Steve Groom

Rates and Fees
Neutral Information

Overview

Steve Groom

Steve Groom was introduced to mediation in Florida in the late ’80s while serving as general counsel in the SunTrust Banks system. Since then, he has participated in over 2,300 mediations and arbitrations, either as a neutral or an advocate. Steve is a Rule 31 Mediator in Tennessee and has mediated complex business and commercial disputes, personal injury cases, franchise disputes, medical negligence cases, civil rights matters, contract disputes, and more. His business mediations have included partnership dissolutions, disputes between physician practice groups, and disputes between real estate developers. In the mid-’90s, Steve served on a committee of the United States District Court to provide recommendations about introducing mediation to the Middle District of Tennessee federal courts.

In 2005, Steve served as both an inaugural board member and an adjunct faculty member, teaching mediation and negotiation, at the Lipscomb University Institute for Conflict Management. Steve continues to serve as a mediation coach for the institute’s Rule 31 mediator training. He was also recently asked to judge the ABA Regional Law School Mediation competition.

Steve began his legal career primarily doing trial work, including personal injury, banking litigation, class action matters, and approximately 40 criminal cases by court appointment. Steve went on to serve as general counsel for five different companies, including four publicly traded companies (a Fortune 300 company, a Fortune 1000 company, and other public companies), as well as a private entrepreneurial company. He has also practiced law with three prominent regional law firms.

Admitted to Practice

Tennessee, 1980
United States District Court, Western District, 1980
United States District Court, Middle District, 1999

Education

University of Memphis Law School, J.D. 1980
- Member and Author, Law Review
- Moot Court
Lipscomb University, 1973
- Intercollegiate Scholarship Athlete, Track & Cross Country

Executive Education

Harvard University Law School – Mediation & Negotiation, 2006-2016
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania – Negotiation, 2007
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Negotiation, 2006

Professional or Trade Affiliations

American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section
Tennessee Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section
Nashville Bar Association
Association for Conflict Resolution
Mediate.com
Society of Human Resource Management
Association of Workplace Investigators
American Health Law Association
International Association of Privacy Professionals
Family Business Consulting Group
National Association of Corporate Directors
Private Directors Association

Honors & Awards

Best of the Bar, Nashville Business Journal (multiple years)

Publications

Co-Author of a Chapter in Thompson Reuters 5 volume treatise Successful Partnering Between inside and Outside Counsel, 2013

Speaking Engagements

Teaching Negotiation in the Organization, presented to various companies, over 30 years.
Developing Conflict Competent Organizations, over 15 years.
The Importance of High-Quality, Collaborative Decision-Making, over 10 years.

Representative Experience

Dispute among real estate developers. During the intake process, the partners characterized the matter as a “business dissolution”. The mediation focused on helping the partners realize the significant financial and reputational value that the real estate project represented to each of them, and so the focus shifted to the partners investing their time and efforts identifying ways to resolve their issues and work together to realize the project value. The discussions established better communication about the partner’s differences, and created processes to ensure more respectful, collaborative decision-making regarding the project.
Dispute among members of a physician’s practice group. The issues involved included lack of communication and a failure to appreciate and value the relative contributions of the members. The newer members believed they were doing more than their share of the work; the founding members believed the newer members did not appreciate nor value their efforts to create and build the practice. The focus of the mediation was to create better dialogue and understanding of the members’ contributions and to create a more “conflict-competent” practice environment.
A medical negligence case which, in addition to liability issues, involved insurance coverage and participation issues, quality-of-life valuations, and physician reporting obligations.

Community Involvement

Men of Valor, a Prison Ministry – teaching conflict management skills to formerly incarcerated individuals, using the Conflict Dynamic Profile ™.
Davis House Child Advocacy Center, an advocacy center for children who have been sexually or significantly physically abused – conducted Board Leadership Retreat, and currently advise on Strategic Planning, Capital Campaign, and other initiatives.
American Cancer Society – former Board member.
Lipscomb University College of Business – current Board of Advisors; former Adjunct Faculty member, teaching Business Law, Introduction to Entrepreneurship (guest Lecturer), and The Regulatory Environment of Business (MBA program).
Lipscomb University Institute for Conflict Management – inaugural Board member, former Adjunct Faculty member teaching mediation, negotiation, and conflict management courses.

Rates and Fees

Rates - Steve Groom

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

Nashville Rates
2 Party Case: $250 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $225 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $200 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $500

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
Nashville Mediation Admin Fee - $200 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $500. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.