About Mediator | Trainer Clay Phillips

Clay Phillips Mediation & Training 

is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

Clay served in the US Navy as a Cryptologic Direct Support Operator from 1984 to 1990. He deployed in that role to six surface and subsurface combatants, and one Joint Task Force Command.

He was qualified (SS) as a Submarine Warfare Specialist, and was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (with "O" device), Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Ribbon, Navy Rifle & Pistol Expert Marksmanship Medals, and various Flag Letters of Commendation.

Clay is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil & Family Mediator (Specially Trained in Domestic Violence Issues). He is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family, Circuit Civil, and  Appellate Mediator (#37581 FRA), and has been admitted as a Registered Mortgage Modification Mediator for the US Bankruptcy Court in the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and a Florida Supreme Court Approved Arbitrator.

Since 2008, he has been an approved Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator Trainer, and an approved CLE Provider by the Tennessee Commission for Continuing Legal Education & Specialization.

Clay holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration from Liberty University, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University.

Since 2008, Clay has trained and mentored:

• Hundreds of mediators
• Thousands in soft skills development
• 30+ individual professionals (1 on 1) transitioning to a career in mediation

Since 2009 Clay has authored/offered: 

• More than 120 Soft Skills workshops and courses (live & online).
• Hundreds of CLE/CME topics for Bar Association lunch-and-learns.
• Seven books (two currently published) on the topics of mediation, conflict resolution, negotiation, interrogation,  strategic communication, conflict brain mapping, and cognitive behavior modification.

Clay has mediated hundreds of cases spanning a broad range of civil disputes and lawsuits, including:

• Contracts
• Collections
• Wrongful Discharge
• Intellectual Property
• Products Liability
• Real Estate Transactions
• Home Owner Associations
• Divorce & Post-Divorce
• Parenting Planning

His main strengths as a mediator include his in-depth and practiced understanding of human needs and behavior in times of conflict and crisis, and his ability to help transform the parties' behavior toward the point of reaching resolution.

He is also a pioneer in the field of remote/virtual mediation. Many cases are well-suited for remote/virtual mediation either because the parties cannot easily attend in person, or it would unsafe for certain parties to be in close proximity of the other (Intellectual Property, Mortgage Modification, Military Divorce, Domestic Violence). 

Clay is a highly sought after and dynamic key note speaker, conference presenter, and workshop instructor. His subject matter expertise in human behavior and motivation along with his engaging presentation style make for informative and fun learning experiences.

His top presentations include:

• “The Human Conflict Condition” The 3-Dimensions of the Human Conflict Experience determine why, how and where we experience and resolve conflict.
• “Conflict Brain Mapping” Conflict isn’t in your mind, but it is all in your brain. Key regions of the brain work with and against each other to cause and resolve conflict.
• "Taking the Lead in Professional Relationships" Like personal relationships, team sports and dancing, our professional relationships rely on someone taking the lead. Knowing how to take the lead is an art.
• “What Do You Look Like… To Others?” Everything we say and do influences others... all day, every day. Are you influencing others effectively?

"Clay  is not only knowledgeable in all facets of the psychology and emotion  behind conflict resolution, but is adept at clear explanations of the  principles of conflict resolution. Moreover, his examples are vivid and  refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed the training block. Candidly, it was  the best week of training I have ever experienced. It was a treat." 

Curtis Bowe, III, Esq.

Chattanooga, TN

"Clay  is such a great instructor. The information he provided was so  interesting, and I utilized it right away when I returned to work. Understanding the process involved in getting people who might not have  ever agreed on anything to a place where they can live with the outcome  saves so many resources that our court system simply doesn’t have.  Mediation is the future and Clay does an excellent job of preparing us  for it."

Jennifer Wright

Chattanooga, TN

"I researched several mediation training programs and heard only positive  comments about Clay's program.  His curriculum was informative and  useful.  His delivery and lectures were engaging and entertaining.   I  am pleased that I selected this course, and am already planning to  attend the Domestic Violence lectures.  I fully recommend this training. "  
Tracy P. Knight, Esq.

Clarksville, TN