Houston Regional Chapter
Co-Chair: Andrew Edelman, Senior Counsel, Disputes, LyondellBasell
Co-Chair: Erich Almonte, Litigation Partner, King & Spalding
Co-Chair: Erich Almonte, Litigation Partner, King & Spalding
Connecting and growing the Houston ADR community!
After many years of convening Houston Regional Meetings, in October 2025, the CPR Institute officially launched its Houston Regional Chapter, with the goal of providing a forum for CPR and its members who are based or practicing principally in the Houston metro area to:
- Discuss current developments in dispute management in the region;
- Convene the local ADR community for networking and knowledge sharing;
- Promote the mission of CPR and its Dispute Resolution Services, Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, and other activities.
The Houston Regional Chapter is led by the Houston Advisory Board (HAB):
- Erich Almonte of King & Spalding (Co-Chair)
- Andrew Edelman of LyondellBasell (Co-Chair)
- Dan Bolia of ExxonMobil
- Micah Hawkins of Fluor Corporation
- Max Klupchack of Latham & Watkins
- Louie Layrisson of Baker Botts
- Michael Mazzone of Haynes Boone
- Denton Nichols of Norton Rose Fulbright [HOLD until he officially accepts his invitation, should happen very soon]
- Lindsey Raspino of ConocoPhillips
- Will Russell of Reed Smith
Upcoming Meeting:
Date: Tuesday, June 9 at Baker Botts Houston. Time and topic TBA.
Past Meetings:
January 21, 2026 - Achieving Efficiency in Arbitration
Hosted in collaboration with CPR Institute’s Energy, Oil, and Gas Alliance, this 9th annual January Houston Regional Meeting featured speakers Ulyana Bardyn, Independent Arbitrator, Alberto Ravell of ConocoPhillips, Will Russell of Reed Smith, Doak Bishop, Independent Domestic and International Arbitrator, and Mia Levi of CPR Dispute Resolution Services, in a candid discussion about practical strategies for designing and managing arbitral proceedings to ensure prompt, cost-effective, and fair resolution;
insights into calibrating procedure to the needs of individual disputes; and the range of tools available to enhance efficiency throughout the arbitral process.
October 23, 2025 - Launch Event: From Policy to Practice: Legal Counsel on Managing Tariff Risks
Panelists Suzana Blades of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Pablo Lopez Zadicoff of Compass Lexecon, Stephen P. Vaughn of King & Spalding, Nick Barnaby, of General Dynamics Corporation, and Franklin Ortiz, of Airbus Services Americas explored ways in which companies can use dispute resolution and prevention strategies to navigate tariff-related risks and maintain business continuity. The CPR Institute thanks Compass Lexecon for sponsoring the Inaugural Houston Regional Chapter Meeting!
To learn more about the Houston Regional Chapter or membership in CPR Institute, please visit the Membership Benefits website page or e-mail Elizabeth Merrill, Director of Membership, at emerrill@cpradr.org.