Stephen Rispoli Partner
- Dallas
- 214.379.3078
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Stephen Rispoli brings over a decade of experience in jury consulting to Mayer LLP. In addition to an active litigation practice, Stephen runs jury focus groups for plaintiff and defense attorney teams to assist them with their strategy for presentation of a case. These focus groups are tremendously helpful for identifying themes and theories of the case that resonate with the ultimate actual jurors. The jurors also help troubleshoot thorns in the case and find out what facts may be particularly interesting to the ultimate jurors.
Prior to joining Mayer LLP, Stephen was the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Baylor Law School. In addition to other duties, he served as the Director of Innovation and Scholarship for the school’s Executive LL.M. in Litigation Management. He assisted with the teaching of Early Case Assessment methods (specifically focusing upon the jury focus group sessions and best practices for implementation), taught Ethical Issues in Litigation Management and Applying Technology to Litigation Management, and led the research and writing aspect of the program. Stephen speaks and writes on litigation management topics, always focusing upon effective, efficient, and ethical processes to best serve clients and their communities.
Services
- Healthcare
- Litigation
- Trial Consulting
Education
- Baylor University, B.A., 2009
- Baylor University School of Law, J.D., 2012
- University of Texas School of Law, LL.M., 2018
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
Distinctions & Certifications
- Recipient of the 2023 AALS Pro Bono & Access to Justice Section’s Access to Justice Award
- Recipient of the 2020 Lone Star Legal Aid Remote Legal Services – Community Partner Award
- Recipient of the 2019 State Bar of Texas Pro Bono Coordinator Award.
- Recipient of the 2017 McLennan County Young Lawyers Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.
- Recipient of the 2016 Lone Star Legal Aid Helping Hands Award
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Legal Innovation Team Member: September 2019-August 2020.
- American Association of Law Schools, Pro Bono and Justice Section: President—January 2019-Present; President-Elect—January 2018-December 2018; Treasurer—January 2017-December 2018.
- State Bar of Texas Pro Bono Workgroup: Member—August 2014-August 2023.
- McLennan County Young Lawyers Association: President—August 2018-July 2019; President Elect—August 2017-July 2018; Vice-President—August 2016-July 2017; Director—August 2013-July 2016.
Publications & Speeches
- Stephen L. Rispoli, James E. Wren, and Daniella McDonagh, When to Leave the Stones Unturned: Using Proportionality to Navigate Discovery Efficiently, Effectively, and Ethically, Vol. 107 of the Marquette Law Review (forthcoming, Winter 2023).
- “Focus Groups: Effective Jury Testing on a Budget.” ABOTA Foundation Webinar Series. Presented with Laura Brown, Elizabeth M. Fraley, and James E. Wren (April 18, 2023).
- “The Great Resignation: Understanding and Working in a Multi-Generational Workforce.” Presented with Professor Elizabeth M. Fraley at the Abner V. McCall Inn of Court (Jan. 12, 2023).
- “Focus Groups: Effective Jury Testing on a Budget.” Tex-ABOTA Webinar Series. Presented with Laura Brown, Elizabeth M. Fraley, and James E. Wren (December 8, 2022).
- “The Great Resignation: Understanding and Working in a Multi-Generational Workforce.” Presented with Professor Elizabeth M. Fraley at the Legal Project Management Roundtable (August 2, 2022).
- “The Great Resignation and Managing a Multigenerational Workforce.” Presented with Professor Elizabeth M. Fraley at the Texas City Attorneys’ Association Summer Conference (July 15, 2022).
- “Leadership Development: How Bar Leaders Today Build Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to Create Better Outcomes Tomorrow”. Presented with Assoc. Dean Patricia Wilson at the TYLA Mountain West Summit Conference (May 20, 2022).
- “Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls in Third-Party Litigation Financing: How Lawyers Can Maintain Independence and Avoid Conflicts of Interest”, co-authored with James E. Wren and Hannah Hoke, The Advocate, State Bar of Texas Litigation Section (October 2021).
- Leah W. Teague, Elizabeth M. Fraley, and Stephen L. Rispoli, Fundamentals of Lawyer Leadership, Aspen Publishing (2021).
- Robert R. Little and Stephen L. Rispoli, The Hearsay Paradox: Declarant-Witnesses’ Own Out-Of-Court Statements, 70 Baylor L. Rev. 843 (2018).
Community Involvement
- Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum: Board Member—March 2023-Present
- City of Waco Zoning Board of Adjustment: Chair—August 2018-September 2019; Vice-Chair—August 2017-July 2018; Member—August 2015-July 2017.