About Larry Maxwell

Helping People Manage Conflict and Resolve Disputes Without Litigation

Larry Maxwell’s legal career spans five decades. From 1962 to 2002, he was engaged in a trial and appellate practice in state and federal courts. His forty years of litigation experience were interesting and rewarding. However, over the years he has come to realize that in most situations, litigation should be the last choice for resolving disputes, after other alternative methods have been tried without success.

Beginning in 1985, he expanded his practice to serving as a third party neutral, and counseling clients in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes, which can be tailored to a clients’ needs in the context of the unique characteristics of their dispute.

Crafting Creative Solutions to Fit the Client’s Needs

Conflicts occur everyday among individuals, in families, businesses and organizations. Larry’s method of working with clients to manage conflict and resolving disputes is very straightforward. He listens to your situation, helps you explore options and assists you in determining the form of dispute resolution procedure that is most appropriate for resolving your dispute. He gives practical legal advice, based on knowledge, wisdom and years of experience.

Most disputes can be resolved without litigation if the parties are willing to be truthful, be responsible for their own acts and proceed honestly and in good faith to seek a fair resolution. However, if you decide that litigation is your best option, Larry will consider representing you in Court, depending on your matter; or he will provide you with the names of experienced trial counsel whom he has learned to respect over the years.

Dispute Settlement Counsel – ADR Professional

Larry has over twenty-five years of experience in helping clients resolve disputes using a variety of tools in the ADR toolbox. He has authored articles on mediation, collaborative law, the Uniform Collaborative Law Act and legal ethics, and is a guest lecturer at seminars and law schools on ADR subjects. He is widely recognized as an ADR professional having received appropriate recognitions and certifications.

Other Legal Services

In addition to his ADR practice, Larry advises and counsels clients on matters in various areas of law, including probate, wills and trusts, insurance, real estate and construction matters, and in forming business entities and drafting other legal documents.

Attorney ad litem and Guardian ad litem

In some court proceedings, the law requires that the judge appoint an attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem, such as for a minor, an incapacitated person, unknown heirs or if a conflict of interest exist among parties. Larry is trained and certified by the State Bar of Texas to serve in these capacities for the courts. When requested by judges, he regularly provides these important services for the Civil District Courts, County Courts at Law and Probate Courts of Dallas County.

Civic, Community and Church Involvement

Throughout Larry’s entire career, he has been actively involved in civil, community and church activities. For many years he has provided pro bono legal services through the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. In his community he serves as a trained Volunteer in Patrol for the Dallas Police Department. In years past he has served on the Board of the Texas Higher Education Authority, Youth for Tomorrow, and the SMU Mustang Club.

Larry is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation and serves in various ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. He is a former member of the Executive Council of the Diocese, serves on the Episcopal Community Service Network and as a mediator in the Ministry of Conflict Transformation.

His favorite community service is working with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity to build new homes for purchase by deserving low-income families in Dallas. Since 1996, he has coordinated the Habitat Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, raising funds and recruiting volunteer workers to build a house every fall.

More about Larry…