Kelly Overstreet Johnson

Kelly Overstreet Johnson is a Florida native and lifelong resident.  She recently transitioned from an active litigation practice with Baker Donelson, where she opened and managed its Tallahassee office, to an exclusive alternative dispute practice with Overstreet Johnson Mediation & Arbitration, LLC.  https://overstreetjohnsonmediation.com.  Ms. Johnson has  40 years of litigation experience in state and federal courts and arbitrations, including 15 years of expertise serving as a mediator and arbitrator in a wide variety of practice areas including commercial, probate, general civil, tort, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, partnership and shareholder disputes, business dissolution, deceptive and unfair trade practices, real estate, franchising, class actions and a wide breadth of employment law matters.  

A former president of The Florida Bar, the Tallahassee Bar Association and the Tallahassee Women Lawyers, she maintains professional connections statewide in the Florida legal community, where she is highly regarded.  Ms. Johnson is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  The AV  Peer Review rating serves as an objective indicator that a lawyer has demonstrated ethical standards and professional ability and is a reflection of an attorney's skill, experience, integrity, and overall professional excellence.

During her decades of private practice, Ms. Johnson valued her relationships with clients and professional colleagues alike and prided herself on being readily available as a resource when needed.  Ms. Johnson's approach was to promptly evaluate, discuss and strategize on how to achieve the desired goals, recognizing the realities of litigation and many times the benefits of mediation.  She brings these same skills to her mediation practice where she relates well to the mediation participants and resolves a high percentage of the matters she mediated.  With her prior litigation and practical experience, she is a skilled and sought after mediator and arbitrator.  Ms. Johnson is also a Florida Supreme Court qualified arbitrator, and serves as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association on the commmercial, employment and consumer panels.

Kelly Overstreet Johnson was born May 3, 1958, in Tallahassee. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate and Pre-Law from Florida State University in 1979 and a Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from Florida State University College of Law in 1982. After a brief stint with the Florida Department of Legal Affairs immediately following her law school graduation, she was in private practice with a well regarded local firm and was a partner with Broad and Cassel (now Nelson Mullins) for 24 years, before she opened the Tallahassee office of Baker Donelson, where she served as its Office Managing Shareholder until her transition to full time mediation and arbitration with Overstreet Johnson Mediation & Arbitration, LLC on February 1, 2022.

Ms. Johnson received her circuit civil mediation certification in 2007 and has participated in extensive continuing mediation seminars.  She is also a well regarded speaker in this area, and has participated in the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Advanced Mediation Training in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.  In addition, Ms. Johnson is a Florida Supreme Court qualified arbitrator and sits as a AAA panelist.

• President, The Florida Bar (2004-05)
• President-Elect, The Florida Bar (2003-04)
• Executive Council Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of The Florida Bar (term ending 2021)
• Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit-Civil Mediator
• Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator
• AAA Arbitrator
• American Bar Association
• American Bar Association House of Delegates, member (1992-94), (2003-2006)
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Florida Academy of Professional Mediators
• Florida Association for Women Lawyers, treasurer (1988-89)
• Florida Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents
• Florida Government Bar Association
• Inns of Court
• Judicial Nominating Commission, 1st District Court of Appeals (1994-98)
• Judicial Nominating Commission, 2nd Judicial Circuit (1990-94 and 2007-2011)
• National Conference of Bar Presidents, member, Executive Council (2005-2008)
• Tallahassee Bar Association, Board of Directors (1987-89 and 1991-92); president-elect (1989-90); president (1990-91)
• Tallahassee Barristers
• Tallahassee Women Lawyers, treasurer (1982-84); president (1984-85); Board of Directors (1985-86)

The hourly rate for a mediation is based on the number of parties.  For a standard two party mediation, the charge is $250.00 per party per hour.  For multi-party mediations, if there are three to four parties, each party is charged $200.00 per party per hour; for five to six parties, $150.00 per party per hour; and for seven or more parties, it is $100.00 per party per hour.

Each party pays the same per hour rate unless otherwise agreed or as may be subject to court order.  Hourly rate includes preparation time, mediation time, and travel time and travel expenses if applicable.  

Cancellation policy - if cancelled within 7 days of the scheduled mediation, a fee of $1,000.00 is assessed.

The hourly fee for arbitrations is $550.00 and is to be shared equally between the parties.