Providing Video-Conferencing (Zoom) Mediations

When parties have been unable to resolve a serious dispute, they have traditionally asked a third party (judge or jury) to make the decision for them. Mediation provides an alternative approach for resolving disputes. In mediation, the parties ask the mediator to help them reach a settlement agreement in an informal private negotiation session. The parties benefit from the experience, hard work, patience and persistence of the mediator while retaining ultimate control over the outcome. The mediator should be a passionate advocate for settlement yet respect the parties' right of self-determination. In all things the mediator must uphold the highest standards of impartiality and integrity.

Background, Training & Experience

 

Michael Curry earned a J.D. degree (with honors) from the UT School of Law in 1976. After working as a Briefing Attorney for the Texas Supreme Court, he served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Texas Attorney General's Office. Mr. Curry entered private practice in Austin, Texas in 1980, handling civil litigation. He has served as a member of the Pattern Jury Charge

- Volume IV Committee (1995-96) and as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the UT Law School (1985-98). Mr Curry has authored or co-authored numerous articles and one book and has taught a graduate course on Alternative Dispute Resolution at Texas State University. When he practiced law, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Northern and Western Districts of Texas, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Travis County and San Antonio Bar Associations. Mr. Curry is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the Austin Bar Foundation. He is rated by Martindale-Hubble as an AV Preeminent lawyer.

Mr. Curry is an AAM Certified Mediator.

A full-time mediator since 1994, Mr. Curry has mediated over 5,000 cases, including complex personal injury, corporate, employment, partnership, construction, DTPA, malpractice, contract, insurance, real estate, zoning, appellate, and regulatory disputes. He is on the approved mediator lists for the federal district courts in the Western District of Texas (Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Waco) and for the state district courts in Austin and San Antonio. Mr. Curry is a member of the Association of Attorney-Mediators (President of the Central Texas Chapter, 1996-97).  In the public policy dispute arena, he has served both as a mediator and facilitator and is a Fellow of the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution. He served as co-moderator of a national online discussion forum dealing with alternative dispute resolution issues for two years and has spoken at seminars for lawyers and mediators on mediation, ethics and negotiation.

 
 

Video-Conferencing Mediations

Mr. Curry conducts video-conferencing mediations using the Zoom video-conferencing platform. The only requirements are that participants have internet access and a computer or laptop with a camera. Alternatively, a cell phone can be used through a downloadable app. The lawyer and client or representative do not have to be in the same location. Although it is quite straightforward - usually involving just clicking on a link - clear instructions will be provided to the parties before the mediation. The ability to have a general meeting, private caucuses, and to display documents or videos are available similar to an in-person mediation. Mr. Curry will be glad to demonstrate the features to counsel - just give him a call.

Contact Information

Michael Curry

P.O. Box 301646

Austin, Texas 78703

512-474-5573

Scheduling: mcmediate@gmail.com

Regular: mcmediate@msn.om