Debating the Value of the Joint Session: Brian Robison Moderates DBA Mediator Panel

June 17, 2024 by
Blake Brownshadel, Jeff Kaplan, Brian Robison, Chris Nolland, Mary Melle, and Ryan Brown

Last week Brown Fox Partner Brian Robison moderated a star-studded panel for the Dallas Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution section, featuring prominent Dallas mediators Chris Nolland and former United States Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan.

When mediation first took root in Texas around 1990, joint sessions with each side making substantive presentations were standard operating procedure. That kind of joint session was almost a given in business cases. However, there has been a growing trend to skip these sorts of joint sessions, which has led to a debate as to whether this trend is beneficial to the settlement process. The star-studded panel held at the Arts District Mansion in Dallas addressed this topic and did not disappoint.

Brian Robison is a trial lawyer who represents large companies in a wide range of business-litigation matters, with a focus on antitrust cases, class actions, and complex business and commercial litigation cases. Most recently Mr. Robison has leveraged his success and 28 years of experience into a thriving mediation and arbitration practice.  When serving as an arbitrator or mediator, Mr. Robison draws on decades of wisdom gained representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of litigation matters. He has been a Member of the Commercial and Consumer Panels of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) since 2023.

Before joining Brown Fox, Mr. Robison clerked for then-Justice John Cornyn at the Supreme Court of Texas and then honed his litigation skills at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Vinson & Elkins.

Mr. Robison has been recognized by numerous publications for his work including Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business: The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawdragon, and as the 2020, 2022, and 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Antitrust Law in Dallas/Fort Worth by The Best Lawyers in America®. D Magazine recently recognized Brian Robison for his skills in alternative dispute resolution/mediation. His day-to-day practice continues to focus on complex commercial litigation and antitrust disputes.

Learn more about Mr. Robison by clicking here.


Founded in 2010, Brown Fox is a business boutique law firm focused on serving businesses, executives and entrepreneurs in practice areas most commonly needed to advance business growth, manage risk, and defend from attack. The firm’s representative clientele includes companies ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies. The firm has offices in Dallas and Frisco.

Best Lawyers recently named Brown Fox a Tier 1 Best Law Firm for a fourth year in a row, Chambers & Partners has recognized the firm as a top small to midsize firm in both of its Regional Spotlights, and Inc. 5000 has twice recognized the firm as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. The firm’s attorneys have garnered over seventy Super Lawyers & Rising Stars honors, several Best Lawyers honors from both D Magazine and Best Lawyers in America, among other honors.

Character Matters® is the firm’s foundational maxim; its core values of integrity, servant leadership, excellence, and impact are its roots. Brown Fox is committed to aggressively and creatively representing our clients, while staying true to the firm’s guiding principles. Learn more about Brown Fox by clicking here.


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