Jeff Abrams, Esq.

12222 Merit Drive, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75251-2231
Tel: (972) 702-9066
Fax: (214) 635-3261
Cell: (214) 289-4427

Mediation Philosophy/Style: Classical and innovative mediation skills in a creative settlement environment. Powerfully committed to practical business solutions. Skilled negotiator stays active and engaged until the deal is done. Settles "impossible" cases.

Attorney-Mediator (AV-rated) with national ADR practice

Successfully mediated thousands of cases since 1986
Receives mediation referrals from state and federal judges, lawyers, FINRA, and parties in civil, securities, health care and workplace issues; e.g., complex securities, customer-broker, commercial, health care payments, employment discrimination, business torts, product liability, negligence, contracts, intellectual property, bankruptcy and personal injury. Among the more noteworthy cases he has resolved are:
Complicated multi-party securities disputes — class action suit against financial institution for breaches of fiduciary duty — products liability, design defects and warranty claims against primary, excess, and umbrella carriers in connection with major household appliances — prompt pay health claims — asbestos class action — patent and trademark infringement actions against various manufacturers — discrimination claims against public and private employers — partnership dissolution and allocation of assets and liabilities — unfair competition and trade secrets — helped forge new relationships between companies in comprehensive negotiation of environmental dispute in Alaska between native peoples and landowner.
Served on task force to draft landmark 1987 Texas ADR law
Recipient of Steve Brutsché Award for Excellence; Association of Attorney Mediators, 1988.
Co-founded mediation and training firms in Dallas, TX (U.S. Arbitration & Mediation, Inc. Southwest - 1986-90), Portland, OR (Institute for Conflict Management, Inc. 1991-96), Los Angeles, CA (Mediation & Effectiveness Training Institute 1996-1997), and Dallas, TX (Abrams Mediation & Negotiation, Inc. 1998-present)
Mediator, Victim-Offender Rehabilitation Program, 1995-1996

Private and Public Arbitrator

FINRA Arbitrator — selected as Chair for numerous securities disputes
AAA Arbitrator (by party appointment) - selected for $20 million health care claim
Private Arbitrator — high-low baseball arbitration of complicated securities case
Outstanding reputation for fairness and integrity

Trainer, Facilitator And Speaker

National reputation as a trainer, and speaker on mediation skills, advocacy in ADR, partnership/team building, communication, interest-based negotiation, and harassment/diversity. Guest speaker and lecturer at various events. 1986 - present
Designed customized training materials and checklists used by thousands of mediators
Guest Speaker, Mediation in Bankruptcy Cases, with Hon. Governor Mario Cuomo, Hon. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Hon. Chief Judge Burton Lifland, April 1996
Lead Mediation Trainer, NASD Dispute Resolution & USBC, SDNY

Conflict Resolution Consultant

Adviser to courts, securities organizations, governmental agencies, private and public companies on dispute resolution systems design

Former Business Litigation Attorney

Licensed to practice law since 1980 (TX - active; OR & FL - inactive)
Former trial lawyer and partner in Dallas, TX: Brice & Mankoff
Litigation and appellate experience in employment discrimination, business torts, contracts, intellectual property, complex commercial law, bankruptcy, securities, antitrust, trademark infringement, franchise, and general business disputes

Publications

Anatomy of Mediation: What to Expect, How to Prepare & How to Win, published in various bar journals, training materials, and ADR publications.
Mediation Skills Training Manual - used in public and private mediation trainings, including those sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, and other clients.
Partnering Skills in a Diverse and Demanding Work Environment - public and private trainings, including the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA, Canandaigua, BY, Buffalo, NY, Batavia, NY, Decatur, GA, and other clients
The Meditation of Mediation (2002); Advocacy in Mediation, Arbitration & Mediation, State Bar of Oregon (1996); Rushing Headlong into a Mediation?, Arbitration Quarterly of the Northwest (1993); Mediation of Claims Involving Insurance Companies, 2:1 The ADR Report (Fall 1993); A Better Way, 1:1 ADR Advance Sheet (Sept. 1992); Mediation - Make Your Practice More Profitable, 23 Texas Lawyers Forum 4 (1989); Combined Processes (mediation, arbitration, & other ADR procedures), Third Handbook of Alternative Dispute Resolution, State Bar of Texas (2002); Alternative Dispute Resolution - Powerful Tools in the Attorney's Arsenal, Dallas Training Materials (1988); Mediation as an Effective Settlement Tool, Texas Trial Lawyers Forum (1988); Mediation of Claims Involving Insurance Companies, 52 Texas Bar Journal (1988); Insurance Mediation, Handbook of Alternative Dispute Resolution - New Horizons for the Texas Judicial System, State Bar of Texas (1987); plus practical training manuals/materials; Founding editor of Oregon State Bar ADR newsletter (1992-1995)

Professional Associations

Texas Bar Association; USDC, NDTX mediation panel; FINRA Dispute Resolution mediation panel; NASD Dispute Resolution arbitration panel; US Bankruptcy Court, SDNY mediation panel; Association of Attorney-Mediators

Education

Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, FL, J.D. with High Honors, June 1980
Law Review, Moot Court, Order of the Coif
Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, B.A., Magna Cum Laude, May 1977

Community Service

Arbitrator, FINRA Dispute Resolution, 1995 - present
Volunteer, Grace Hospice, 2006
Volunteer, Contact Crisis Hotline, 1999 - 2002
Volunteer with "at-risk" kids at Hexter Elementary School, 2002 - 2004
Conflict resolution adjunct teacher, various high schools in Dallas, 2000 - present

Reserving a Date on the Calendar

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