Academy Member Inducted 2010
Map & Directions
Don Philbin
Diplomate member
P.O. Box 12367
San Antonio, TX 78212-0286
Website: http://www.donphilbin.com/
Regularly travels out of state to: Oklahoma
Other ADR Services: ADR Training/CME
Video ConferencingAvailable
- Practice Commenced1990
- # of MEDS (as of 8/4/26)3000
- # of ARBS (as of 8/4/26)5
Current Practice
Online / In-Person
Biographical
Don Philbin is a dynamic mediator known for resolving complex disputes with innovative strategies and relentless tenacity. He has mediated more than 3,000 cases across a broad range of substantive areas. Recognized by peers as a Band 1 Nationwide Mediator (Chambers USA), multi-year Lawyer of the Year (Best Lawyers), Thought Leader (Lexology Index), and Top 50 Central/West Texas Super Lawyer, Don is an elected fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and the American College of Civil Trial Mediators. Teaching at Pepperdine Law’s Straus Institute and developing Picture It Settled, pioneering software akin to “Moneyball” for negotiation, keeps him at the field’s forefront.
Case Experience
- Appellate
- Business Dissolution
- Civil Rights
- Class Actions
- Commercial/Business
- Community Associations
- Condominiums
- Construction
- Contract Disputes
- Debt Collections
- Discrimination
- Divorce (High Asset)
- Education
- Eminent Domain
- Employment
- Energy Sector (Oil/Gas)
- Entertainment Sector
- Environmental
- Family Businesses
- Franchise
- Health Care
- Industrial
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- International
- Internet
- Land Use/Planning
- Landlord/Tenant
- Legal Malpractice
- Libel & Slander
- Local Govt./Municipalities
- Media & Communications
- Medical Devices
- Medical Malpractice
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Military
- Nursing Homes
- Partnerships
- Personal Injury
- Police
- Premises Liability
- Probate
- Product Liability
- Professional Fees
- Professional Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Professional Negligence
- Property Damage
- Public Policy
- Real Estate
- Securities
- Shareholder Disputes
- Software
- Sports
- Technology
- Telecommunications
- Title Disputes
- Torts
- Trademarks/Patents
- Trusts / Estates
- Utilities
- Venture Capital
- Wage & Hour/FMLA
- Wrongful Death
Education
Education and Academic Roles
- Adjunct Professor: Pepperdine University School of Law (Straus Institute) (2008–present).
- Post-Graduate Degrees: LL.M. in Dispute Resolution (2007) from Pepperdine Law (Straus Institute)(TADRA §154.052(a)), with capstone research published in the Harvard Negotiation Law Review. M.B.A., Executive Program (2001) from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
- Law Degree: J.D. (1987) – Pepperdine University School of Law: Pepperdine Law Review; Moot Court Board
- Undergraduate: B.A. in Business Administration (1984), Trinity University. Internships: The White House (1984) and the U.S. Senate (1983).
Select Advanced Training and Research
- Negotiation Training: Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives; Dealing with Difficult People and Difficult Situations (2007); Cambridge Executive Enterprises’ Senior Executive Training with MIT Professor John J. Donovan (2002).
- AI Negotiation: Program on Negotiation AI Summit (2025) at Harvard Law and MIT. Convened leading scholars on cutting-edge AI negotiation research at MIT.
- Advanced Family Mediation Training: Austin Dispute Resolution Center (2007)(TADRA §154.052(b)).
- Course Director: State Bar of Texas CLE on Advanced Mediation (2011); Global Pound Conference Austin (2017: Co-Director).
Memberships & Affiliations
* Elected Fellowships: Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators and National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (since 2010).
* Bar Leadership: Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section (2014-2015); San Antonio Chapter President (2013-2020), National President's Award (2013), Association of Attorney-Mediators.
Rates Information
Please call for details.