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About

  • About Us

About Mark Kressenberg

I retired from the active practice of law in November 2025 after 39 years in litigation, transitioning fully into mediation. My background includes working on both sides of insurance disputes — from representing injured individuals to defending carriers — giving me a well-rounded perspective that helps parties reach fair resolutions.

Career Background

  • Began practice in 1986 at a boutique commercial litigation firm in Houston
  • Served as law clerk to the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court (Southern District of Illinois)
  • Spent 17 years at a national plaintiff’s firm trying occupational injury cases across the country

  • Joined Sheehy, Ware & Pappas a 60-lawyer insurance defense firm, handling:

    • First-party property claims

    • UM/UIM matters

    • Construction defect cases

  • Managed the firm’s Hurricane Ike docket for:

    • Two large domestic insurance companies

    • Multiple Lloyd’s syndicates

  • Joined Thompson Coe, Cousins & Irons as a Partner at a 250-lawyer litigation firm, where he:

    • Managed three first-party insurance dockets

    • Tried numerous UM/UIM and first-party property cases

Mediation Experience

  • Participant in nearly 700 mediations
  • Personally mediated 50+ matters (private and DRC)
  • Familiar with brackets, mediator proposals, midpoint strategies, and other creative tools
  • Focused on efficiency, practical solutions, and realistic outcomes

Industry Knowledge

  • Long-time member of the State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section
  • Speaker on UM/UIM and first-party property issues (CLEs, annual conferences, webinars)
  • Regularly reviews new case law through “Right Off The Press” and relevant CLE courses

My Approach

  • My style is straightforward: I help parties evaluate the realistic cost, time, and expected outcome of trial while exploring every viable settlement option. I don’t replace negotiation with number-carrying — the process matters, and I guide each side through it with respect and clarity.