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Don Philbin
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IMI Certified Mediator
United States
Mediation Profile

Don Philbin, J.D., M.B.A., LL.M., is an AV-rated attorney-mediator and president of Picture It Settled® (www.pictureitsettled.com), a software company that develops predictive analytics for negotiation based upon deep data from thousands of litigated cases. After litigating commercial cases, forging business deals and case resolutions as general counsel and president of technology companies, and mediating hundreds of individual and collective cases in a wide variety of substantive areas, Don observed that the rhythm of the negotiation dance was predictable. So he collected data on thousands of cases from lawyers, companies, mediators, and other sources. Studying the patterns in two dimensions (money and time), he developed Picture It Settled. Using neural networks, predictive modeling, and genetic algorithms, Don, with considerable assistance from scientists at Southwest Research Institute®, isolated trends across groups of similar negotiations and trends that develop within particular negotiations. Now Picture It Settled® web-based software and its mobile app help negotiators optimize their concession strategies and predict where a round will end. Don was one of three Texas mediators listed in the inaugural edition of The International Who’s Who of Commercial Mediation (2011; one of five Texas mediators in the 2012 edition), was recognized as the 2011 Outstanding Lawyer in Mediation by the San Antonio Business Journal, and is repeatedly listed in: The Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in San Antonio, and the U.S. News and Best Lawyers “Best Law Firm” survey. He is an elected fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and the American Academy of Civil Trial Mediators.

Philbin has extensive experience and education in the fields of business, law, negotiation, and mediation, and mediates individual and class matters in a range of substantive areas.

Trained in a variety of styles (facilitative to evaluative) and uses the full range of techniques subject to party consent.

• Accounting Malpractice • Appellate • Business • Civil • Commercial • Community • Consumer • Construction • Contracts • Copyright • Discrimination • Divorce • Education • Employment • Energy • e-Neutral • Environmental • Estate • Family • Financial • Franchising • General Counsel • General Mediation • Government • Health Care • Home Owners Associations • Insurance • Insurance Bad Faith • Intellectual Property • Land Use • Landlord / Tenant • Labor • Legal Malpractice • Medical • Municipal • Organizational • Partnership • Patent • Personal Injury • Premises Liability • Probate • Products Liability • Professional Fees • Professional Malpractice • Public Policy • Real Estate • Regulatory • Securities • Settlement Counsel • Shareholder Disputes • Software • Tax • Technology • Telecommunications • Torts • Trademark • Valuation (ad valorem) • Wills, Trusts & Estates • Work Place

• Outstanding Lawyer in Mediation (2011), SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL • Distinguished Service Award (2011), Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center • Listed in THE INTERNATIONAL WHO’S WHO OF COMMERCIAL MEDIATION (inception in 2011–present) (1 of 3 listed for Texas in 2011 Inaugural Issue; 1 of 5 listed for Texas in 2012 Issue) • Fellow, American Academy of Civil Trial Mediators (2009–present); Editorial Board, American Journal of Mediation (2012–present) • Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators (2010–present; Communication Committee 2011–present) • Distinguished Fellow, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2010–present) • Founding Member and Executive Committee Member, Texas Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2010–present) • Fellow, American College of e-Neutrals (2011–present) • Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute (IMI) (2009–present) • Credentialed Distinguished Mediator, Texas Mediator Credentialing Association (2007–present) • Listed, TEXAS SUPER LAWYERS (2010–present) (1 of 4 listed for ADR in San Antonio 2010; 1 of 5 in 2011) • Listed, THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA® (Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2007–present) (1 of 4 listed in San Antonio for 2012 in the categories of mediation and arbitration) • Listed in the U.S. NEWS AND BEST LAWYERS “BEST LAW FIRM” survey (2010–present) (1 of 4 firms listed 2010; 1 of 3 in 2011 – Tier 1 San Antonio in Mediation; Tier 2 San Antonio in Arbitration) • Listed in The BEST LAWYERS IN SAN ANTONIO (Arbitration and Mediation, 2007–present; Business Litigation 2012) • Listed in the BAR REGISTER OF PREEMINENT LAWYERS (2007–present) • Martindale-Hubbell rating: AV (1999–present) • Member, Association of Attorney – Mediators (2007–present) • Senior Mediator (2008–present); Certified Mediator (2009–present), Mediate.com • Member, Society for Empirical Legal Studies (2008–present) • Member, Decision Analysis Society (2008–present)

• “I just completed the most difficult mediation of my career. We literally worked for 22 hours straight. Don Philbin quickly recognized the legal and factual issues involved as well as the unique and challenging personalities that needed to be managed. He did a flawless job keeping the parties focused on the goal of settlement and helped the parties find common ground and a path to resolution. Most importantly, he did not give up and kept the parties working 22 hours. This was my first mediation with Don, but it will not be my last. I highly recommend Don to all who are in need of a dedicated and skillful mediator.” Trial attorney on LinkedIn and other sites • “Don has helped to settle cases with some of the most difficult clients. His business-sense helps clients understand the long-term and unseen costs of litigation to a business versus pursuing a matter on principal.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Best Lawyers • “Stellar intellect & character.” Anonymous judge on Martindale • “Don Philbin is one of the very best mediators I have seen. He is a top-notch professional.” Private practice attorney on Best Lawyers • “Mr. Philbin’s education in the legal field as well as his business knowledge serves a client very well.” Private practice attorney on Best Lawyers • “Don stepped in to mediate a case with interesting legal issues and emotionally charged parties. He did a great job realistically evaluating the potential legal outcomes from both perspectives. In a single session with Don, we were able to reach a settlement agreement that included a novel, non-financial element neither party had previously considered. It was a creative solution that enabled the parties to resolve their differences without further litigation.” National firm lawyer on Martindale • “Excellent person, lawyer, mediator.” Anonymous judge on Martindale • “Don is an incredibly personable attorney. He is extremely intelligent and able to communicate difficult concepts with ease.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Don is one of the very best mediators. He is very smart, very talented, and very dedicated to his work.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Don Philbin successfully mediated a complicated and emotionally-charged business divorce matter for me. He built a positive rapport with the participants and introduced creative ideas. Don was determined to resolve the dispute, which he did after 18-hours of mediation.” National firm lawyer on Best Law Firms • “Don Philbin is a great mediator! He is smart. He knows how to make litigants consider the risk / reward of a settlement.” Anonymous lawyer on Best Law Firms • “This was my first time to use Don. He came to me highly recommended. He was fair, objective and absolutely knew his stuff. I was impressed with how rapidly he grasped the important points of a complex transaction. I will use him again.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Don is an extremely talented mediator. Don works hard, and has the skill to get a tough case settled.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Great 3rd party neutral in all areas of ADR and knows more about negotiation than all but a few lawyers in Texas.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “A dedicated mediator willing to work hard to create an environment of settlement.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Using his business skills, legal skills and a lot of common sense, he is able to understand and be extremely effective. Mr. Philbin is very sensitive to the stress mediation places on a client. He is able to put the client at ease to achieve results.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “This was my first mediation with Mr. Philbin and I was very impressed with his professionalism, creativity and commitment to the parties and attorneys in resolving some very difficult issues. Mr. Philbin was dedicated to staying the course and gratuitously spent considerable additional time to reach resolution. I’ve been involved in many mediations in 20+ years of practice and this was one of the most positive mediation experiences I have had. I look forward to working with him again.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “I have known Don for many years but just recently mediated with him on a very tough custody issue. Don was quite professional and helped my client through an extremely difficult situation. He has good suggestions and ideas to help the parties reach a resolution.” Private practice attorney on Martindale • “Don is a great mediator!” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Fantastic mediation with great follow-up. You want Don to mediate your case!” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Excellent and creative approach to arrange a settlement that all agree.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Don was able to really understand a very complex business “divorce” and help the parties dissolve a 14 year business relationship. He kept pushing the parties toward resolution and was able to obtain a great result for my client.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale • “Don is an incredible mediator. Two weeks ago he was appointed to mediate a visitation dispute – first time I had met him. We reached an agreement. This couple had very poor communication. After the mediation, the father called the mother and they talked for two hours. My client is very thankful the matter settled out of court, and for this new ability to communicate with her former spouse. Second mediation with Don was last week – more difficult facts and equally satisfying results.” Anonymous private practice attorney on Martindale

Training and Education

• Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law (ranked No. 1 in the country by U.S. News and World Report multiple times, including years of LL.M. training) (TADRA §154.052(a)) • Over 600 hours of classroom and practicum training culminating in a 28-academic unit LL.M. degree • Academic Courses: Commercial and International Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Negotiation and Settlement Advocacy, Arbitration, International Investment Disputes, Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution (Labor Disputes), Third-Party Processes, Faith-Based Diplomacy and International Peacemaking, Communication and Conflict, Social Psychology of Conflict • Professional Skills Courses: Advanced Mediation (2006); Improvisational Mediation (2007); Mediating the Complex Case (2008); Mediating Complex Construction Disputes (2009); Neuro-Collaboration: How New Perspectives from the Neurosciences Can Enhance Your Collaborative Conflict Resolution Skills (2009); Domestic Relations Dispute Resolution (2010) • Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School • The Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives (2007) • Dealing with Difficult People and Difficult Situations (2007) • Cambridge Executive Enterprises: Senior Executive Training (MIT Professor John J. Donovan (2002)) • International Academy of Mediators: Advanced Mediation Training (Salt Lake City 2010; Nashville 2010 (faculty); Austin 2011; Washington 2012) • American Academy of Civil Trial Mediators, Advances Mediation Training (Manchester, VT 2010 (faculty); Lake George, NY 2012) • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals: Advanced Mediation Training Retreat (Orlando 2010; Amelia Island 2011 (faculty)) • Association of Attorney-Mediators (Austin 2008; San Antonio 2009; St. Louis 2010; New Orleans 2011) • Advanced Commercial Mediation Institute (AAA and ACR) (Austin 2008; San Diego 2011 (faculty)) • Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association: Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Skills Training (2007); Annual Conferences (2008 – present) • Texas Bar CLE: Advanced Mediation: Skills and Techniques (Houston 2009; San Antonio 2009; San Antonio 2010; Houston 2011 (course director); Austin 2012) • Global Collaborative Law Council, Civil Collaborative Training (September 2009) • Securities Arbitration & Mediation Hot Topics (City Bar of New York 2011 (faculty)) • Austin Dispute Resolution Center, Advanced Family Mediation Training (2007) (TADRA §154.052(b)) • Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center, Group Facilitation Skills Training (2007), Children’s Court Training (2010)

• Preventing Bad Settlement Decisions and Impasse: Using Brain Science, Game Theory, Animated Communication, and Micro-Interventions (Pepperdine Professional Skills Program (with Doug Noll) 2011; 2012) • Deal or No Deal: Leveraging Information to Overcome Decision Errors (Advanced Commercial Mediation Institute 2011) • Concession Rates: Offers and Counter-Offers; Deal or No Deal: Leveraging Information to Overcome Psychologica