Mediator Resume

Full-time independent mediator and arbitrator. Former trial partner in regional and national law firms with offices in Houston, Texas. Recognized by peers for inclusion among The Best Lawyers® in America in commercial litigation (2021-2026) and mediation (2026), as a Texas Super Lawyer® in Alternative Dispute Resolution for 2024-2026, and among the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN). For over 28 years, has helped parties avoid and resolve complex commercial and civil disputes in competitive industries including energy, healthcare, construction, financial services, insurance, government-relations, logistics, managed cloud services, commercial leasing, manufacturing, consumer, and employment.

Harris Hoss PLLC - Member

Commercial Arbitrator, Credentialed Distinguished Mediator (TMCA), Attorney

Member, Harris Hoss PLLC (fka F. Harris & Associates, PLLC), 2012-Present; Partner, Barry Conge Harris LLP, 2015-2019; Partner, Burleson LLP, 2014-2015; Partner, Buck | Keenan LLP, 2013-2014; Partner and Counsel, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, 2008-2011; Counsel, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2007-2008; Partner, Kyle & Kyle LLP, 2006-2007; Senior Associate, Beck Redden & Secrest LLP, 1998-2006; Briefing Attorney, Chief Justice John Hill Cayce, Jr., 2nd Court of Appeals (Texas), 1997-1998; Intern, Justice Adele Hedges, 1st Court of Appeals (Texas), 1996.

Commercial litigation attorney. Approximately 80% of practice focus split between energy/energy services and related industries, including petrochemicals, engineering services, industrial monitoring, manufacturing, and marine. About 15% in healthcare, financial services, IT and managed security, and construction. Commercial & Energy: Represented (i) partners and land owners in disputes involving oil and gas asset valuations and lease payments; (ii) energy infrastructure company in dispute over payments for gas treatment equipment and gas treating services at well sites; (iii) natural gas provider in dispute alleging breach of a long-term natural gas sales contract; (iv) oil and gas company in lease and royalty dispute; (v) an energy performance contracting company in an equipment lease and financing dispute; (vi) landfill operations companies in partnership dispute involving operations and federal tax credits; (vii) industrial fabrication company in contract performance and collections dispute; (viii) an industrial compliance services company in a dispute concerning licensing and distribution of proprietary technology; (ix) non-franchise restaurant partners in operational dispute; (xi) partners in franchise restaurants in disputes involving commercial lease obligations; (x) national retail landlord in lease disputes; (xiii) a skilled nursing facility (landlord) against a former tenant involving a Medicare CHOW, transfer of operations, fraud and valuation of real estate and going concern healthcare operations. Employment: Represented (i) worldwide chemicals company and its president against claims of age discrimination and defamation; (ii) multiple companies and employees in claims alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, violations of non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, (iii) former executives in dispute over separation agreement involving common law and stock fraud claims; (iv) a closely-held marine company in an executive compensation and corporate governance dispute; (v) global engineering services firm against discrimination claims involving Texas, American, and Saudi labor laws; (vi) the former parent company of a marine services company in a Seaman's wage class action; (vii) international medical research fellow in an investigation concerning research integrity; (viii) closely-held company in dealing with day-to-day employment matters; (ix) executives in disputes involving employment agreements, including short-term incentive pay and long-term incentive pay (LTIP & STIP); (x) equine breeding ranch in dispute with former key employee involving theft, conversion, and breach of contract claims.

Credentialed Distinguished Mediator (Texas Mediator Credentialing Association) and trained in The EDR Mediation process. Has mediated more than 400 commercial and civil disputes involving businesses and business owners, land developers, engineering/construction/design firms, property owners and property owner associations, counties and municipalities, first-party and third-party insurance, employers and employees, law firms and lawyers, and medical professionals.

Agency Business disparagement Collections - sworn account, factoring contracts, international trade (demurrage and detention claims) Commercial premises liability Community and homeowners’ association – Dues & covenant violations, specific performance, foreclosures Construction - general contractors and sub-contractors (construction trust fund, prompt payment, performance, lien and warranty claims) Construction - general contractors and owners (performance and warranty claims) Constructive trusts Consumer claims (online consumer sales, retail, automotive sales, warranty, and maintenance, healthcare, fitness, credit) Contracts (equipment leases, vendor supply agreements, breach of warranty, employment) Deceptive Trade Practices Act (consumer fraud and consumer warranty) Executive compensation, employee severance, and Employee Stock Option Pool (ESOP) Fiduciary duties Fraud & negligent misrepresentation Homeowners Associations (HOA) and Community Association (involving homeowners, property owners, and/or developer agreements) Indemnity, contribution and proportionate liability, proportionate responsibility Insurance contracts - first-party home insurance, subrogation, fraud, Texas Insurance Code Limited liability & closely-held entity relationships – contractual and statutory rights and duties Landlord-Tenant - commercial and residential lease agreements, eviction Lost profits Medical malpractice Negligence and gross negligence Partnership formation and dissolution (formal and oral), partnership valuation Past, present and future medical, pain and suffering, emotional, non-economic damages Personal injury Probate, heirship, and trusts Property rights - easements, quiet title, partitions (land and buildings), trespass Property valuations and appraisals Real estate sales agreements Respondeat superior and vicarious liability Sanctions and claims for attorneys fees Supply chain transportation claims (shipping and trucking) Tortious interference

I approach each mediation mindful of the mediator’s distinct role in helping parties better understand the conflict and their options for resolution. To that end, I request mediation summaries and other information from the parties on a confidential basis prior to the mediation session. I also schedule at least one pre-mediation phone call with counsel. During the mediation, I respect party autonomy and share my views on the respective parties’ positions as a neutral when requested or when it appears that it will assist the parties in evaluating risk and options for resolution. When the parties request and I reasonably believe it will facilitate resolution, I am willing to submit a confidential mediator’s proposal.

Proficient in Zoom technology for remote and hybrid hearings and mediations.

South Texas College of Law (JD, summa cum laude, class ranking #1, Articles Editor, South Texas Law Review, selected by peers "Outstanding Female Graduate"-1997) Texas A&M University (BA, Journalism, cum laude-1992)

Admitted to the Bar: Texas (1997); U.S. District Court: Southern (1999), Eastern (2000), Northern (2003), Western (2010) Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals: Fifth Circuit (2006).

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) Institute for Energy Law (IEL), Advisory Board Member State Bar of Texas (ADR, Litigation, & Construction Law Sections, Member); ADR Section Council Member (2024-2027); Advanced ADR CLE Planning Committee (2023-2026) American Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section (DRS) & Litigation Section, Member; DRS Budget Officer (2024-2027); Mediation Committee, Vice Chair (2023-2025); 2022 Mediation Week Program, Chair; Early Dispute Resolution Committee, Co-Chair (2023-2025), Fellow (2023); Arbitration Committee, Member Houston Bar Association (ADR Council, Immediate Past Chair (2025-2026), Chair (2024-2025), Chair-Elect (2023-2024), Member At-Large (2022-2023); Fee Dispute Committee, Co-Chair (2023-2025), Member (2022-2023); Professionalism Committee, Co-Chair (2022-2023), Member (2021-2024)); Co-Chair HBA Bench Bar CLE Planning Committee (2025-2026) & member (2023-2026)) Houston Bar Foundation, Life Fellow Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow Brazoria County Bar Association; Texas Mediator Credentialing Association (TMCA), Board Member & Credential Distinguished Mediator; Association of Attorney Mediators; EDR Institute; Harris County Dispute Resolution Center (Board Member (2021-2026)); Texas Comptroller Registry of Arbitrators (Property Tax Appraisal Appeals); Texas Department of Insurance, Mediator (TWIA coverage disputes).

Speaker, Maximize Resolution's Value: The Touchdown Before the Endzone, TexasBarCLE & HBA Labor & Employment Section CLE Panelist, Resolving Complex Business Disputes: Texas Business Court & Arbitration, HBA ADR Annual CLE Panelist: Arbitration of Commercial Disputes: Advocacy and Drafting Strategies, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting Speaker, Damages in ADR: Mediation Assessments & Arbitration Awards, TexasBarCLE Damages in Civil Litigation CLE Co-Author, Master Your Next Mediation: Advice for Attorneys, The Texas Lawbook Moderator, Successful Early Mediations: Effective Tips, Strategies, & Best Practices, Texas Mediator Credentialing Association's 20th Annual Symposium Moderator, Listen Up! The Users Speak: What Really Works (and Doesn’t) in Mediations, ABA Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute Panelist, Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain (in Mediation), Texas Trial Lawyers Association/Advocates Board of Directors Co-Moderator, Mastering Early Mediation: Strategies for Success, Webinar Series jointly presented by the ABA TIPS ADR Subcommittee and ABA EDR Committee Co-Author, ABA Unanimously Adopts Policy Encouraging Early Dispute Resolution, ABA Just Resolutions Magazine Speaker, The Power & Possibilities of EDR, Houston Young Lawyers Association Speaker, ABA Resolution 500 advancing Early Dispute Resolution, ABA Mid-Year Meeting, Louisville, KY "Anatomy of an Energy Arbitration Claim: Notice through Award," Panelist, 2023 AAA Energy Conference: The State of Energy in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Houston, September 2023) "EDR: Time Values in Dispute Resolution", presentation to the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Meeting (October 2023) "A Former Litigator's Perspective on Early Mediations," article published in Just Resolutions (the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Magazine) (July 2023) "Winning from the Beginning," Program Chair and Moderator for the American Bar Association 2022 Mediation Week Program (October 2022) "Previewing 2022 ABA Mediation Week: Winning from the Beginning," Interviewed by Resolutions: A Dispute Resolution Podcast (ABA Section of Dispute Resolution) (September 2022)

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $4,500.00 Study Rate: $500.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Pearland, Texas