Mediator Resume

Highly experienced attorney, mediator, and arbitrator, with 20 years of experience in advising both multinational and privately held corporations. Skilled in international and domestic business disputes, energy litigation, financial services litigation, real estate disputes, construction disputes, products liability disputes, consumer law issues, and personal injury disputes.

Jessica Crutcher Law PLLC - Founder and Principal

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Non-Profit Board Director

Founder/Principal, Jessica Crutcher Law PLLC, 2024-Present; Partner, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Mayer Brown LLP, 2015- 2023; Associate, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Mayer Brown LLP, 2008- 2014; Litigation Associate, Royston, Rayzor, Vickery and Williams LLP, 2006-2008; Law Clerk, Royston, Rayzor, Vickery and Williams LLP, 2005-2006; Law Clerk, Berg & Androphy, 2005; Law Clerk, Professor Joel Androphy, University of Houston Law Center, Center for Consumer Law, 2004.

Maintained a diverse and cross-border practice involving complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts at both trial and appellate levels; mediation; arbitration; pre-litigation dispute resolution; structuring business dispute settlements and/or new business contracts; internal investigations; regulatory and compliance assessments; and a range of risk and strategy analysis and management. Areas of expertise include energy industry litigation; securities litigation; banking litigation; shareholder claims; directors’ and officers’ liability; failed business transactions, including resolution of partnership and joint venture disputes; business torts; commercial contract disputes, including disputes related to product creation and distribution; failed companies, including bankruptcy and restructuring litigation; products liability, including both business and consumer claims; environmental litigation; regulatory and compliance issues; risk and strategy analysis at all phases of the business process; internal investigations; personal injury litigation; and consumer law disputes, including mortgage and debt disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, homeowner’s association disputes, and DTPA claims.

Served as a mediator in numerous cases, with a mix of commercial disputes and consumer disputes, with the latter including personal injury, landlord/tenant, homeowner’s association, and consumer debt cases.

Contract disputes, general business law, tort claims, personal injury claims, homeowner’s association disputes, and consumer protection laws.

Mediation works most often when the parties feel that they have been heard and are able to obtain mutually beneficial closure of the dispute via settlement. In my experience, the need to feel heard by a neutral third party is usually equally as strong in commercial cases as consumer cases. I have been told by prior clients that they believed we reached settlement because I “really listened” in a way that others had not. I have been trained in trauma informed mediation processes, and am an advocate of bringing trust, respect, and information to the mediation process. It is nearly impossible to reach a settlement if the parties do not feel informed, and it is my job to facilitate that exchange of information. To this end, I prefer to receive mediation statements and have a telephone conference with each of the parties’ attorneys prior to the mediation, so I can understand the landscape and the working relationship between/among the parties, along with potential landmines that are likely to derail the mediation process.

Familiar with the various online platforms (i.e. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.) and willing to and frequently do conduct mediation sessions virtually.

University of Houston Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude - 2006); Texas A&M University (B.S., Journalism - 2002). Basic Mediation Certificate Training, 40 hours, Manousso Mediation & Arbitration (2024); Advanced Family Mediation Training, 30 hours, Mediation Dynamics (2024).

Admitted to the Bar: Texas (2006); U.S. District Court: Southern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals: Fifth Circuit.

American Bar Association; Texas Association of Mediators; Houston Bar Association: “Off the Record” Desk Editor, Houston Lawyer Magazine, Secretary, ADR Section of the Houston Bar Association; Board of Directors, Empowering Women as Leaders.

CLE, Behind the Lines: The Houston Lawyer Podcast, "Cyber Mediation: Logistics, Advantages, & Trends", at 56:12, April 25, 2025; CLE, HBA Law Practice Management Section, Practicing Law and Protecting Your Health: Techniques to Manage Stress and Anxiety for You and Your Clients, May 13, 2025.

Houston, Texas

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

Czech Republic; United States of America

Houston, Texas