About
Mark C. Walker
Experience
Mark C. Walker brings nearly four decades of trial and appellate experience to his role as a neutral, offering parties the distinct advantage of a mediator who has successfully navigated complex disputes from both sides of the courtroom. His extensive background spans high-stakes commercial litigation, product liability cases, healthcare disputes, and regulatory matters—experience that provides invaluable insight into the strategic considerations and practical realities that drive settlement negotiations.
As a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer since 1990 and former member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization examination commission, Mark understands the nuances of the factual and legal differences leading to wins and losses. His experience informs his views on case valuation, litigation risks, and the pressures facing both plaintiffs and defendants. His approach combines the tenacity and creativity that made him successful as a trial and appellate lawyer with the neutral perspective essential for effective mediation.
Mark's philosophy centers on thorough preparation and realistic case assessment—principles that served his clients well in litigation and now benefit the parties he serves as a mediator. His deep understanding of business disputes, tort claims, regulatory compliance, and fiduciary matters enables him to quickly grasp complex issues and guide parties toward practical solutions.
- 1985 to 2024 – Litigation private practice
- Partner in a leading El Paso firm, and then developed the office for Texas firms Brown McCarroll and then Cox Smith. Equity partner in Am Law 200 law firms Dykema and Dickinson Wright.
- Lead counsel on jury trials since his first year as a lawyer, and lead appellate counsel.
- Extensive experience resolving a broad array of business, commercial, fiduciary, trust, probate, banking, real estate development, construction, lender liability, attorney grievance and business disputes, business divorces, state and federal consumer protection law, state and federal employment discrimination, healthcare regulatory and other liability disputes, election and campaign finance law, municipal and local government law, automotive and other product liability, insurance coverage and enterprise liability (bad faith and claims handling) claims, general tort and insurance defense litigation, and even some trademark and copyright litigation
- Licensed to practice law in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.
- Regional leadership roles in complex litigation, including acting as co-lead counsel for the seller and servicer defendants in the Ford/Firestone rollover litigation consolidated in Texas.
- Go-to trial and appellate counsel in cases involving the Texas Citizens Participation Act, as well as defamation and disparagement cases.
Education
University of Texas
Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (UT) with majors in history and geology.
Graduate studies at UT
Attended graduate school at UT, with a focus on legal history, with additional graduate studies in natural resource management and engineering.
Texas Law School
Graduated from University of Texas Law School.
Awards / Recognition / Leadership
Texas Super Lawyers
"Texas Super Lawyers" in civil litigation defense since 2006
Best Lawyers in America
The Best Lawyers in America in commercial litigation, personal injury defense (Lawyer of the Year 2022) and commercial litigation, since 2011
American Board of Trial Advocates
Member and past chapter President of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Prior Vice President of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel
District 17A Grievance Committee
Past chair of the District 17A Grievance Committee
Personal Injury Trial Law
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law since 1990
Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Six years on the personal injury examination commission of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Mental health organizations
Leadership positions in state mental health organizations, work on mental health legislation and initiatives
Publications and Presentations
Course director, and frequent speaker at state and national conference, State Bar of Texas CLE award recipient.