Mediator Albert Tetrault Attends Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association Convention on Behalf of Upchurch Watson White & Max

Mediation Counsel Albert "Al" Tetrault

AUSTIN, Texas (July 15, 2016) -- Albert R. Tetrault, the newest addition to Upchurch Watson White & Max's panel of dispute resolution specialists, is attending the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association Summer Convention here this week on behalf of the Florida- and Alabama-based mediation group.

“We are excited about bringing Al’s broad experience and expertise to the firm for the benefit of our clientele in the aviation arena,” said John J. Upchurch, founding principal and CEO of UWWM. Mr. Tetrault, a resident of Palm Coast, Fla., and several of the group's other mediators -- including but not limited to Mr. Upchurch, Rodney A. Max, Richard Lord, William "Bill" Zei, Ricardo J. Cata, Arthur J. Hanes Jr., Lawrence Kolin and Shelley H. Leinicke -- will join forces to firmly establish its aviation practice area and develop a deep reservoir of knowledge about mediating aviation and related matters.

These efforts formally begin with the convention, whose continuing legal education program runs through Saturday and includes programs such as “Aviation Claims – A Different Focus” and “Grant Assurance Contract Compliance for General Aviation Airports” presented by attorney-experts from throughout the U.S.

For his part, Mr. Tetrault's aviation history started with his military service in Vietnam. He was a commander of C-130 aircraft transports for the U.S. Air Force and earned the Bronze Star and five Air Medals as a C-123 pilot. Several of his recent and current pursuits have grown from that service; as an attorney, he represented veterans in their appeals before the Veterans Administration and in their disability appeals with the Social Security Administration. His practice with veterans led to advocating for clients seeking bankruptcy protection. Also, he is an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Legal Services Plan panel attorney.

As a pilot and flight instructor, Mr. Tetrault, who owned and operated an A-36 Bonanza plane, has flown over 6,500 hours. He is known not only for his aviation-related endeavors but also for his entrpreneurial pursuits. He built a successful career in the computer industry, beginning as a sales representative with IBM and ending as CEO of an early-stage Internet company. He managed field operations for Fortune 100 companies and start-ups, including one in Russia.

Within the legal community nearer his home, he is familiar as a former director of the Volusia County Bar Association and current secretary and board member of the Flagler County Bar Association. Mr. Tetrault, who led an independent firm focused on civil and appellate mediation in Palm Coast just prior to joining UWWM, likes to share his philosophy of mediation within any practice area:

"Mediation is an indispensable approach to dispute resolution," he says. He is unafraid to challenge a party’s claim or defense in caucus while seeking a settlement. "Self-determination is the rule in mediation; the parties control the discussion and results. Furthermore, because of the confidentiality rules of the mediation process, the parties cannot use the mediation conference discussion in subsequent litigation, which the parties can pursue if mediation results in impasse."

Anyone interested in further information about, or in scheduling a mediation with, Mr. Tetrault is asked to call his case manager, Mary Lou Struble at 800-264-2622.

About Upchurch Watson White & Max

A nationally leading mediation specialty firm, Upchurch Watson White & Max is known for facilitating reasonable agreements to resolve complex issues. From eight offices in Florida and Alabama, Supreme Court certified attorney mediators with wide-ranging specialties serve as court-appointed and privately employed mediators, arbitrators and third-party neutral case managers, implementing innovative methods of alternative dispute resolution across the country. On the Web: uww-adr.com

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