John Dewey Watson
Phone: 501.376.2121 or 501.804.4131
Email: johndeweywatson@me.com
To schedule: please call 501.376.2121
Dewey Watson practiced law for thirty-nine years with Arkansas’ largest firm, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, as a trial lawyer. Currently, he is a full-time mediator with ADR, Inc. Throughout his career as a trial lawyer, he tried a wide variety of cases before juries, judges, and arbitrators throughout the State of Arkansas. He is a bronze star recipient for service in Vietnam and a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Since 1990, Dewey has had extensive training as a mediator and has mediated cases concerning medical malpractice, automobile accidents, premises liability, property disputes, commercial construction, residential construction, franchise rights, and domestic relations. Dewey is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes through principled negotiation. If negotiation fails, he believes that arbitration is a fair, confidential, speedy, and economical forum for final resolution of disputes.
Education
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law, 1970
B.S. in Political Science, Ouachita Baptist College, 1963
Work History
Mediator, ADR, Inc., 2010- Present
Hearing Officer, Contractors Licensing Board, 1990- Present
Smith, Williams, Friday & Bowen (now Friday, Eldredge & Clark) 1971-2010
Law Clerk, Associate Justice Lyle Brown on the Arkansas Supreme Court, 1970 to 1971
United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1967-1992, Colonel
United States Marine Corps, 1963-1967, Captain
Mediation/Arbitration Training
American Arbitration Association
Construction Ind. Mediator Training, 18 hours.
American Arbitration Association
Advanced Construction Ind. Mediator Training, 12.75 hours.
American Arbitration Association
Comprehensive Skill Building, 12 hours.
Professional Affiliations
Member, Arkansas Bar Association, 1970 - Present
Awarded the Continuing Legal Education Award for Outstanding Contributions
Organized construction law section of the Arkansas Bar Association
Awarded the Presidential Award of Excellence
Contributing Author to Legal Texts:
State-By-State Analysis of Legal Issues Affecting Architects, Engineering,
Contractors, and Owners, Aspen Law & Business, 2006
State-By-State Guide to Architect, engineer and Contractor Licensing, Aspen Law &
Business, 1999 with annual updated supplements
Fifty State Monograph on the Enforceability of “No Damages for Delay Clauses”,
American Bar Association, 1998
Member, Pulaski County Bar Association, 1970 - Present
Recipient of President’s Award
