Our Mediators

We are fiercely dedicated to the integrity of the mediation process as a means to helping your clients achieve a fair, cost effective resolution to their disputes.

Ken Burdin

Mediator

Mr. Burdin founded Burdin Mediations in 1993 after a successful career in sales and management with local Fortune 500 corporations. In addition to operating the company and conducting over 300 mediations, Ken volunteers his time as a pro-bono mediator for Dallas Dispute Mediation Service and various local courts.

Mary Burdin

Mediator

Ms. Burdin has been practicing law in Texas since 1980. She has mediated in excess of 5,000 disputes and is one of our most requested mediators. She has extensive experience in personal injury disputes, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in tort litigation.

G. Patrick Collins

Mediator

Mr. Collins has been licensed to practice in Texas since 1999 and in California since 1977. Prior to moving to Texas, Mr. Collins gained 19 years of trial experience in general civil litigation and insurance defense. Additionally, during these years Mr. Collins mediated hundreds of cases pending in the California Superior Courts.

Brenda Damuth

Mediator

Ms. Damuth has been practicing law in Texas since 1978, and has mediated over 800 cases. She brings a unique perspective to the mediation process in that she has extensive first chair trial experience representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants in personal injury disputes.

John E. DeFeo

Mediator

John has practiced as a trial lawyer in Texas for over 35 years. He has wealth of experience in all types of civil litigation, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in all types of commercial and personal injury cases, including tens of millions of settlement/verdict recoveries.

Shayan Elahi

Mediator

Shayan Elahi is a Harvard Certified Mediator with real courtroom experience, having done over 50 jury and bench trials in Texas and Florida. During mediation he brings his State and Federal litigation experience, along with a no-nonsense approach to help the parties reach a well informed decision based on their goals. His mediation practice handles disputes involving family law, business partnerships, personal injury, civil rights and employment discrimination cases.

King Fifer

MEDIATOR – ARBITRATOR

Former Judge T. King Fifer presided over Dallas County Court at Law No. 2 from January 2007 until January 2018. He oversaw more than 300 jury trials, some resulting in multi-million-dollar verdicts, and more than a thousand bench trials.

Kathy Fragnoli

MEDIATOR – ARBITRATOR

Kathy has been a full-time neutral since 1994. She provides ADR services nationwide, and has offices in San Diego and Dallas. Kathy is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Boston College and graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law. She attended the Harvard Law School negotiations program in 1995.

Karen Hubbard

MEDIATOR

Ms. Hubbard has been licensed to practice in Texas and Oklahoma since 1985 and is a graduate of the American Academy of Attorney-Mediators, Inc. training program. She has extensive litigation experience in both state and federal courts representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Ronald Hurdle

MEDIATOR - ARBITRATOR

Ronald is a former Associate Civil District Judge for Dallas County where he presided over a myriad of disputes. Prior to taking the Dallas County Bench, he was in private practice in the areas of personal injury and probate. Ronald has in excess of 25 years of Civil Litigation and Insurance Defense experience.

Jim Jordan

MEDIATOR – ARBITRATOR

Judge Jim Jordan served as Judge for the 160th Judicial District Court in Dallas County from 2007-2018 where he presided over several hundred jury trials and in excess of 900 bench trials and summary proceedings. He has always received high marks for his intellect, objectivity and judicial demeanor from the attorneys practicing in his court and he was chosen by The Dallas Chapter of ABOTA as the Trial Judge of the Year in 2013.

Sandra Lauro

Mediator

Sandra (“Sandy”) Lauro has spent over 20 years practicing labor and employment law, with a focus on compliance, training, best practices and resolution of workplace disputes. She has substantial experience in labor and employment disputes, including disputes involving sexual and racial harassment, workplace discrimination, non-competition agreements and executive contractual arrangements.

Ellen Presby

MEDIATOR - ARBITRATOR

Ellen Presby brings more than four decades of experience in complex civil litigation to her mediation practice. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants in business disputes, products liability, and personal injury matters, appearing on both sides of the docket for companies and individuals alike.

Ken Rubenstein

Mediator – Arbitrator

Ken Rubenstein has practiced law in Texas since 1985 and has mediated on a full-time basis since 1993. He has mediated in excess of 10,000 disputes involving personal injury, premises liability, complex business disputes, construction, professional malpractice, employment, real estate and debt collection.

Mel Wolovits

Mediator – Arbitrator

Mel is a creative dealmaker who tirelessly seeks practical solutions for business and personal disputes.
A 34 year a trial attorney in state and federal courts in Texas, Ohio, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma, Mr. Wolovits settles complex and contentious disputes. He is a creative dealmaker who tirelessly seeks practical solutions for business and personal disputes.