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.