HBA Litigation Section Taps Alan to Speak on Negotiation Ethics

The speaking trail calls Alan again. The HBA Litigation Section has tapped Alan to give his popular ethics CLE titled “Negotiation Ethics: When You Can’t Back Down.”

Negotiations involve pressure. When your back is to the wall, how far can you (or should you) go to get a sweet deal? Ethically, that is. Lawyers must measure their words to opponents - and their own clients. Movies and shows have lessons to teach.

Join Alan for this CLE on 1.22.25 at Brennan’s. Register here.

Due to the winter storm, the HBA Litigation Section has postponed the Alan’s Negotiation Ethics talk until Friday 1.31.25.

Biggest Legal Lesson

Alan Bush learned his biggest legal lesson from a mentor. Alan tells the tale:

So there I was — just pulled up to the Walker County courthouse to handle my first hearing. My mentor came along.

My mentor threw his gold F-150 into park. I put my hand on the door pull to pop open the door. Ready to jump out, run into the courtroom and kick some tail.

My mentor put up his hand: “Stop. Let’s pray.”

“This is gonna be great! This Godly dude is about to pray for victory, and there’s no way God won’t answer,” I thought.

My mentor had something else in mind.

“Heavenly Father, we pray that today your justice be done. Amen.”

It dawned on me. We lawyers go hard in the courtroom. We fight, we struggle. But at the end of the day, there is a right result. And it might not be the one my client wants.

Texas Lawyer Publishes "Negotiating When You Can't Back Down"

Alan’s first article has hit the presses with Texas Lawyer. In it, Alan runs through counsel’s ethical boundaries in negotiations like mediation.

You can read the article here.

The article covers:

  • “Good faith” mediation referral orders

  • Counsel’s duty to give the advice a client may not want to hear

  • Counsel’s duty of honesty

  • Counsel’s potential duty to disclose if the client has a duty

  • Reality check

When it comes to giving the client the hard news, Alan points out:

Smart litigation counsel uses the mediator as cover. Because the legal profession thrives on ambush, new twists  routinely pop up at mediation. A good mediator doesn’t pull punches in showing both sides their risks. Let the mediator be the first to break the bad news. Then soft echo it. Tell the client that, although you don’t like it, you see the wisdom in it.

Alan Bush is a mediator posted near The Woodlands. He mediates mostly in Montgomery County and Harris County.

Montgomery County Bar Taps Alan To Speak on Mediation Ethics

The Montgomery County Bar has tapped Alan to deliver his talk titled, “Mediation Ethics: When You Can’t Back Down.” He gave this talk a few weeks ago for The Woodlands Bar and had the largest audience the WBA has seen all year.

Alan’s webinar for the MCBA goes down on June 12 at high noon. MCBA members can register for free here: Negotiation Ethics: When You Can’t back Down.

The MCBA now offers monthly CLE webinars — all free to members. Over the last year, the MCBA produced 10 hours of free CLE and launched a CLE web bank of past webinars.

Alan Bush is a mediator posted near The Woodlands. He mediates mostly in Montgomery County and Harris County.

Law Day for the Montgomery County Bar Association

Another Law Day has come and gone. Under Alan’s leadership, the event has become a true bench-and-bar conference. Only the flooding kept a few judges away. But for the most part, the county bar’s judicial panelists came out to talk for a packed house.

Let’s see what happens next year.

Alan Bush is a mediator posted near The Woodlands. He mediates mostly in Montgomery County and Harris County.

How The Courthouse Came To Conroe - Montgomery County, Texas

The Montgomery County Courthouse wasn’t always in Conroe. Back when Texas first became a Republic, the City of Montgomery hosted our courthouse. So why’s the courthouse in Conroe today?

Alan Bush, as President of the Montgomery County Bar, recently hosted a webinar with Larry Foerster to tell the story. The story has got some juicy bits:

  • Two general elections;

  • A divided Commissioners Court where two factions held meetings in two different towns;

  • A fight in the Texas Supreme Court; and

  • Landowners in the original county seat getting railroaded.

Larry is our de facto Montgomery County historian. He chairs the Montgomery County Historical Commission.

Here’s the webinar for your viewing pleasure!

How The Courthouse Came To Conroe | Montgomery County Bar Association

Alan Bush is a mediator based near The Woodlands. He mainly mediates in Montgomery County and Harris County.

MCBA Law Day Approaches

The Montgomery County Bar Association has produced Law Day for a long time. This year will be something special.

Nearly every judge in Montgomery County will be speaking. So will the President of the Texas Bar Association, along with Senator Creighton. As bar president, Alan took point on putting the agenda together.

Register today! The full agenda is available at MCBA Law Day 2024.

Alan Bush is a mediator based near The Woodlands. He mediates disputes mostly in Montgoery County and Harris County.

Alan Bush Rides Again – Writing for Texas Lawyer on Mediation

Back in the day, Alan Bush wrote for Texas Lawyer routinely. He’s now back in the saddle again.

Texas Lawyer has inked another agreement with Alan. Every few months, expect another article. Alan relates what he’s learned in life and law into actionable steps for lawyers. This time, he’ll cover mediation, legal ethics and negotiations.

Here is one of Alan’s favorite articles – “Work Boots, Not Wing Tips.” Alan wrote it after spending a day out on an oil rig. He took these lessons back to his legal practice:

  • Get out on the rig floor.

  • Get your hands dirty.

  • Feed a hungry client.

  • Understand who is the rock star.

  • Do it yourself.

  • Cover the home front.

 

Alan Bush is a mediator based near The Woodlands. He mediates disputes primarily in Montgomery County and Harris County.

The Woodlands Bar Association Taps Alan Bush to Speak on Negotiation Ethics

The Woodlands Bar Association recently chose Alan Bush to speak on “Negotiation Ethics: When You Can’t Back Down.” The talk goes down on 4.26.24 at high noon via Zoom.

Register here: WBA April Zoom CLE - Negotiation Ethics: When You Can't Back Down | Woodlands Bar Assoc. (woodlandsbarassociation.com)

Now that Alan has launched his mediation practice, he’s back in the saddle for speaking and writing. Alan has one rule of thumb:

We don’t do boring.

-Alan

Alan Bush is a mediator based near The Woodlands. He mediates disputes primarily in Montgomery County and Harris County.