Lisa J Savitt - Legal Background
Lisa J. Savitt has a depth of experience handling international and domestic litigation and alternative dispute resolution, representing foreign and domestic companies in matters involving complex legal, regulatory and technical issues. Much of her international work involves issues relating to the interpretation of contractual provisions, application of various treaties, jurisdictional challenges, the doctrine of forum non conveniens, Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and enforcement of foreign judgments. Ms. Savitt is licensed in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC and is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Her extensive industry experience includes representing clients in the aviation, insurance, chemical, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Ms. Savitt’s work has included counseling clients and working with counsel globally on matters involving cross border litigation and application of law from both civil and common law jurisdictions.
Her foreign legal experience spans work in many jurisdictions including Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, England, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Peru, Poland, Taiwan, and the Turks and Caicos Island.
Ms. Savitt has also undergone the rigorous training required to become a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) panel of arbitrators and acts as arbitrator for Consumer and Commercial Litigation. She is experienced in other forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediation and early neutral evaluation. Ms. Savitt is a qualified Neutral Rule #114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. She has presented on mediation and the value of ADR in other jurisdictions including Poland and Austria.
Lisa is a frequent speaker and writer. Ms. Savitt is a former Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law. Currently, Ms. Savitt is a member of the Council of the ABA International Law Section, a member of the ABA Center for Human Rights Advisory Board and a member of the ABA Tort Insurance Practice Section. Ms. Savitt is a member of the International Committee of DirectWomen. She is also Chair of the Board of the non-profit A Child for All (www.achildforall.org) which helps vulnerable children in Mali, West Africa.
She received her J.D. from New York Law School and her B.A. in East Asian Studies from George Washington University.
Lisa J Savitt - Honors & Professional Offices
Ms. Savitt has received numerous special honors and opportunities to travel to foreign nations to participate in delegations of the American Bar Association, including the American Bar Association International Legal Briefing Trip to Turkey (2016), Cuba (2015) and Myanmar and Cambodia (2014). She also was one of three ABA panelists in a public session on mediation and dispute resolution together with Polish journalists and lawyers (2013) during the American Bar Association International Legal Briefing Trip on Dispute Resolution to Warsaw and Vienna.
She also is the recipient of the ABA Section of International Law’s Mayre Rasmussen award which is presented to an individual who has achieved professional excellence in international law, encouraged women to engage in international law careers, and advanced opportunities for women in international law.
Lisa J Savitt - Teaching & Other Appearances
Ms. Savitt is a frequent speaker and writer on a number of wide-ranging issues. Presentations in which she has served as a panelist include:
• “Please Control Yourself! Dealing with Difficult Participants in Cross-Border Mediation,” UIA 31st World Forum of Mediation Centers Panelist
Frankfurt, Germany.
•“Context Matters - Understanding the Impact of Cultural Differences & Legal Systems on Mediations,” UIA 30th World Forum of Mediation Centers Panelist
Malaga, Spain.
•“International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation — Highlighting the Differences,” at the NAMWOLF Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois;
• “There’s No Place Like Home: Challenges to Jurisdiction in Life Sciences Litigation,” at ABA Section of International Law Life Sciences Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark;
•“International Litigation in the United States Involving Foreign Parties,” at the Korean Bar Association in Seoul, Korea;
• “Ethics and the Rashomon Effect – The Lawyer’s Role in Witness Preparation,” ABA Section of International Law Fall Meeting, Tokyo, Japan;
• “The Challenges of Defending Litigation in the Mexican, Canadian and U.S. Judicial Systems” at the ABA Section of International Law North American Forum in Vancouver;
• “3D printing in Aviation: Perspectives on Insurance, Manufacturing and Product Liability with this Emerging Technology,” at the AVICON Conference, Stevensville, Maryland;
• “Trying the Aviation Case: Ethical and Practical Pitfalls from Experienced Aviation Counsel,” at the Aviation Insurance Association Annual Conference;“
• “In the Tentacles of the U.S. Civil Justice System and How EU Companies Can Prepare For It – An Update,” at the Wolf Theiss Litigation Forum in Vienna; and
• 6 Essential Areas to Consider When Managing Venture Capital or M&A Transactions in Technology and Other Industries,” at the NAMWOLF Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
She has also served as moderator and speaker at a number of other international and commercial litigation forums.
Lisa J Savitt - Personal Statement
I never imagined as a young girl that I would one day be a lawyer or that I would travel around the world connecting with people of different faiths, cultures and languages. There were no lawyers in my family, and I was not sure what a lawyer did, except what I saw on TV.
Programs about lawyers on TV were almost always contentious. What I have learned from years of practice is that the parties involved in litigation in most instances want resolution of any disputes, and do not want conflict. They want certainty, and not the unknown. This is one of the reasons I was drawn to alternative dispute resolution and particularly mediation.
I am thrilled to have joined Judge Neville and Benchmark so that I can use my experience to help parties resolve their differences. I will aim to work with parties with respect, understanding of different perspectives as well as cultures and business needs. I can commit that I will always be prepared to ensure an efficient mediation.