About Allen Mediations
Allen Mediations is a civil litigation mediation practice based in Dallas, Texas. Mediator Todd Allen has extensive experience in the litigation and mediation of sex abuse claims but also mediates a wide variety of civil and commercial disputes. Areas of practice include professional liability, medical malpractice, nursing home, personal injury, premises liability, products liability, wrongful death, construction defects, and property damage, as well as mass tort and complex litigation and probate matters.
About Todd Allen
Todd was born in Texarkana, Texas, and spent his early childhood in East Texas before moving at the age of 10 with his parents to West Germany. After traveling and experiencing much of Western Europe in the 1980s before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Todd graduated from Ramstein American High School and then returned to Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin. There, he majored in Plan II Honors and never wavered from his high school plan to attend law school after earning his undergraduate degree. Todd attended Baylor Law School, thrived in its renowned practice court curriculum, and obtained his law degree in 1996, with concentrations in Litigation and Health Care.
Todd began his law practice with a small insurance defense firm in Dallas before moving to a mid-sized civil litigation firm, also in Dallas. During his years in private practice, Todd litigated a wide variety of civil matters, including medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, premises liability, products liability, and vehicular accidents. He was fortunate to try many cases to a jury verdict as first or second chair. He also mediated several hundred claims as a litigator.
In late 2010, Todd learned of an opportunity to work in the legal department of the Boy Scouts of America's national office in the Dallas area. As a longtime Eagle Scout and volunteer leader, Todd appreciated the chance to blend his love of Scouting with his experience as a litigator. While with the BSA, Todd managed a challenging nationwide docket of childhood sexual abuse claims, the majority of which involved decades-old incidents. For over five years, Todd spent 100% of his professional time managing these claims across the country. He interviewed and selected defense counsel, worked with primary and excess insurers, monitored and assisted with pleadings, discovery, and depositions, attended all mediations, and was responsible for the overall handling and analysis of these claims. Todd was instrumental in resolving numerous claims either at mediation or the old-fashioned way, by working professionally with opposing counsel.
Through his nationwide practice, Todd was able to develop relationships across the country with defense counsel, plaintiff's counsel, experts, and mediators, and was able to hone his skills dealing with the early, efficient, and fair resolution of difficult, complex, and highly emotional claims. In 2016, Todd made the decision to put his skills to work in a different role in the litigation process as a mediator. He is willing to help parties anywhere explore compromise before putting their fate in the hands of unpredictable juries.
In his personal time, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife, Cherie, and their three sons. He also enjoys taking road trips with his family, running, volunteering as a Scout leader, and always hanging out with his Goldendoodle Brady and Terrier Juno.
Todd began his law practice with a small insurance defense firm in Dallas before moving to a mid-sized civil litigation firm, also in Dallas. During his years in private practice, Todd litigated a wide variety of civil matters, including medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, premises liability, products liability, and vehicular accidents. He was fortunate to try many cases to a jury verdict as first or second chair. He also mediated several hundred claims as a litigator.
In late 2010, Todd learned of an opportunity to work in the legal department of the Boy Scouts of America's national office in the Dallas area. As a longtime Eagle Scout and volunteer leader, Todd appreciated the chance to blend his love of Scouting with his experience as a litigator. While with the BSA, Todd managed a challenging nationwide docket of childhood sexual abuse claims, the majority of which involved decades-old incidents. For over five years, Todd spent 100% of his professional time managing these claims across the country. He interviewed and selected defense counsel, worked with primary and excess insurers, monitored and assisted with pleadings, discovery, and depositions, attended all mediations, and was responsible for the overall handling and analysis of these claims. Todd was instrumental in resolving numerous claims either at mediation or the old-fashioned way, by working professionally with opposing counsel.
Through his nationwide practice, Todd was able to develop relationships across the country with defense counsel, plaintiff's counsel, experts, and mediators, and was able to hone his skills dealing with the early, efficient, and fair resolution of difficult, complex, and highly emotional claims. In 2016, Todd made the decision to put his skills to work in a different role in the litigation process as a mediator. He is willing to help parties anywhere explore compromise before putting their fate in the hands of unpredictable juries.
In his personal time, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife, Cherie, and their three sons. He also enjoys taking road trips with his family, running, volunteering as a Scout leader, and always hanging out with his Goldendoodle Brady and Terrier Juno.
Education:
Baylor University School of Law – Waco, Texas
Juris Doctor, August 1996
Concentrations: Litigation, Health Care
University of Texas – Austin, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors, May 1993
Juris Doctor, August 1996
Concentrations: Litigation, Health Care
University of Texas – Austin, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors, May 1993
Mediator Training and Memberships:
Institute for Mediator Training, Mediators of Texas - San Antonio, Texas
Mediator Training Course, June 2016
Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, Inc. - Boston, Massachusetts
Additional Training and Observation Under Guidance of Nationally Recognized Mediators, June 2016
Dallas County Dispute Resolution Center
Volunteer Mediator, 2016 - present
Recognized as Volunteer Mediator of the Month, February 2017
Received Trailblazer award, 2017
Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas
Volunteer Mediator
SMU Plano Mediation and Conflict Resolution Services
Volunteer Mediator
State Bar of Texas ADR Section
Member
Dallas Bar Association ADR Section
Member, 2016 - present
Treasurer, 2017
Vice Chair, 2018
Chair, 2019
Texas Association of Mediators
Member
Association of Attorney-Mediators
Member
Mediator Training Course, June 2016
Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, Inc. - Boston, Massachusetts
Additional Training and Observation Under Guidance of Nationally Recognized Mediators, June 2016
Dallas County Dispute Resolution Center
Volunteer Mediator, 2016 - present
Recognized as Volunteer Mediator of the Month, February 2017
Received Trailblazer award, 2017
Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas
Volunteer Mediator
SMU Plano Mediation and Conflict Resolution Services
Volunteer Mediator
State Bar of Texas ADR Section
Member
Dallas Bar Association ADR Section
Member, 2016 - present
Treasurer, 2017
Vice Chair, 2018
Chair, 2019
Texas Association of Mediators
Member
Association of Attorney-Mediators
Member
Legal Experience:
Todd Allen Law, PLLC and Allen Mediations – Dallas, Texas
Attorney-Mediator, June 2016 – Present
Kershaw Anderson King, PLLC - Dallas, Texas
Of Counsel, April 2017 - present
Boy Scouts of America – Irving, Texas
Associate General Counsel - Litigation, February 2014 – May 2016
Litigation Management Attorney, February 2011 – February 2014
Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson, P.C. – Dallas, Texas
Partner, January 2004 – January 2011
Associate, June 1998 – December 2003
Law Offices of Ira Thomas King – Dallas, Texas
Attorney, September 1996 – May 1998
Attorney-Mediator, June 2016 – Present
- Provide general legal services on a contract basis with an emphasis on civil defense litigation
- Provide mediation services for civil litigation disputes
- Serve as court-appointed guardian ad litem to approve settlements
Kershaw Anderson King, PLLC - Dallas, Texas
Of Counsel, April 2017 - present
- General civil litigation practice primarily involving defense of physicians and other health care entities in litigation, Texas Medical Board matters, and credentialing/privileges disputes
Boy Scouts of America – Irving, Texas
Associate General Counsel - Litigation, February 2014 – May 2016
Litigation Management Attorney, February 2011 – February 2014
- Served as in-house counsel for major youth-serving non-profit organization; retained and supervised outside defense counsel and appellate counsel in over 30 states; collaborated with insurers to manage claims, evaluate exposure, and make decisions on resolution; managed a heavy caseload and successfully resolved nearly all claims
Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson, P.C. – Dallas, Texas
Partner, January 2004 – January 2011
Associate, June 1998 – December 2003
- Practiced 12 years for civil defense firm specializing in medical malpractice, representation of physicians in Texas Medical Board and peer review proceedings, product liability, premises liability, employment transactions and litigation, banking litigation, and insurance defense
Law Offices of Ira Thomas King – Dallas, Texas
Attorney, September 1996 – May 1998
- Worked as associate for small insurance defense firm specializing in nursing home, construction, wrongful death, fire, automobile, and premises litigation
Personal:
- Married to Cherie Allen; three sons
- Grew up in Texarkana, Texas, and Ramstein, West Germany
- Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow
- Volunteer Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader
- BSA Wood Badge training, 2009
- Scoutmaster, Troop 890 in Lake Highlands area of Dallas, 2018-20
Balanced rocks image used under license from Shutterstock.com
