Lucius Bunton

Lucius is known as a mediator who brings a calming and thoughtful presence to the mediation process.  He has practiced law in Texas for over forty years.  He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University law school.

He began his practice as an Assistant Attorney General of Texas practicing in the areas of education and civil rights.  From 1982 to 1988, he was a partner in the firm of Bunton, Nolan, Odé and Cooper and began his own practice in 1988.  He has practiced extensively in employment law and civil rights litigation – representing both plaintiffs and defendants.  His practice has included work in family law and business litigation.

Lucius’s clients have included the University Interscholastic League, the Texas Educational Foundation, and the Texas State Troopers Association.  He has practiced in state and federal courts at all levels in Texas, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the US Supreme Court.

Lucius is rated as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, has been credentialed as “Distinguished” by the Texas Mediators Credentialing Association, and is a member of the Texas Association of Attorney-Mediators. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Lucius received his initial mediation training in 1994 and family law training in 1995.  He has served as a mediator in more than 1000 disputes and has mediated cases in many jurisdictions in Texas, the Austin Court of Civil Appeals, federal courts in the Western and Southern Districts of Texas, and the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  Lucius has served as a Special Education Hearing Officer in Texas from 1982 until 2020, and has been a mediator in special education disputes since 1995.

Lucius has presented before many organizations in seminars and trainings in Texas and throughout the country.  He’s received training from the Harvard University School of Law Program on Negotiations, Lehigh University, and the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine University law school.

He has been active on the boards of Meals on Wheels, the First United Methodist Church in Austin, Austin Drive a Senior, the Women’s Advocacy Project, the American Institute for Learning, and the Board of Visitors of the McDonald Observatory with the University of Texas at Austin.

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(512) 478-0077

Qualifications

Lucius is rated as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, has been credentialed as “Distinguished” by the Texas Mediators Credentialing Association, and is a member of the Texas Association of Attorney-Mediators. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Fee Schedule

Full Day Mediation – $1,400.00 per party (due at the start of the mediation session) 

A full day is an eight (8) hour mediation session.  All hours after 8 hours are billed at $400.00 per hour and divided equally by the parties.  

Half-Day Mediation $750 per party (due at the start of the mediation session)

A half-day is a four (4) hour mediation session.  All hours after 4 hours are billed at $400.00 per hour and divided equally by the parties.  

The daily rates for full and half day mediation include up to 1.5 hours per party for reviewing pre-mediation submissions and up to 1.5 hours of post-session follow up.  All reading time beyond the 1.5 hours for pre-mediation submissions will be charged to the individual party at the rate of $400.00 per hour and billed with the expense invoice after the mediation is closed.  All follow up time beyond 1.5 hours will be charged at $400.00 per hour and divided equally by the parties.  Follow up time, if any, will be billed with the expense invoice after the mediation is closed.

TRAVEL TIME AND EXPENSES

For all cases outside of Austin, travel time will be billed at $150.00 per hour.  Actual expenses of travel (mileage, airfare, meals, lodging) shall be based on the State of Texas per diem rates.  Both travel time and expenses will be divided equally between the parties and billed with the expense invoice after the mediation is closed.  

CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING FEES

After a mediation is scheduled and notices of the mediation are sent, no cancellation fee will be charged if the mediation is canceled or rescheduled at least FOURTEEN (14) days from the date scheduled for mediation.  Cancellation or rescheduling must be in writing.  

If the mediation is canceled or rescheduled within 14 days of the date set for mediation, a cancellation fee of 50% of the daily rate per party will be charged to each party.  The mediator may excuse the cancellation fee if the cancellation is due to medical reasons, court intervention, or an event beyond the parties’ control.

FACILITY FEES AND LUNCHES

The mediation can be held via Zoom, at Lucius’s office, or at a place of your choice. 

Facility fees for mediations at Lucius’s office are $200.00 split between the parties.

For all full day mediations held at Lucius’s office, lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided at no additional cost. For mediations held elsewhere, the parties shall be responsible for all facility costs including lunch, snacks and beverages.

HOLDING DATES

A party may request to hold a mediation date.  Such requested holds shall be honored for forty-eight (48) hours from the time of the request.  Should such date not be confirmed within 48 hours, the requested date may be given to other parties requesting the date.