Mediator Resume

Retired Justice of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals with 12 years of appellate service and more than 26 years of civil trial experience. Currently serves full-time as a mediator, arbitrator, and private judge. Areas of experience include commercial, contract, insurance, transportation, employment, construction, energy, and products liability matters. Has handled domestic and international disputes, including cross-border matters and cases involving Spanish-speaking parties. A native Spanish speaker born and raised in Mexico, regularly conducts mediations in English and Spanish. Draws upon experience as a trial lawyer, appellate justice, and neutral to facilitate resolution of disputes and assist parties in reaching informed settlements.

Alvarez Dispute Resolutions, PLLC - CEO.

Arbitrator, Mediator, Private Judge, Senior Justice (Retired), Adjunct Law Professor

Arbitrator/Mediator/Private Judge, Alvarez Dispute Resolutions, PLLC, 2024 - Present; Justice, Texas Fourth Court of Appeals, 2013 - 2024; Adjunct Professor, St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2023 - Present; Partner, The Alvarez Law Firm, 2005 - 2013; Partner, Alvarez, Notzon & Gutierrez, 1997 - 2005; Partner, Alvarez, Griffith, Saenz & Hill, 1992 - 1997; Attorney, Butler & Binion, 1990 - 1992; Attorney, Thornton, Summers, Biechlin, Dunham & Brown, 1988 - 1990; Attorney, Dibrell, Dibrell & Dotson, 1987 - 1988.

Commercial and Corporate Disputes: Experience includes complex commercial disputes involving contract formation and interpretation, breach of contract, fiduciary duties, partnership and shareholder disputes, closely held entity conflicts, derivative claims, governance and control issues, minority shareholder rights, dissolution, and officers' and directors' liability. Matters have included business torts such as fraud, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, tortious interference, and statutory claims under state business and consumer protection laws. Appellate service involved review of high-value, multi-party disputes including traditional and no-evidence summary judgments, expert challenges, evidentiary rulings, jury charge issues, preservation of error, and damages determinations involving lost profits, expectancy damages, attorneys' fees, arbitration clauses, and arbitrability issues. Employment: Experience includes wage and hour disputes, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, and employer-employee contractual matters. Additional matters have involved non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, trade secret claims, executive compensation disputes, workplace investigations, reductions in force, and claims arising under federal and state employment statutes. Insurance and Coverage Disputes: Experience includes first- and third-party coverage disputes, carrier-versus-carrier litigation, excess and umbrella evaluations, self-insured retention allocation disputes, additional insured claims, and priority-of-coverage issues. Matters have involved policy interpretation, coverage triggers, allocation across policy periods, reservation-of-rights disputes, inter-insurer reimbursement, and risk transfer. Experience also includes bad faith and extracontractual liability allegations, Stowers-type exposure claims, statutory and common law unfair settlement practices claims, and disputes concerning defense obligations, including duty-to-defend and duty-to-indemnify issues. Appellate review included dispositive motions in coverage litigation, interpretation of layered policies, evaluation of damages models, and review of attorneys’ fee awards in high-exposure matters. Transportation and Logistics Disputes: Experience includes disputes involving trucking companies, motor carriers, bus operators, cross-border freight carriers, and logistics providers, including catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims, negligent entrustment and hiring or supervision allegations, independent contractor classification disputes, cargo loss claims, and risk allocation among carriers, brokers, and insurers. Additional matters involved federal and state regulatory compliance, including DOT and FMCSA standards, driver qualification, hours-of-service, and safety requirements, as well as cross-border considerations. Appellate experience included review of jury verdicts and bench trials, dispositive motions, Daubert/Robinson challenges, interlocutory appeals, and post-judgment proceedings. Additional Areas of Expertise: Construction disputes have involved general contractors, subcontractors, public entities, construction defects, delay and payment claims, performance bond issues, and contractual risk allocation in private and public projects. Energy and oil and gas matters have included royalty disputes, lease interpretation, environmental remediation, hydraulic fracturing-related issues, mineral interest conflicts, and contractual disputes involving development and production. Products liability matters have included manufacturing defect claims, automotive component litigation, catastrophic injury disputes, and complex damages issues.

Served as a mediator in more than 100 matters. Experienced in conducting mediations on virtual platforms.

Mediated in a wide variety of complex civil disputes, including commercial and business matters, partnership and derivative actions, real estate transactions, intellectual property disputes, employment claims, transportation and logistics matters, catastrophic injury and tort claims, first-party insurance and coverage disputes, legal malpractice cases, divorce-related property division matters, and energy and royalty disputes.

A highly engaged mediator who believes informed decision-making drives successful resolutions. Works directly with parties to identify interests, evaluate risks and alternatives, overcome barriers to agreement, and develop creative settlement options. Prefers joint sessions when productive and combines facilitative and evaluative techniques to help parties reach practical, durable, and mutually acceptable resolutions.

Proficient with online platforms including Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Microsoft Teams. Experienced conducting virtual and hybrid arbitrations, mediations, and private judge proceedings. Accepts all submissions and evidence electronically. Familiar with electronic discovery and digital case management systems.

Duke University School of Law (LLM - 2023); University of Texas School of Law (J.D. - 1987); University of Texas at San Antonio (B.A. - 1982; MBA - 1984); University of Texas Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (B.A. - 1979). Program on Negotiation & Program on Mediation Conflict Management, Harvard Law School (2025); London Arbitration School, University of Basel, Switzerland (2023); Manousso Arbitration and Mediation, LLC (Arbitration and Mediation Certifications - 2023).

Admitted to the Bar: Texas (1987), Florida (1992), District of Columbia (2003); U.S. District Court: Southern (1991), Northern (1991), Eastern (1991) and Western (1989) Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals: Fifth Circuit (1989); U.S. Supreme Court (1992). Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law.

Present Member: Texas, Florida and District of Columbia Bar Associations; Association of Attorney Mediators (2024-present); Texas Association of Mediators (2024-present); San Antonio Bar Association (present); Association of Attorney Mediators (2024-present); American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) (National Board Member 2025-present; Co-Chair of the 2026 Trial Advocacy Program; Professor at the 2025 Trial Advocacy Program; President San Antonio Chapter 2021; National Representative Laredo Chapter 2009- 2014); American Bar Association (ADR Section); Litigation Counsel of America (2007-present); San Antonio Bar Association and Foundation; Bexar County Women's Bar Association. Past Member: ABA Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee (Vice-Chair 1998-2002); Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas (President 2008-2009); International Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute(National Director 2004-2007;Vice-Chair Membership and Publications 1997-2002 of Trucking Committee; Vice-Chair Trucking Committee 1999-2001); Association for Trial Defense Attorneys; Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel; Texas Association of Defense Counsel(Director 1998-2001; Vice-President 2001-2002; 2008-2011); Transportation Lawyers Association; Trucking Industry Defense Association; Hidalgo County Bar Association (Director 1994-1997).

Recognized lecturer at international, national and statewide levels. Most recent engagements include Speaker at Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting; Faculty member at National ABOTA Trial College; speaker at Texas State Bar CLE Trucking and Auto Annual Seminar; speaker at San Antonio Paralegal Association events; featured presenter at Texas Trial Lawyers Association CLE programs; speaker at San Antonio Young Lawyers Association CLE; Co-Director of Texas Bar CLE 41st Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course; speaker at Texas State Bar CLE Oil and Gas Seminar; speaker at ALFA International; speaker at Defense Research Institute. Speaking topics include judicial decision-making processes, effective appellate advocacy, trial court best practices, alternative dispute resolution methodologies, and diversity initiatives in the legal profession. Papers and articles are available upon request. Recent publications include "Best Practice for Mediators: Tools and Tactics to Overcome Perception Barriers and Close Deals" published by the AAA; "Judicial Independence," published by the Advocate Magazine of the American Board of Trial Advocates; and "MSC-90 & Forms E & F Demystified: Application, Traps & Tactical Uses," published by the Texas Bar CLE. A complete list of publications is available upon request.

No travel time or expense charged for proceedings conducted within a 50-mile radius of San Antonio, Texas or for virtual proceedings.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $5,000.00 Study Rate: $500.00/hr Cancellation: $1,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 10 Days Comment: Compensation: The daily mediation fee is $5,000, allocated as $2,500 per party in matters involving two separately represented parties. For half-day mediations, the fee for a two party mediation is $2,500, allocated as $1,250 per party. In mediations involving more than two separately represented parties or parties with differing interests, the fee is $2,500 per party for a full-day mediation and $1,250 per party for a half-day mediation. If a mediation is canceled, settled, postponed, or otherwise removed from the mediator’s docket within ten (10) days of the scheduled mediation date, each party will be responsible for a $500 administrative fee. Other Compensation: The mediation fee includes up to one (1) hour of pre-mediation consultation with each party to discuss the issues and assist in preparation for the mediation. Any additional pre-mediation time that is requested by a party will be billed to that party at the mediator’s "study compensation" hourly rate. Travel time: No travel time or expense charged for proceedings conducted within a 50-mile radius of San Antonio, Texas or for virtual proceedings. Reasonable and necessary travel expenses for out-of-area proceedings will be billed to all parties at actual cost and the mediator's time will be billed as indicated above.

English; Spanish

United States of America

San Antonio, Texas