Honorable Justice Phylis Speedlin (ret.)

San Antonio, TX

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
Issues of Regulation in the Practice of Mediation. ADR Section San Antonio Bar Association
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
Plunkett & Griesenheck, Inc.
Mediator, Arbitrator, and Private Judge 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,; 2012 to present
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

Area of Specialization + -

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate, Arbitrator, Mediator

Speaking / Authoring / Seminars + -

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

	<br />2020	Co- Author Practical Recommendations on Seeking Attorney Fees, State 		Bar of Texas Blog, May 11, 2020. 
	<br />2019	Speaker Association of Attorney Mediators, Listening Hard and Dealing 		with Anger in Mediation  
	<br />2019   Speaker Mediation Strategies, San Antonio Bar Association Conference
	<br />2018	Speaker AAA Healthcare Dispute Resolution Innovation &amp; 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.