Steve Nelson

Since 1990, I have mediated over 2000 construction, construction defect, A/E professional liability, surety and insurance coverage disputes, including breach of contract, delay claims, construction defects, pricing and change order disputes, architect/engineer errors & omissions, government contract claims, change orders, bid disputes, surety default issues, indemnity claims, etc.; most multi-party and complex. I have served on Dispuite Review Board panels, as a judge in State District Court Summar Jury Trials, neutral evaluator, insurance valuation referee, and mediation skills and advocacy traniner for both students, mediators and advocates.

I limit my practice to construction, construction related, surety, and construction insurance related matters.  I do not mediate bodily injury, personal injury, workers compensation,  family law, or consumer cases.

Disclosures, Conflicts, Impartiality and Bias: I have disclosed, or will disclose, to you all material relationships, dealings, and prior contact with the parties, their counsel, and any principals, witnesses, experts, consultants, insurers, sureties, etc. you identify for me.  If there is any relationship that precludes me from serving in an impartial and neutral manner, I will decline the assignment. If any of the disclosures raise questions that are not answered to your satisfaction, please let me know and I will withdraw if I cannot assure you of my neutrality.  When you consider the business dealings between my companies and many construction companies, bar and trade association activities, and prior legal and dispute resolution engagements, it is rare that I have not had dealings with some or all of the counsel, experts, insurance carriers or parties in major construction disputes. Many contractors and subcontractors are either bonded by SureTec/Markel or have bonds written in their favor, or are insured by SureTec's sister companies, Evanston and Markel Insurance Company.  Often those companies or their principals or insureds consider that relationship confidential, and I will not disclose those  relationships unless I have been personally and directly involved in a claim or transaction that might create a true conflict of interest.  It is my hope that those dealings will not always be viewed as a disqualifying factor, but as what they often prove to be: the basis for credibility that allows me to be more effective in the mediation process.   

• B.A., Economics, Southern Methodist University, 1972
• J.D. (Law), Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1976; Editor, Journal of Air Law & Commerce
• Initial Basic Mediation Training, 1990, U.S, Arbitration & Mediation Services and Dispute Management Resources
• Additional Basic Mediator Training, 1991, Dallas Bar Association
• Advanced Mediator Training, 1995, 1997, Attorney-Mediators-Institute
• Additional Training and Continuing Education by Association of Attorney Mediators, Texas Mediator Credentialing Institute, University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section, Austin Bar Association, American College of Construction Lawyers, and International Academy of Mediators, NS Texas Mediators Credentialing Association.
• Since 1990, mediated over 2000 construction, surety and insurance coverage disputes, including breach of contract, delay claims, construction defects, pricing and change order disputes, architect/engineer errors & omissions, government contract claims, change orders, bid disputes, surety default issues, indemnity claims, etc.; most multi-party and complex
• Global Pound Conference Austin  (2017)
• Adjunct Faculty, Senior Lecturer, 2000 - present, teaching Construction Industry Dispute Resolution and Avoidance to Masters and Doctoral Candidates at the University of Texas School of Engineering, Austin, Texas;
• Facilitator, Neutral Evaluator, DRB panel member, and Settlement coach
• Former Panel Member, AAA Panel of Arbitrators

• Court Admissions
• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Court of Federal Claims
• United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
• United States District Court, Western District of Texas
• Supreme Court of Texas; Bar License 14905650
• Board Certified in Construction Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

• Professional Activities:
• Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers (1994-present; Member, Board of Governors, 2005-2008)
• Fellow and Advisory Board Member, University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution (2002 to present)
• Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators (2011 to present)
• Distinguished Credentialed Mediator, Texas Mediator Credentialing Association
• Member, Texas Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• Former Member Member, National Surety Industry Advisory Committee, Associated General Contractors of America
• Legislative Co-Chair, Texas Surety Federation
• Member, Fidelity & Surety Subcommittee of Tort & Insurance Practice Section
• Member, ABA Dispute Resolution Section
• Member, ABA Forum Committee on Construction Law
• Founding Member and Past Chairman, Construction Law Section, State Bar of Texas
• Founding Member and Past Chairman, Construction Law Section of Dallas Bar Association
• Founding Member and Past Chairman, Austin Bar Association Construction Law Section
• Legislative Liaison, State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section (2008-2010)
• Editor, Construction Law Section Newsletter, State Bar of Texas (1992-1995)
• Member and Certified AAM Mediator, Association of Attorney-Mediators (Past President, Central Texas Chapter)
• Co-Chairman, State Legislative Committee, Associated General Contractors, Texas Building Branch (1998-2014) Chairman Emeritus (2015-present) (instrumental in drafting and lobbying for changes in contractual indemnity, OCIP’s, mechanic’s lien, dispute resolution, project delivery, contingent payment, and trust fund legislation)
• General Counsel, Associated General Contractors, Dallas Building Branch (1990-1995)

Community Activities and Public Service:

• Former Chair, Greater Dallas Crime Commission
• Former Member, City of University Park, Texas Public Safety Committee
• Former Member, Board of Directors, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
• Former Chairman, Board of Directors, Austin Community College Foundation
• Former Chairman, Board of Directors, Austin Recovery Center
• Volunteer, Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, 1996- present
• HOA Board Member (President 2024-2026)

STEVEN NELSONMEDIATION FEE SCHEDULE

(effective for mediations scheduled on or after May 1, 2024)

Number of Parties

Virtual/Via Zoom or In-Person in Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, or Denton County

In-Person anywhere where I can reliably plan to get there and back same day without an overnight stay (daily fee includes my travel expenses and lunch for parties)

In-Person requiring one or more overnight stays in order to insure a full day of mediation. Daily fee includes my travel expenses and lunch for the parties)

2

$4,500

$6,000

$6,500

3

$3,500

$5,000

$5,500

4

$3,000

$4,000

$4,250

5

$2,750

$3,500

$3,700

6 to 9

$2,250

$3,000

$3,150

10 or more

$2,000

$2,500

$2,600

I charge a flat rate per day of mediation per party, payable in advance unless other arrangements are made. The rates shown below include time spent in reading position statements, pre-mediation discussions with counsel, any travel expenses, travel time, lunch for the parties, and follow up with the parties to attempt resolution that was not possible on the day of mediation.  I typically do not schedule half day mediations but will occasionally schedule defense only sessions for less than a full day and pro rate the daily rate. Scheduled full days that end early will typically be billed at the full rate. Major high dollar disputes that involve extensive review of documents, site visits, extensive pre-mediation discussions, etc. may be billed at an hourly basis of $650/hour in excess of the daily rates, charged only to the parties requesting same, or directly benefitting from same. I do my best not to charge anything other than my daily rate and will typically not bill for extended follow up, mediator’s proposals, etc. unless it beginning to take a substantial amount of post mediation time. The parties may also be responsible for charges associated with rental space for mediations not held in the office of one of the attorneys (e.g., , special audio visual requirements, hotel/conference center charges, and the higher catering rates charged by those facilities).

A “party” is one or more related or affiliated participants represented solely by the same counsel. Separate counsel means a separate mediation “party” without regard to issue alignment. In insurance or surety driven cases, a party and its insurers or surety are considered one party unless the coverage issues are so contentious that an extraordinary amount of time is required to deal with coverage issues, additional insured issues, or disputes between multiple carriers.

Cancellation/Postponement. I am usually happy to have an unexpected free day. I do not charge a cancellation or postponement fee. If a case settles before a mediation session, but after any significant pre-mediation sessions on my part, I may bill a reasonable fee for the time expended.

Payments should be made to SureTec Information Systems, Inc. and sent to SureTec Information Systems, Inc., Attn: Mediation Accounting, 9500 Arboretum Blvd., Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78759. Our Federal Taxpayer ID Number is 76-0587786. A W-9 is attached. Unless other arrangements are made or fees paid in advance, I will look to counsel as the responsible party to pay all mediation fees and expenses.  Payment is due ten days before the date of mediation unless other arrangements are made.

In the event that a mediation is cancelled or postponed, the fees will be returned or held as a retainer for a rescheduled mediation. If the number of parties changes substantially between confirmation and mediation day, the fees will be adjusted accordingly.