Hon. Tanner Neidhardt

As a litigator, Tanner Neidhardt noticed the negative consequences that followed when courts failed to timely rule on motions or avoided hard decisions. He vowed not to preside that way. As a judge, he ran a district court with efficiency. He promptly, but not hastily, ruled. As a result, he wiped out a backlog of civil cases and gave parties their day in court, presiding over 44 trials over a two-year span.

Judge Neidhardt brings that same approach to arbitration.

"As I believed as a judge, my role as an arbitrator is to facilitate the parties' resolution of their conflict efficiently and confidently,” he said. “I do not postpone pretrial decisions that delay final resolution. The attorneys may need more time—and that we can discuss—but a resolution should not be delayed because their arbitrator won’t rule.”

Judge Neidhardt knows that parties desire forward momentum and finality. “Arbitration should not be too time-consuming,” he said. “That does not mean we cut off meaningful argument, but the arbitrator must enforce boundaries.”

Judge Neidhardt is proficient in the rules of evidence and procedure. Parties before him understand that if their argument aligns with those rules, they can prevail. This proficiency allows for efficient administration of evidentiary and procedural matters. At the same time, he admires the art of trial advocacy and allows parties to try novel approaches.

Mr. Neidhardt began his career as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio, who managed a busy court along Texas's border with Mexico. Subsequently, he served as a prosecutor in San Antonio, handling cases ranging from fraud to murder.

Mr. Neidhardt then transitioned to civil practice with a large firm. There, he focused on trial and arbitration practice. After this experience, he presided over the 483rd State District Court. He now specializes in framing trial strategies in high-stakes cases as a consultant to trial lawyers or as their partner in trial.