Thomas C. Watts, Esq LLM

11/06/2025

With gray hair comes perspective shaped by storms survived and lessons kept. you learn which waves matter and which are only noise on the surface. urgency gives way to clarity. pride softens into patience. you stop trying to win every point and start aiming for the win that lasts.
You notice how often people talk past each other, and how a good question can turn a fight into a path. you listen for what is not said. you measure twice before speaking once. you recognize that strength can look like restraint and that progress often arrives in small, steady steps.
You come to trust process over impulse, relationships over headlines, and character over show. you learn to separate the heat of a moment from the weight of a decision. you choose the lighthouse over the spotlight.
After sailing in enough rough water, you realize this: calm is not the absence of weather. calm is knowing where you are, who you are, and how to steer.

08/12/2025

When Clients Prefer Google with Their Own Attorney
By
Thomas C. Watts III Esq. LLM. FCIArb*
In today’s information laden world, it’s not uncommon for clients to bring Google searches into the attorney-client relationship. Sometimes, it’s helpful. Clients arrive informed, engaged, and ready to ask thoughtful questions. But increasingly, lawyers encounter clients who use Google to second-guess advice, dispute strategy, or insist on legal conclusions that don’t apply to their situation.
This raises a familiar dilemma: What happens when internet research collides with legal judgment?
Google provides access to a staggering amount of legal content, but it can’t give context. Google doesn’t know the facts of their case. Google doesn’t understand the procedural posture, the personalities involved, or the practical realities of litigation. Google is not responsible for outcomes. Yet, for some clients, an article or forum post online may seem more convincing than their own attorney’s seasoned advice.
For legal pros, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Instead of dismissing a client’s research out of hand, the better approach is often to say: "Let’s take a look at what you found and talk about how it does, or doesn’t, apply here." This respects the client’s initiative while reasserting the lawyer’s role as interpreter and guide.
At its best, the attorney-client relationship is built on trust. Google may provide information, but it can’t provide wisdom.
When clients confuse the two, it falls to us to reaffirm the value of experience, judgment, and tailored legal advice.
*Thomas C. Watts is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) in London, an arbitrator and mediator with the American Arbitration Association, and an MC3-certified mediator. He also serves as an adjunct professor of law, teaching Negotiation, Arbitration, and Mediation. Mr. Watts frequently lectures on topics related to the effective resolution of disputes and holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Dispute Resolution from the renowned Straus Institute at Pepperdine University’s School of Law. With extensive expertise in the arbitration and mediation of commercial, real estate, and construction matters, he brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and subject matter expertise to his practice.

09/09/2024

No Time to Schmooze?
The Importance of Small Talk
By
Thomas C. Watts III Esq. LLM. FCIArb*

In any negotiation, the process is as much about the relationship between the parties as it is about the deal itself. Schmoozing is an effective tool in building trust, rapport, and confidence among negotiating parties. This seemingly casual aspect of negotiation often sets the tone for the discussions, laying the groundwork for smoother, more productive interactions.
Negotiations, especially in legal or business contexts tend towards the transactional and the adversarial. Schmoozing softens the edges of these formal discussions by allowing the parties to connect on a personal level. Casual conversation, whether about mutual interests, hobbies, or shared experiences, helps humanize the individuals at the table. People are more likely to trust and engage in positive-sum negotiation when they see the other party as a relatable individual rather than a faceless adversary.
Trust is a cornerstone of any successful negotiation. Engaging in informal conversations before entering the "hard" part of the negotiation fosters an environment of goodwill. It eases tension, making both parties feel more comfortable. When people feel at ease, they are more likely to be open, transparent, and willing to collaborate on finding mutually beneficial solutions. Schmoozing provides a non-threatening space where this trust can begin to grow.
Schmoozing also serves as an opportunity to gain informal insights into the other party’s perspectives and concerns. Casual conversation often reveals preferences, priorities, and even potential deal-breakers that may not emerge in the formal negotiation phase. By listening carefully, one can gather valuable information that helps shape negotiation strategies, providing subtle advantages.
Negotiations require compromise, and compromise is more likely to occur in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Schmoozing helps create that atmosphere by fostering a sense of camaraderie. Parties that feel connected on a personal level may be more willing to find creative solutions that benefit everyone involved. It encourages problem-solving rather than a rigid adherence to positional bargaining.
People prefer to negotiate with those they like and feel comfortable with. Schmoozing enhances your likability, which can increase the other party’s confidence in your intentions and capabilities. It reinforces the idea that you are approachable, reasonable, and willing to engage in good-faith discussions.
Schmoozing is more than just idle chit-chat; it is a strategic element of negotiation that helps build trust, reduce tension, gather insights, and foster a collaborative atmosphere. By investing in relationship-building before and during negotiations, parties can increase the likelihood of reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement while strengthening long-term professional relationships.
*Thomas C Watts is a fellow of the Charted Institute of Arbitrators, London England, an arbitrator with American Arbitration Association arbitrator, MC3 certified mediator and an adjunct professor of law teaching Alternative dispute resolution. He lectures widely on subject relevant to the effective resolution of disputes Having earned a Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution from the prestigious Straus Institute at the Pepperdine School of Law. Mr. Watts has extensive subject matter expertise in the arbitration and mediation of commercial, real estate and construction matters.

08/26/2024

In the U.S. Senate campaign in Florida in 1950, George Smathers referred to his opponent, Claude Pepper, as a “known extrovert.” He also said that Pepper had a sister who was a known “thespian” and a brother who was a “practicing homo sapien.” He later added that Pepper “matriculated on campus” while in college and that he “engage in celibacy” before he was married.

08/26/2024

People's greatest fear of arbitration often revolves around the perception of losing control over the outcome and the process. Unlike court proceedings, arbitration decisions are typically final and binding with limited opportunities for appeal, which can be unsettling. There is also concern about the potential for bias, especially if the arbitrator is seen as favoring one party, and the fear that arbitration might favor corporations or repeat players over individuals. Additionally, the private nature of arbitration, while beneficial for confidentiality, can lead to concerns about transparency and fairness in the decision-making process. Aside from confidentiality the same concerns should be considered in litgation.

11/07/2022

Join me at the Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute from Dec. 1-3, 2022! I’m excited to be presenting alongside so many talented practitioners. This 3-day virtual institute features opportunities you won't want to miss, from CLE credit to small group discussions.
Check out the full agenda at https://bit.ly/3AiXjlw and register here: ambar.org/med2022

05/27/2020

New affiliation with California Association of Realtors

05/22/2020

The new Normal
https://fox11online.com/news/coronavirus/texas-court-holds-first-us-jury-trial-via-videoconferencing.

DALLAS (AP) — The potential jurors popped onto the screen one by one. They confirmed their names and told the judge how they were connecting to the court: on laptops, tablets and iPhones. There were some wireless issues and camera problems, but eventually 26 Texans in separate boxes raised the...

05/08/2020

After a rigorous application and consideration process, I won the MC3 mediotor certification.

04/19/2020

Please visit www.tcwatts.com . Call with your questions or
business or estate concerns.

Experienced. Knowledgeable. Trusted. After more than four decades as a well-established business law practice, multiple generations of clients consider Thomas C. Watts their go-to personal business lawyer.