Joe Paulk's legal career has encompassed over 100 jury trials as lead counsel, and over 4,000 mediations throughout the United States, including serving as a Class Action/MDL Settlement Claims Administrator in various complex insurance and medical device matters. He has been honored by his peers with a Martindale-Hubbell "AV" Preeminent Rating, selected as a SuperLawyer every year since its inception in 2006, inducted into the International Academy of Mediators in 2015, listed in the International Who's Who Legal in 2013 & 2014, and listed in Chambers & Partners US Law 2011-2019.

Paulk holds specialized mediation training through Harvard University, Pepperdine University and the American Law Institute. He is a founding member of the dispute resolution section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He has also been a national speaker, an adjunct professor of law, and the author of numerous published articles on negotiation and mediation.

Education

• University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, AR - Juris Doctor, 1982

• Washington & Lee University School of Law, Lexington, VA - Juris Doctorate Program, 1981

• University of Arkansas College of Business, Fayetteville, AR - Bachelor of Science in Banking & Finance, 1978

Bar Admissions / Approved Appointments

• Admitted to practice before all Colorado state district and appellate courts, 2018

• Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. 1996

• Approved Panel Member of Mediators, Western District Federal Court of Oklahoma, 1992

• Adjunct Federal Settlement Judge, Northern District Federal Court of Oklahoma, 1992

• Admitted to practice before the Eastern, Northern & Western Federal District Courts of

  Oklahoma and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1987

• Admitted to practice before all Oklahoma state district and appellate courts, 1983

Professional Affiliations and Honors

• International Academy of Mediators (IAM)

  • Distinguished Fellow 2015 - Present

• Martindale-Hubbel

  • “AV” Preeminent Rating

• SuperLawyers, Alternative Dispute Resolution

  • Top Oklahoma Lawyer Rating 2006-2019

• The International Who’s Who of Commercial Mediation

  • Listed 2013-2014

• Chambers & Partners, US Law - Best Attorneys

  • Tier 1, 2011-2019

  • Tier 2, 2010

• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

  • Advocate, 1994 - Present

• American College of Civil Trial Mediators

  • Editorial Board, 2006 - 2010

  • National Board of Directors, 1999 - 2002

  • National Fellow, 1997 - 2015

• American Inns of Court

  • W. Lee Johnson Chapter - Barrister

• American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC)

  • Member 2006 - 2016

• Association of Attorney-Mediators (AAM)

  • Member 2014 - Present

• Chickasaw Nation Bar Association

  • Member, 2008 - Present

• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

  • Diplomat Member 2016-Present

• Colorado Bar Association

  • Member 2019

• Oklahoma Bar Association

  • Dispute Resolution Committee, Vice Chairman 2001 - 2003

  • Regular speaker for the OBA’s Continuing Legal Education Seminars, 1989 - Present

  • Member, 1982 - Present

• Oklahoma County Bar Association

  • Member, 2003 - Present

• Oklahoma Bar Foundation

  • Fellow

• Tulsa County Bar Association

  • Professional Responsibility Committee, 1993 - 2005

  • Member, 1982 - Present

Teaching Positions

• University of Tulsa School of Law, 2000 - 2010

  • Course: Mediation

  • Course: Client Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiations

• University of Arkansas School of Law, 2000

  • Course: Mediation

Dispute Resolution - Training and Speaking Engagements

• IAM 2019 Fall Conference

  • International Academy of Mediators, Scottsdale, AZ - November 2019

• NADN 2019 Advanced Mediation Training Retreat

  • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Seattle, WA - September 2019

• IAM 2017 Fall Conference

  • National Academy of Mediators, Austin, TX - November 2017

• AAM 2017 Fall Conference - Speaker

  • Association of Attorney-Mediators, Dallas, TX - September 2017

• NADN 2017 Advanced Mediation Training Retreat

  • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Toronto, ON - August 2017

• IAM 2016 Fall Conference - International Academy of Mediators

  • Vancouver, BC - September 2016

• IAM 2015 Spring Conference

  • International Academy of Mediators, San Francisco, CA - May 2015

• "What Do Our Clients Value?" - Speaker

  • Association of Attorney Mediators Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, May 2015

• Advanced Mediator Training, 2014 Fall Conference

  • International Academy of Mediators, Chicago, IL - October 2014

• Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training and Annual Meeting

  • Association of Attorney-Mediators, Atlanta, GA – April 2014

• Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training -”The Magic of Mediation”

  • Association of Attorney-Mediators, Dallas, TX - September 2014

• “Have We Become An Advocate System Without Advocates?” - Speaker

  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa, OK – May 2011

  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma City, OK – May 2011

• “The Advocate’s Role in Mediation” - Speaker

  • Oklahoma Attorney General Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK – April 2008

• Advanced Mediation Training

  • American College of Civil Trail Mediators, Colorado Springs, CO, July - 2007

• “Mediation Advocacy Skills” - Speaker

  • Trial Arbitration Mediation SErvices, Seattle, WA - April 2006

  • Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association, Las Vegas, NV – June 2004

• “Building A Case For Settlement” - Speaker

  • Trial Arbitration Mediation Services, Seattle, WA – April 2006

  • Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association, Las Vegas, NV – June 2004

• Preparing For The Next Frontier, “How To Use Structured Settlement” – Speaker

  • The Texas Association of Mediators, Dallas, TX – February 2005

• “Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” - Speaker

  • Tulsa County Bar Association, Tulsa, OK – November 2004

• “Insider Tips To Resolving Cases” - Speaker

  • NCMIC Defense Counsel Seminar, Las Vegas, NV – October 2004

• “Observations On Successful Business and Commercial Mediations” - Speaker

  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa, OK – March 2004

• Advanced Mediation Training, The Masters Forum, Straus Institute For Dispute Resolution

  • Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA – 2002

• “What Is Mediation?” - Speaker

  • Tulsa Association of Petroleum Landmen, Tulsa, OK – April 2003

  • Brookside Lions Club, Tulsa, OK – November 2002

• “Learning How To Hammer – Negotiating To Win” - Facilitated CLE Seminar

  • Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Muskogee, OK – January 2003

  • Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Broken Arrow, OK – September 2002

  • Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Broken Arrow, OK – June 2002

• “Civil and Commercial Mediation Training” - Facilitated CLE Seminar

  • Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Tulsa, OK – April 2003

  • Tulsa County Bar Association, Tulsa, OK – April 2002

• Advanced Mediation Training

  • American College of Civil Trail Mediators, Ashville, NC – October 2002

• Family and Divorce Mediation Training

  • The Mediation Institute, Oklahoma City, OK – June 2001

• “Mediation & Worker’s Compensation Disputes” - Speaker

  • McGivern, Gilliard & Curthoys Annual Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK – 2001

  • McGivern, Gilliard & Curthoys Annual Meeting, Tulsa, OK – 2001

• “Making It As A Mediator” - Speaker

  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma City, OK – 2000

• “Persuasion & Mediation” - Speaker

  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa, OK – 2000

  • Oklahoma Claims Association, Tulsa, OK – 2000

• The Business Of A Mediation Practice: making a Living as an ADR Neutral

  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma City, OK – 2000

• Dispute Resolution Training, The Masters Forum, Straus Institute For Dispute Resolution

  • Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA – 2000

• “The Business Of Mediation” - Speaker

  • American Bar Association, San Francisco, CA – 2000

  • American Bar Association, Boston, MA – 1999

• “Ethics And The Role Of The Mediator”

  • Tulsa County Bar Association, Tulsa, OK, 1998

• “Litigating In Binding Arbitration” - Speaker

  • Tulsa County Bar Association, Tulsa, OK, 1998

• Program of Instruction for Lawyers - Advanced Negotiations

  • Harvard University, Cambridge, MA – 1998 & 1996

  • Harvard University, Cambridge, MA – 1996

• Advanced Mediation Training

  • Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA – 1997

• Adjunct Settlement Judge Training

  • United States District Court Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK, 1995

• Advanced Mediation / Arbitration Training

  • American Law Institute, New York, NY, 1994

• Basic Mediation Training

  • Mediation Institute, Oklahoma City, OK, 1993

Articles / Publications

• Tulsa Lawyer - December 2016 - "Negotiating in Shifting Sand"

• OCBA Briefcase - July 2014 - "Effective Mediation Statements -- A Lost Opportunity for Advocacy"

• Tulsa Lawyer - April 2009 - "Good Faith Participation In Mediation: I Know It When I See It"

• Tulsa Lawyer - December 2007 - "The Power Of First Impressions"

• Tulsa Lawyer - February 2007- "Stand Up Straight – Your Mother Was Right"

• Tulsa Lawyer - January 2007 - "Four Legged Stress Reliever"

• Tulsa Lawyer - November 2004 - "Witness Preparation & How It Can Help You!"

• The Journal Record (Featured) - October 2003 - "Paulk Marks Decade of Dispute Resolution"

• Tulsa Lawyer - October 2003 - "Putting It All Together"

• Tulsa Lawyer - February 2003 - "Focus Groups/Mock Trials - Dressed For Success"

• Tulsa Lawyer - December 2002 - "Lawyering And Leadership"

• Tulsa Lawyer - October 2002 - "Negotiating With Ethics"

• Tulsa Lawyer - September 2002 - "I Knew Better! Attorney/Client Negotiations"

• Tulsa Lawyer - August 2001 - "Persuasive Communication in Negotiation"

• Tulsa Law Journal – Summer 2001 - "Essay / Why Mediation Works"

• Tulsa Law Journal – Winter 2000 - "Practitioner’s Guide / So You Want To Be a Mediator?"

• Tulsa Lawyer - April 2000 - "Avoid These Common Mediation Pitfalls"

• Oklahoma Family Magazine - February 2000 - "Mediation: A Better Mouse Trap"

• Tulsa Lawyer - December 1999 - "The Best And Worst Negotiation Techniques"

• Tulsa Lawyer – March 1998 - "Mediation: Tool Or Threat"