Mediation
Our experienced mediators are ready to help guide you through your current conflict.
Our experienced mediators are ready to help guide you through your current conflict.
West Short & Howell offers professional mediation services for attorneys, businesses, property owners, and individuals seeking a practical path toward resolving disputes outside of trial. Mediations are conducted by N. West Short, a certified mediator and experienced Texas civil trial attorney with more than 25 years of litigation experience.
We provide both in-person mediation at our Georgetown office and virtual mediation for parties throughout Texas.
N. West Short is a certified mediator and experienced Texas civil trial attorney. For more than 25 years, Mr. Short has represented clients in litigation involving businesses, property, contracts, construction, estates, and other civil matters.
His experience extends beyond the trial court. Mr. Short has argued before both the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. That background informs every mediation: understanding how cases are developed, tried, and appealed helps identify what is actually driving a dispute and assists parties in realistically evaluating the risks of continued litigation.
View Full Profile →West Short & Howell offers in-person mediation from our Georgetown office. Our facility includes three newly renovated conference rooms providing the space and privacy necessary for counsel, clients, and other participants to conduct productive settlement negotiations.
Our Georgetown location serves attorneys and parties throughout Central Texas, including:
Parties do not need to travel to Georgetown to mediate with West Short & Howell. We offer virtual mediation services throughout the State of Texas, allowing attorneys, clients, businesses, and other participants to take part remotely regardless of location.
Virtual mediation follows the same structured process as in-person mediation. Prior to the session, counsel and the mediator coordinate on mediation materials, the participation format, and any pre-mediation submissions. On the day of the mediation, parties and their attorneys join through a secure video platform. Separate breakout sessions allow counsel and clients to confer privately with the mediator, as they would in separate conference rooms during an in-person mediation. The same principles apply throughout: confidentiality, neutrality, and a focused effort to determine whether the dispute can be resolved.
Virtual mediation is particularly well suited for matters where parties or counsel are located in different cities, where travel would create unnecessary expense or scheduling difficulty, or where participants simply prefer the efficiency of remote participation. Texas courts have increasingly embraced virtual mediation as a practical and effective alternative to in-person proceedings, and our office is experienced in facilitating productive virtual sessions.
Learn more about virtual mediation with West Short & Howell →
Contractual disputes, business relationships, ownership disagreements, commercial transactions, and related conflicts.
Real estate transactions, ownership disputes, boundary issues, landlord-tenant matters, and HOA conflicts.
Payment disputes, construction defects, project-performance issues, and contractual disagreements among owners, contractors, and subcontractors.
Disputes involving beneficiaries, executors, trustees, and family members in a confidential setting.
West Short & Howell also considers mediation engagements involving other civil disputes within Mr. Short's areas of experience. Attorneys are encouraged to contact our office to discuss whether a particular matter is appropriate.
| Confidentiality | Discussions take place outside the public courtroom process, subject to applicable Texas mediation confidentiality rules. Parties can speak candidly about potential resolution without risk that those statements will be used against them. |
| Control | The parties determine whether an agreement is reached and what terms they are willing to accept, rather than having an outcome imposed by a judge or jury. |
| Flexibility | Negotiated agreements may address practical, financial, or business considerations beyond the remedies that would be available through a court judgment. |
| Efficiency | A successful mediation can prevent months or years of additional litigation, including the time demands of discovery, hearings, trial preparation, and potential appeals. |
| Cost | Resolving a dispute before trial reduces expenses associated with continued discovery, expert witnesses, hearings, trial preparation, and appeals. |
| Finality | A negotiated settlement allows businesses and individuals to move forward without the uncertainty inherent in continued litigation and potential appeals. |
Mediation can be productive at many stages of a dispute. Some parties pursue mediation before litigation begins, potentially avoiding a lawsuit altogether. Others mediate after discovery has helped both sides better understand the evidence and legal issues involved. Texas courts may also order parties to mediate as litigation progresses.
Attorneys and parties are welcome to contact West Short & Howell to discuss scheduling and whether a matter is appropriate for mediation with N. West Short.
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which a neutral third party helps disputing parties explore whether they can reach a negotiated resolution. Unlike a trial, no judge or jury decides the outcome. The parties themselves determine whether an agreement is reached and on what terms. Mediation can take place before litigation begins, during discovery, or at any point before a final judgment. A successful mediation can avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of a trial and any subsequent appeals.
A mediator with courtroom experience understands what disputes actually look like at trial and on appeal, including the risks, costs, and uncertainties that accompany continued litigation. N. West Short has represented clients in civil litigation for more than 25 years and has argued before the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. That background helps him identify the real issues driving a dispute and assists parties in making realistic assessments of their positions.
West Short & Howell's mediation practice is particularly well suited for civil and commercial disputes, including business and contract matters, real estate and property disputes, construction claims, and probate and estate conflicts. Mediation may also be appropriate for other civil disputes that fall within Mr. Short's areas of experience. Attorneys with questions about whether a specific matter is a good fit are encouraged to contact our office directly.
No. West Short & Howell offers virtual mediation for parties throughout the State of Texas. Attorneys, clients, and other participants can take part remotely regardless of their location. For parties who prefer in-person mediation, our Georgetown office includes three newly renovated conference rooms, conveniently located in downtown Georgetown near the Williamson County Courthouse.
Yes. Mediation is a confidential process. Statements made and materials exchanged during mediation are generally not admissible in subsequent legal proceedings, subject to applicable Texas mediation confidentiality rules. This confidentiality allows parties and their counsel to discuss potential resolutions candidly without concern that those discussions will be used against them if the case does not settle.
Attorneys, businesses, and individuals may contact West Short & Howell directly to inquire about Mr. Short's mediation availability, scheduling, procedures, and fees. Our office will work with counsel to coordinate scheduling, mediation materials, participating parties, and the appropriate format for the mediation, whether in-person in Georgetown or virtual.
Business litigation can become expensive and disruptive long before a case reaches trial. Mediation gives business owners, companies, partners, and other stakeholders an opportunity to resolve disagreements while maintaining greater control over the outcome. For a deeper look at how mediation functions in commercial disputes and what to expect from the process, see our article: [Coming Soon: Mediation in Business Disputes].
Property disputes frequently involve significant financial interests and complicated legal questions. Mediation may be appropriate for disputes involving real estate transactions, ownership, boundaries, landlord-tenant relationships, and homeowners associations. For a detailed overview of how mediation is used in Texas real estate and property matters, see our article: [Coming Soon: Mediation in Real Estate Disputes].
Estate disputes can be particularly challenging because legal disagreements may also involve longstanding personal and family relationships. Mediation gives beneficiaries, executors, trustees, and other interested parties an opportunity to explore potential resolutions in a confidential setting. For more on how the process works in probate and estate matters, see our article: [Coming Soon: Mediation in Probate and Estate Disputes].
Set up an appointment today, so we can see if our firm is a good fit for you.