Mediation Services for Houston, Texas
Raley Law provides mediation services to parties and counsel in Houston and the surrounding region. Sessions are held virtually or in person at the firm's Galleria mediation suite.
Raley Law is a two-partner firm. John W. Raley III, a Texas trial lawyer since 1986 and 2026 President of the ABOTA Houston Chapter, serves as the firm's certified mediator. Partner Kelly W. Raley, a former Vinson & Elkins attorney, anchors the firm's trial practice.
Who We Serve
In-House Counsel
Plaintiffs' Counsel
Defense Counsel I
Appellate Counsel
Co-Counsel & Pro Hac Vice Counsel
Insurance Coverage Counsel
SERVING HOUSTON, TX
Where Raley Law sits in the Houston market.
Houston is one of the country's most active commercial litigation venues. Harris County's state district courts and the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division both refer civil matters to mediation under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 154.
Raley Law operates from a dedicated mediation suite in the Galleria area, convenient to downtown courthouses, the Texas Medical Center, and the Energy Corridor.
38+
Years of trial experience. John W. Raley III has been a first-chair Texas trial lawyer since 1986, with nearly 40 jury verdicts and over 200 mediations as lead counsel before becoming a neutral.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Two senior partners. Trial-tested, Houston-anchored.
THE FIRM
John W. Raley III is the firm's certified mediator. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the 2026 President of its Houston Chapter. He has briefed and argued before the Texas Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit, and the Federal Circuit, and has been listed as a Texas Monthly Super Lawyer continuously since 2003.
Kelly W. Raley is John's partner in the firm and a trial attorney in her own right. She is a former Vinson & Elkins associate and holds an LL.M. in Health Law from the University of Houston Law Center, a credential that underwrites the firm's depth in professional liability and medical malpractice matters. While John is the neutral on every mediation, Kelly supports the practice with the firm's litigation perspective and serves as a second point of contact for engaging counsel.
The husband-and-wife partnership is by design. Two senior partners, aligned incentives, no handoffs to associates, and continuity from first call to mediation day.
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Contract, fraud, trade secrets, upstream and midstream disputes
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Legal and medical malpractice, both sides. Health Law LL.M. on the team.
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Patent, copyright, trade secret, and licensing
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Serious injury, products liability, industrial accident
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Commercial construction, design-professional, and real estate disputes
PRACTICE CATEGORIES
Raley Law does not handle family law or divorce mediation.The Process:
From first call to mediation day.
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01
Initial Contact
Counsel for either party contacts the firm to propose dates and identify the matter
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02
Conflict Check
The firm runs a confidential neutrality check against parties, counsel, and material witnesses.
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03
Pre-Mediation Submissions
Counsel exchange confidential statements describing the dispute, positions, and key documents.
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4
Mediation Day
Joint opening, separate caucuses, and shuttle diplomacy until resolution or impasse.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Houston mediation, answered.
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Yes. Both forums refer civil matters to mediation under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 154. John accepts referrals from both, as well as ad hoc engagements scheduled directly by counsel.
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Commercial and energy disputes, professional liability (legal and medical malpractice), intellectual property, personal injury, products liability, construction, and complex civil matters. The firm does not handle family law or divorce mediation.
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At Raley Law's dedicated mediation suite at 1717 Saint James Place, Suite 320, in the Galleria area of Houston. Convenient to downtown Harris County courthouses, the Texas Medical Center, and the Energy Corridor.
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Yes. Virtual sessions are the default for matters where counsel and parties value the time and travel savings. Hybrid sessions, with some parties in-person and others remote, are also available.
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Contact the firm at (713) 429-8055 or john@johnraleylaw.com. The firm runs a conflict check; if clear, the date is confirmed and confidential pre-mediation submissions are exchanged before the session.
Request a Houston mediation date.
Counsel for either party, or for both parties jointly. All inquiries are handled by John or Kelly Raley personally.
DIRECT LINE
(713) 429-8055
GALLERIA MEDIATION SUITE
1717 Saint James Place, Suite 320
Houston, Texas 77056
What Happens Next
A direct conversation with John or Kelly Raley, not an intake routed through a marketing pipeline. The firm runs a confidential conflict check; if clear, dates and fees are proposed. Pre-mediation submissions are exchanged on a confidential schedule before the session.
Inquiries do not establish a mediator-party or attorney-client relationship. Please do not share confidential matter details until the conflict check has cleared.Past Results. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future outcomes. References to verdicts, recognitions, or career experience reflect work performed by John W. Raley III over the course of his career, including before the founding of Raley Law (John Raley & Associates, PLLC) in February 2023.
Attorney Advertising. This page is attorney advertising under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. John W. Raley III is the attorney responsible for the content of this communication. Principal office: 1717 Saint James Place, Suite 320, Houston, Texas 77056.
Specialization. Neither John W. Raley III nor Kelly W. Raley is certified as a specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in any practice area. John W. Raley III is a certified mediator.