Spencer Fane

3040 Post Oak Blvd.
Suite 1300
Houston, TX 77056
713-552-1234 (firm)
713-963-0859 (firm fax)
Contact

Alvin Zimmerman was named one of the Best Lawyers in America in 2020 by BL Rankings and was named one of the Best Lawyers in Houston by H Magazine in 2018. His broad-based legal experience includes presiding as a municipal court judge of the City of Houston, a state district judge of the 269 (Civil) and 309 (Family) District Courts, and serving as assistant attorney general for the State of Texas and briefing clerk for the Honorable Judge Ingraham, Federal District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. He has extensive experience in civil trials involving complex litigation as well as representation of parties in difficult family law cases.

Mr. Zimmerman is one of the most active mediators and arbitrators in Harris County, Texas and his Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) experience includes business, health law, construction, commercial, tort, employment, intellectual property (including patent, trademark, and copyright), probate, oil and gas and family law cases. He also received from the State Bar of Texas – ADR Section, the Frank Evans Award, as the outstanding ADR Professional in 2016 for his dedicated service to the profession. Within his practice he also serves as a Special Judge for hire, Special Master and Ad Litem. Judge Zimmerman has participated in over 500 arbitrations and 3,000 mediations in his career.

Mr. Zimmerman was awarded the Frank G. Evans Mediator of the Year Award by the Center for Legal Responsibility at South Texas College of Law. Mr. Zimmerman was recognized as the outstanding adjunct professor by a local law school. He served on the board of directors of a national bank and was counsel to and on the board of directors of a New York Stock Exchange company.

Mr. Zimmerman has been active in many charitable organizations. In May 2000, Mr. Zimmerman received the Anti-Defamation League’s Karen Susman Jurisprudence Award, which is presented annually to the outstanding attorney whose legal career has exemplified outstanding service to the community and the profession. Mr. Zimmerman received the University of Houston Distinguished Alumni Award in April 2009. University of Houston Distinguished Alumni Awards are given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in their field of endeavor and whose accomplishments have brought credit to the university. Just over 100 alumni have received this honor.

Areas of Practice

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Arbitration, Umpire, Special Judge - International Arbitrations
  • Civil Litigation
  • Estate Planning, Probate, Trust and Estate Administration
  • Family Law

Education and Qualifications

  • University of Houston, B.S., 1964
  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1967 (Editor, Law Review)
  • Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Certified Advanced Mediator – Association of Attorney Mediators (Texas Mediators Coordination Association)
  • Qualified as an Impartial Third Party Neutral in disputes relating to parent-child relationships under Section 154.052(b) of the Texas Civil Practice And Remedies Code

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court – Southern District

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • University of Houston Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • International Academy of Mediators
  • College of Commercial Arbitrators
  • College of International Arbitrators
  • Former President and Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Mediators
  • Member American Arbitration Association
  • CPR Complex Litigation Panels
  • Former Chair of the Family Law Section of the Houston Bar Association
  • Former Chair of the ADR Section of the Houston Bar Association
  • Former Vice President of the Houston Bar Foundation
  • Former President of University of Houston Law Foundation and Emeritus Director
  • Director and Chair, University of Houston Foundation
  • Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
  • Director and Former Chair, Southwest Region Anti-Defamation League
  • Named one of the Best Lawyers in America for 2005 – 2020 by BL Rankings
  • Recipient, Distinguished Alumnus Award for the University of Houston
  • Recipient, Frank Evans award for “Outstanding Mediator in Texas”
  • Named one of the Best Lawyers in Houston by H Magazine for 2018
  • Named a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service, from 2003-2020
  • Selected to Membership in LawDragon
  • Former Chair, University of Houston Law Foundation
  • Member of Complex Litigation Panel – American Arbitration Association
  • Named an AV Preeminent® Top Rated Lawyer in Family Law by Martindale Hubbell for 2018

 

 

See Library Tab for articles, publications and presentations by Alvin Zimmerman

News

  • Alvin L. Zimmerman has been elected Chair of the State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and also Chair of the Houston Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.

Publications

  • See information in “New Law on Lawsuits” regarding recently enacted Texas legislation HB 274.

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