Karl Bayer

Karl Bayer is a mediator, arbitrator, and court-appointed neutral (special master) specializing in intellectual property and technology-related disputes for companies in the technology sector. He has extensive experience providing online mediations, arbitrations, and hearings for clients and judges, both nationally and internationally, over video-conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Karl also offers in-person services in a number of cities within easy reach of major U.S. technology hubs, with on-site facilities available in Austin, Texas; Bozeman, Montana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Denver, Colorado.

Over nearly three decades in the dispute resolution industry, Karl has mediated more than 3,000 complex, multiparty cases involving virtually every area of the law. He regularly mediates business cases involving technology and intellectual property disputes. He has mediated cases involving governments and major public policy questions, and environmental and land use issues.  Additionally, he has mediated major cases involving non-profit, healthcare, and educational institutions. 

As an independent arbitrator, Karl has worked on more than 100 cases ranging from contract, intellectual property, software licensing, oil and gas, and construction disputes to government antitrust, medical malpractice, and numerous cases in areas such as employment, family law, real estate, and banking.

Karl has been appointed as a special master (now court-appointed neutral) in more than 75 cases in both federal and state courts. He has written more than 60 reports and recommendations involving claims construction.

A long-time proponent of technology in ADR, Karl has spoken frequently on emerging tech trends and disruptive technologies, including online dispute resolution, remote advocacy, cybersecurity, and the influence of big data and artificial intelligence on the justice system.

In August 2005, Karl Bayer launched Disputing Blog, one of the first online platforms dedicated to providing timely news, commentary, insight, and analysis on topics of interest to ADR professionals. Under Karl's leadership, Disputing has continuously published thought-provoking original content on issues related to arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution for nearly two decades. Alongside frequent articles from attorney and staff-writer Beth Graham, Disputing regularly features contributions from a wide range of notable guest authors representing diverse perspectives and areas of expertise, including prominent legal scholars and academics, professionals, and thought leaders from across nearly every area of law.

Karl has served as an adjunct professor and annual guest lecturer at The University of Texas School of Law for more than 20 years, teaching courses on U.S. and international commercial arbitration and pre-trial and trial strategy. He’s done more than 50 CLE papers and presentations for state and national bar associations, as well as for every law school in the State of Texas. Most recently, Karl served as an adjunct professor at the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Caruso School of Law at Pepperdine University. 

Before specializing in dispute resolution, Karl worked as an engineer with a focus on computer science, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering. During this period, he spent two years designing large-scale radar tracking systems for the United States anti-ballistic missile program. In 1976, he founded a computer software company that specialized in automated school bus routing as a means to advance local desegregation efforts while maximizing operational efficiency. Following his transition to law, Karl amassed 37 years as a successful trial lawyer, representing individuals and businesses on both sides of the docket. He also did administrative hearing and appellate work for federal and state governments. He served in government as the administrative aide to a Texas State Senator and as the legislative director for a U.S. Congressman. While in Washington, he litigated pesticide and toxic chemical cases for the Environmental Protection Agency. Karl holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Electrical Engineering from Rice University, a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from MIT, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law.

Karl's advisory positions include serving on the board for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Business at The University of Texas School of Law. There, he contributed to curriculum development on energy, arbitration, and environmental law. He has also served on the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court-Annexed Mediation, as president of the board of directors for the Legal Aid Society of Central Texas, and as a member of the State Bar of Texas Rules of Evidence Committee.

Karl is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators (IAM) and the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN), and a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA) and the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals (ACAN). He is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI) and served on the advisory committee for the Restatement of the U.S. Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration. He is a Master of the Lee Yeakel IP Inn of Court and was formerly a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Karl has been continuously recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell for many years. He has been named a Global Leader in Commercial Mediation in 2022 and a Thought Leader in Commercial Mediation in 2023 by Who’s Who Legal. He was named Lawyer of the Year for Arbitration in Austin, Texas, by Best Lawyers 2024. In 1998, Karl was voted Peacemaker of the Year by the Austin Dispute Resolution Center. 

• The University of Texas at Austin, classes in microbiology and digital systems design - 1998
• University of Texas School of Law, J.D. - 1976
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.S. (Biomedical Engineering) - 1973
• Rice University, B.A. cum laude (Electrical Engineering) - 1971

Mediations $4000 per day with a minimum of $600 per party;
Arbitrations $500 per hour;
Special Master as ordered by the Court