Hon. Judge Phylis Speedlin

San Antonio, Texas

The Honorable Phylis J. Speedlin works exclusively as an arbitrator, mediator and private judge. She delivers exceptional value by virtue of her experience as a judge, appellate, advocate, and trial lawyer. An attorney for more than 38 years, Justice Speedlin served as a jurist for 13 years, ten years as a justice on the Texas Forth Court of Appeals and three years as a Bexar County Trial Judge. During her tenure on the Fourth Court, Justice Speedlin authored more than 1,300 opinions covering a wide variety of issues, including personal injury, property rights, insurance law, medical malpractice, family law, employment law, probate, oil and gas, construction law and criminal law. Originally raised in Ohio, Justice Speedlin moved to San Antonio in 1970 during her service with the United States Army Nurse Corp. She completed her undergraduate education in nursing at Incarnate Word College and obtained a masters degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. She Received her law degree with distinction from St. Mary's University School of Law.

Before becoming a jurist, Justice Speedlin practiced trial and appellate law for 17 years with the San Antonio law firm of Clemens & Spencer. As an attorney in San Antonio, she represented clients in numerous industries, with a significant focus on the healthcare industry including doctors, nurses and hospital administrators on medical malpractice and medical product litigation. She is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury law.

Education +-

St. Mary's University School of Law

J.D. w/ Distinction

1983
Trinity University

M.S. Healthcare Administration w/ honors

1977
Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas

B.S. Nursing

1975
Pittsburgh Presbyterian University Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Registered Nurse

1970
New Tools for Your Mediation Toolbox

Advanced Mediator Training
Association of Attorney Mediator

2013
AAA Healthcare Payor Provider Judicial Orientation

2013
Association of Attorney-Mediators

Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training

2013
Arbitration Fundamentals & Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators

2013
Successful Mediation in a Nutshell: How to Close the Deal, State Bar of Texas

2013
Recognizing Cognitive Barriers to Creative Solutions and Real tools to Deal with them, State Bar of Texas

2013
Deal or No Deal: An Empirical Look at the Negotiation Dance, State Bar of Texas

2013
Alternative Dispute Resolution: Getting to and Mediating in the Red Zone, State Bar of Texas

2012
ADR Section San Antonio Bar Association

Issues of Regulation in the Practice of Mediation

1998
Attorney-Mediators Institute (AMI)

Basic Mediator Training for Attorneys

1994
State Bar of Texas

Licensed & Admitted to Practice

1983
Supreme Court of the US

Licensed & Admitted to Practice

1988
US District Court Western District of Texas

Licensed & Admitted to Practice

1983
US District Court Southern District of Texas

Licensed & Admitted to Practice

1985
New Tools for your Mediation Toolbox Association of Attorney Mediator

Advanced Mediator Training

2014
The Magic of Mediation Association of Attorney Mediators

Advanced Mediator Training

2014
Be the Best Mediator You Can Be, The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training

2015;2019
AAA/ICDR/Mediation. Org Panel Conference, American Arbitration Association

2016
If It Does Not Challenge You, It Does Not Change You, Association of Attorney Mediators

Advanced Mediator Training

2016
AAA Healthcare Dispute Resolution Innovation and Strategy Conference

2018
Speaker Mediation Strategies San Antonio Bar Association

2019
Speaker Listening Hard and Dealing with Anger

Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training, Association of Attorney-Mediators

2019
AAA Adoption of Initial Employment and FLSA Discovery Protocols

2020
Arbitrator Faculty for the American Arbitration Association, Arbitration

Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators (CORE)

2021

Experience +-

Dykema

Mediator, Arbitrator, and Private Judge

2014 to Present
Cox Smith Matthews, Incorporated

2014 to Present
Plunkett & Griesenheck, Inc.

2013 to 2014
Justice Fourth Court of Appeals

2003 to 2012
408th Judicial District Court

Judge

2000 to 2003
Clemens and Spencer

Attorney/Shareholder

1983 to 1999
United States Army Nurse Corp

1970-1973
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, Texas

Assistant Hospital Administrator

1977-1980

Memberships/Affiliations +-

Association of Attorney-Mediators

2013 to present
State Bar of Texas; ADR Section

Member

2012 to present
Texas Bar Association

Pattern Jury Charges Oversight Committee

2005 to present
Texas Bar Association

Pattern Jury Charge, Volume 3

1993 - 1995
San Antonio Bar Association

Member
Community Justice Pro Bono Committee

Chair

2009 to 2013
San Antonio Bar Association

President

2010 to 2011
San Antonio Bar Association

President Elect

2009-2010
San Antonio Bar Association

Vice President

2008 to 2009
San Antonio Bar Association

Secretary

2007-2008
San Antonio Bar Association

Treasurer

2006-2007
San Antonio Bar Association

Director

2004-2006
San Antonio Community Justice Program

Founder and Co-Chair

2002-2008
Program Committee

Vice Chair

2000-2006
San Antonio District Courts Committee

Vice Chair

1997-1999
San Antonio District Courts Committee

Member

2002
Continuing Legal Education Committee

Member

2000-2001
San Antonio Medical-Legal Liaison Committee

Member

1988-1990
Texas Bar Foundation.

Life Fellow
San Antonio Bar Foundation

Chair Advisory Committee

2011-2012
American Board of Trial Advocates - San Antonio Chapter

Member

1995 to present
San Antonio Women's Bar Association

Member

2000 to present
Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas

Member

2003 to present
William S. Sessions American lnn of Court

Member

1987-2001
ADR Section San Antonio Bar Association

Member

1997-1999
ADR Section San Antonio Bar Association

Treasurer

1998-1999
Central Catholic High School

Board Member

2005-2011; 2012 to present
Rotary Club of San Antonio

Member

2000-2002; 2007 to 2013
Assistance League of San Antonio Advisory Council

Member

2007-2010
Bexar County Republican Women's Club

Member

2000 to present
Alamo City Republican Women's Club

Member

2000 to present
Bexar County Alternative Dispute Resolution Center

Board Member

2001-2005
Bexar County Juvenile Board of Directors

Member

2000-2003
Business and Professional Women's Club Inc. of San Antonio

Member

2000- 2006
Altrusa International Inc of San Antonio

Member

2000-2001
San Antonio Young Life

Board Member

1992-1995, 2000-2001
San Antonio Adoption Awareness Center

Founder and Director

1979-1980
University United Methodist Church

Member

Honors/Awards +-

Lawyer of the Year Award Best Lawyers in America

2020
Best Lawyers in America in Mediation, Arbitration and Appellate practice

2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Best Lawyers of San Antonio

2019, 2020
San Antonio Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award

2017
San Antonio Business Journal Outstanding Lawyer

2017
Texas Super Lawyer in Arbitration and Mediation

2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
San Antonio Woman of the Year in Innovation

2016
Inducted to the Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

2015
St. Mary’s University School of Law St. Thomas More Award

2014
San Antonio Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award

2013
American Bar Association Harrison Tweed Outstanding Pro Bono Award

2012
State Bar of Texas Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award.

2012
President's Award San Antonio Bar Association in recognition of a decade of dedication and innovation in support of a strong pro bona culture within Bexar County.

2011
State Bar of Texas Resolution for Achievement.

2008
San Antonio Bar Foundation Pioneer Peacemaker Award

2007
President's Award San Antonio Bar Association.

2005
Community Leadership Award San Antonio Women's Chamber of Commerce

2005
President" s A ward San Antonio Bar Association

2003
Partners in Justice Award Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc

2004
Star of Achievement Award State Bar of Texas

2004
Pro Bono Award State Bar of Texas.

2004
Scales of Justice Award from the NALS Foundation

2004

Seminar/Speaking/Authoring +-

Publications:

Dear Birthmother, Kathleen Silber and Phylis J. Speedlin (A book on open adoption), Corona Publishers, first edition 1982; second edition 1991; third edition 1997
Casenote, “Telecommunication-Right of Access,” 13 St. Mary's Law Journal 692, 1982
1997 - Author - Statute of Limitation in Health Care Litigation, TADC Fall Meeting, September 1997.
1996 - Author and Speaker - Medical Malpractice Conference - Sponsored by Texas Tech University School of Law and St. Marys University School of Law - Statute of Limitations.
1994 - Author and Speaker - Texas Bar Association - Advanced Personal Injury Course - Civil Procedure Update.
1991 - Author and Speaker - Texas Bar Association Advanced Personal Injury Course - Government Liability.
1990 - Author and Speaker - Medical Malpractice Conference Sponsored by Texas Tech University School of Law and St. Mary's University School of Law -
Liability for Patient Dumping.
1989 - Author and Speaker - Risk Management Course - Houston, Texas - Investigative Privilege.

Speaking:

2021 Panelist and Speaker Association of Attorney Mediators, It’s Show Time Folks
2021 Arbitrator Faculty for the American Arbitration Association, Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators (CORE) Training
2020 Co- Author Practical Recommendations on Seeking Attorney Fees, State Bar of Texas Blog, May 11, 2020.
2019 Speaker Association of Attorney Mediators, Listening Hard and Dealing with Anger in Mediation
2019 Speaker Mediation Strategies, San Antonio Bar Association Conference
2018 Speaker AAA Healthcare Dispute Resolution Innovation & Strategy Conference—Best Practices in Arbitration Procedures
2017 Speaker San Antonio Young Lawyers Association—Alternative Dispute Resolution
2017 Speaker Annual Litigation Update Institute—Mediation Update
2015 Course Director State Bar of Texas Advanced Evidence and Discovery
2014 “Private Judging: An Option for Resolving Legal Disputes” San Antonio Lawyer
2014 Speaker State Bar Advanced Evidence and Discover—Sufficiency of the Evidence
2013- Speaker Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar-Sponsored by the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas.
2013 - Speaker 5th Annual Damages in Civil Litigation- Sponsored by Texas Bar CLE.
2012 - Course moderator San Antonio Advanced Evidence and Discovery Institute.
2003 - Speaker - 27th Annual Page Keeton Product Liability & Personal Injury Law Conference- Sponsored by the University of Texas School of law.
2001 - Course Moderator--Medical Malpractice Conference - Sponsored by Texas Tech University School of Law and St. Mary's University School of Law.
1999 - Speaker - 11th Annual Texas Nurse Practitioners Conference, Medical Malpractice Suits Against the Advanced Practice Nurse and Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Contractual Relationships.
1998 - Speaker - UTHSC School of Nursing. Legal Aspects of Nursing Practice.
1996 - Author and Speaker - Medical Malpractice Conference - Sponsored by Texas Tech University School of Law and St. Marys University School of Law - Statute of Limitations.
1995 - Speaker - National Perinatal Nurses Association - Legal Issues Involving the Neonate.
1994 - Speaker - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Contemporary Influences Class.
1994 - Speaker - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Fourth Annual Perinatal Connection - Nurse's Role in Malpractice.
1992 - Speaker - Medical Malpractice Conference Sponsored by University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Perinatal Conference - Anatomy of
a Lawsuit.
1991 - Speaker - South Central Texas Society of Gastrointestinal Nurses and Associates - Mock Trial/Tips on Giving a Deposition.
1991 - Speaker - Texas Nurses Association - District Eight, Inc. - Mock Trial.
1991 - Author and Speaker - Texas Bar Association Advanced Personal Injury Course - Government Liability.
1990 - Author and Speaker - Medical Malpractice Conference Sponsored by Texas Tech University School of Law and St. Mary's University School of Law -
Liability for Patient Dumping.
1989 - Author and Speaker - Risk Management Course - Houston, Texas - Investigative Privilege.

Area of Specialization

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate
Arbitrator
Mediator