Angela Downes, Esq., joins JAMS in Dallas as a neutral after a distinguished career as a mediator, educator and attorney. As a professor of practice and assistant director of experiential education at the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, Professor Downes develops and manages the law school’s clinical mediation programs, connecting students with underserved clients throughout the city.

Prior to joining the university, Professor Downes’ practice included policy and legislative work in the areas of criminal justice, interpersonal violence, and child abuse and protection. She is a recognized subject matter expert in interpersonal violence issues, providing training, policy advice and technical assistance to nonprofit agencies and state and local government officials.

Professor Downes is an innovative and critical thinker committed to using creative solutions to resolve disputes.

Representative Matters

• Business Commercial
• Mediated and settled a dispute between a homeowners association (HOA) and homeowners regarding violations of HOA provisions
• Mediated and settled highly volatile contract dispute between parties with vendors and after dissolution of marriage engagement
• Mediated complex business dissolution between former business entities in longtime commercial business
• Mediated breach of contract disputes between entities using expertise to evaluate legal arguments and evidence concerning contract and facilitating a resolution between the parties
• As an advocate, facilitated resolution of disputes with Native American and First Nations in negotiation of agreements involving contract issues and governmental agencies
• Pre-suit review of case between fortune 500 company and municipality
• Employment Law
• Mediated and cases under Title VII involving claims for wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination
• Mediated a dispute between executive leadership, achieving resolution of personal and professional issues to ensure continuity of business operations.
• Mediated numerous EEOC matters between employees and an event planning corporate entity
• Mediated countless disputes between employers and employees to create a more efficient and productive work environment
• Facilitated clawback actions to recover compensation tied to contractual provisions in employment contracts
• Facilitated separation agreements for a large international corporate entity and employees
• Mediated cases involving claims for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour violation
• Mediated and arbitrated wide range of employment matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace-related injury, employment agreement, and theft of trade secret disputes
• Family Law
• Served as a neutral in high-conflict family law matters, handling dissolution, property and asset division, custody arrangements, and pre- and post-marital contract disputes
• Mediated family law disputes for high-net-worth individuals, achieving equitable resolutions in complex cases
• Health Care
• Mediator for the Texas Department of Insurance balanced billing program for matters involving providers and health plans
• Medical and legal professional negligence claimsHealthcare, inclusing nursing home negligence claims and physician  / hospital contract disputes
• Multi-party mediations and arbitrations involving healthcare issues including hospitals, surgery centers , home healthcare; and long term care 
• Higher Education, Title IX and Special Education
• Served as a Title IX hearing officer for a university sexual assault and discrimination case
• Special Education Mediator for Texas Education Agency, mediating 504, IEP and due process matters between school districts and parents
• Directed a small claims mediation clinic, mediating cases for Justice of the Peace courts in Dallas-Fort Worth and Collin County areas
• Designed and facilitated peer mediation programs and mediator training for the Dallas Independent School District
• Insurance
• Mediated settlements on various types of bodily injury cases arising from negligence
• Arbitrated case involving health care organization and employee regarding adherence to company policy
• Mediated and resolved complex family law matters resulting in creative custody agreement and division of property

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Regulatory and Licensing Agency), 2008–2023
• Member, Executive Board, Texas Violent Gang Task Force, 2001–2004
• Member, Alumni Board of Directors, Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan School of Law)
• Member, The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Dallas Bar Association
• Member, Board of Trustees, Greenhill School
• Vice President, Executive Board, Greenhill School Alumni Association
• Member, Disciplinary Board, Texas Medical Board
• Board Member, Texas Mediator Credentialing Association, 2020–2023

Admissions

• United States Supreme Court
• Northern District of Texas
• State Bar of Texas

Selected Awards and Honors

• Credentialed Distinguished Mediator, Texas Mediator Credentialing Association
• Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas, d-mars.com, 2025
• Faculty Senate Award, Excellence in Service Award, UNT Dallas, 2022
• North Texas Business and Professional Women’s League, Inc., 2018
• Women’s History Awardees
• Distinguished Alumni, Texas Wesleyan School of Law, 2010

Selected Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, “Hot Topic: Mass Arbitration--Heckman v. Live Nation,” CPR Speaks, November 2024
•  “Vicarious Trauma,” Association of Attorney-Mediators, Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training & Fall CLE Seminar, November 2024 
• Moderator, “Ethics and Best Practices for Family Law Attorneys in Preventing Firearm Violence,” American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Violence, June 2024
• Panelist, “Discussing Coinbase's #SCOTUS Arbitration Return,” CPR Speaks, November 2023
• Panelist, “#SCOTUS Preview: The Limits of the Federal Arbitration Act's Exemption from ADR,” CPR Speaks, October 2023
• “Lawyers and Vicarious Trauma,” Pittsburg Legal Services, March 2023
• “The New Mediator Series,” Texas Mediator Credentialing Association Lunch and Learn, February 2023
• Supreme Court Arbitration Review, Mediate.com, August 2022
• “Civil Discourse and Mediation,” Tarrant County Bar Association, June 2022
• “Civil Discourse Strategies for the 21st Century Lawyer,” Texas Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, May 2022
• Panelist, “Schein II: Argument in Review,” CPR Speaks, December 2020
• “It’s Intergenerational: The Differences Within Ourselves,” Texas Mediator Credentialing Association, Houston, October 2019
• “Implicit Bias, Microaggressions and Mediations,” Texas Association of Mediators, Dallas, September 2019
• “The Culturally Competent Mediator,” Dallas County Dispute Mediation Services, July 2019

Background and Education

• University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, 2015–2023
• Professor of Practice
• Assistant Director of Experiential Education
• City of Irving
• Associate Municipal Judge
• City of Glenn Heights, Texas, 2015–2023
• Associate Municipal Judge
• Angela Downes LLP, 2014–2015
• Attorney and Mediator
• Vera Institute of Justice, 2012–2014
• Senior Policy Associate
• National District Attorneys Association, National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse, 2010–2012
• Senior Attorney
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 2004–2009
• Attorney, Court Programs
• Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
• Prosecutor, 1999–2004
• Institute of Police Technology and Management
• J.D., Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan University School of Law)
• B.A., Mercer University