breach • Construction dispute involving claims by a Subcontractor against a General Contractor • Commercial disputes involving layered contractual obligations • Vendor and supplier disagreements concerning scope, delivery schedules, and payment • Conflicts involving evolving project expectations and financial risk • Payment and collections matters involving offset claims, lien threats, and disputed performance metrics. In parallel, extensive direct experience handling business disputes and construction claims as a company executive and private practice litigator provides a strong foundation for managing business mediations. Have resolved claims across a broad spectrum of business issues — from intellectual property and trade secrets protection, cybersecurity and data breach events, employment and non-compete issues, real estate and building issues, vehicle/fleet issues and accidents to vendor, supplier and other contractual obligations, and almost every kind of construction claim such as changes, differing site conditions, delays, acceleration, disruptions, scheduling, warranty, design errors, breach, defaults, and performance and payment disputes. This grounding enables quick identification of dispute drivers and informed engagement with technical, legal, and commercial issues during mediation.

Mediation style is pragmatic, adaptable, and informed by business and legal insight. Generally favoring a facilitative model, but willing to incorporate evaluative components when appropriate - drawing upon extensive commercial dispute resolution experience and in-depth understanding of what is involved in prosecuting or defending claims all the way to award or verdict. Focused on identifying core issues and root causes, clarifying misunderstandings, and guiding parties toward realistic assessments and practical solutions. Achieved through a clear understanding of the business drivers behind disputes and a commitment to helping parties explore creative solutions that address not only legal claims but broader business interests. Employs a disciplined, goal-oriented process, with a strong emphasis on preparation and clear communication both before and during the mediation session - driven by a belief that reasonable people with a reasonable understanding of each side’s case are always able to reach a reasonable settlement.

Proficient in the technology/software programs commonly used by attorneys in law firms and Corporate Legal Departments.

Emory University School of Law (JD - 1989); Georgia State University (BA - 1981).

Admitted to the Bar: Louisiana (2011), Georgia (1989).

American College of Construction Lawyers (Fellow, past Member of Board of Governors); American Bar Association - Forum on the Construction Industry; State Bar of Georgia, Construction Law Section; Atlanta Bar Association, Construction Law Section.

Panelist-Breakfast with General Counsel - What Keeps Them Up at Night in the Era of emerging Technologies; American Arbitration Association 2024 AAA Construction Conference: Exploring the Intersection of Emerging Technologies and Alternative Dispute Resolution”-Miami, FL, March 2024 Panelist-Vogtle Nuclear Units 3 & 4 - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of the ‘Nuclear Renaissance’; American College of Construction Lawyers 35th Annual Meeting–Carlsbad, CA, February 2024 Panelist-Mock Arbitration? American College of Construction Lawyers 35th Annual Meeting–Carlsbad, CA, February 2024 Panelist- Faceoff with Project Claims; Best Practices for Power Projects and other Mega Projects; ABA Forum on Construction Industry 2024 Midwinter Meeting-Las Vegas, NV, January 2024. Lecturer-Practicum: It Takes Two to Tango-A Primer for New In-House Lawyers; ABA Forum on the Construction Industry 2022 Annual Meeting-New York, NY, May 2022. Panelist-How Do They Keep All the Balls in the Air? American College of Construction Lawyers 31st Annual Meeting-Tucson, AZ, February 2020 Panelist-The Med/Arb Hybrid: Split Personality or Unified ADR; 26th Annual ADR Institute & 2019 Neutrals’ Conference–Atlanta, GA., December 2019 Panelist-Breakfast with General Counsel–Arbitration from the Client’s Perspective; American Arbitration Association “2019 AAA Construction Conference: Techniques for Managing the Growing Complexities of Construction Disputes” - Miami, FL, April 2019 Panelist-Are Contractors From Mars, Owners From Venus, and Subcontractors From Pluto?-In-House Counsel Industry Biases-Are They Real and Do They Impact Projects and Dispute Outcomes? American College of Construction Lawyers 29th Annual Meeting-Dana Point, CA, February 2018 Panelist-Best Practices of the Inside/Outside Counsel Relationship; ABA Forum on Construction Industry 2016 Annual Meeting-Nashville, TN, April 2016 Panelist-How Did You Like Your Last Construction Litigation? Why is Arbitration Different than Litigation; American Arbitration Association “2015 AAA Construction Conference-Keeping Arbitration Lean”–Santa Monica, CA, March 2015 Moderator/Panelist-What Are the Three Most Challenging Legal Issues Facing the Construction Industry & Design Profession Today? Lessons, Predictions & Warnings from the Perspective of the In-House Counsel; American College of Construction Lawyers 26th Annual Conference-Miami, FL, February 2015 Panelist-The Delicate Balance Between Managing the Project vs. Managing the Claim; ABA Forum on Construction Industry 2014 Annual Meeting–New Orleans, LA, April 2014 Panelist-Proving Damages at a Jury Trial; ABA Forum on Construction Industry 2009 Mid-Winter Meeting–New York, New York, January 2009 Panelist-Labor Availability - Contractor Risk, Force Majeure, or Changed Conditions? Construction SuperConference 2006–San Francisco, California, December 2006 Panelist-When All Else Fails: Successfully Litigating Your Construction Disputes; Advanced Corporate Counsel Construction Forum “Strategies for Minimizing Your Contractual Risk and Achieving Your Business Goals”-Washington, DC, March 2006 Moderator-Considering Ten Key Principles When Asserting and/or Avoiding Claims on the Project; Associated Owners & Developers (AOD) 2004 National Conference–New York, NY, September 2004 Lecturer-A Construction Litigator’s Perspective: The Inside Scoop on Suing Owners So You Can Recognize and Avoid Circumstances that Increase Your Chances of Being Sued; The Owner’s International Construction SuperConference-London, UK, May 2004

Atlanta, Georgia

Hourly Rate: $625.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $625.00/hr Cancellation: $2,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 20 Days Comment: Cancellation Fee: Cancellation fee will be charged for all scheduled mediation days in the event the scheduled mediation is cancelled or postponed and notice of the same is not received prior to 20 days before the first day of the scheduled mediation.

English

United States of America

Atlanta, Georgia