Page 3 of 3
Lisa A. Azzato
▬▬▬▬▬▬ Attorney at Law 150 Motor Parkway, Suite 401
Hauppauge, New York 11788
Telephone: 631-886-1357
Facsimile: 631-886-1908
Admitted in NY, DC, FL & GA
Lisa A. Azzato, Esq.
Mediation & Arbitration Profile
Education:
Emory University School of Law (J.D. 1988)
Vassar College (B.A. English, with honors, 1985)
Professional Licenses:
Admitted to the state bars of: New York (2002); District of Columbia (2001); Florida (1994); Georgia (1988)
Alternative Dispute Resolution Affiliations:
American Arbitration Association, Commercial Arbitration Panel
Suffolk County Commercial Division, Mediation Panel
Nassau County Commercial Division, Mediation Panel
Mediation & Arbitration Experience:
I have mediated over 150 cases including contract, business, employment discrimination, and construction disputes, as well as numerous divorce and child custody disputes. Examples of the type of contract and business disputes include disputes over the purchase of a business in the amount of approximately $200,000, lost profit damages relating to advertising errors of approximately $100,000, and construction disputes relating to allegations of improper construction of a planned development involving damages of several hundred thousand dollars. I have also arbitrated business, contract and securities disputes ranging from smaller claims for loss of profits to a multi-million dollar securities dispute. For more than 15 years, I have been an active practitioner, instructor and speaker on alternative dispute resolution. After being trained and state approved to mediate and arbitrate in pioneer court-annexed and private dispute resolution programs in Georgia, I mediated and arbitrated disputes in numerous state and private dispute resolution programs. I have also been an active proponent and instructor of alternative dispute resolution and have taught Alternative Dispute Resolution at Emory Law School and have taught Arbitration and Grievance handling at Stony Brook University.
Professional Experience:
Over the course of my 19 years of practice, I have litigated disputes ranging in value from $50,000 to several million dollars and from matters involving small family businesses to international businesses manufacturing and distributing products world-wide. My litigation clients have included lawsuits involving age, race and gender discrimination and First Amendment rights. Other representative matters include prevailing on a motion to dismiss all claims against municipal agency clients for breach of contract, specific performance, and constructive trust and also succeeding in a petition pursuant to Article 78 to annul and reverse the zoning determination of a local Zoning Board of Appeals. I have litigated in both state and federal courts. My business and general representation clients have been both profit and non-profit entities and have ranged from small business owners needing general advice on the operation of a day-spa, a deli, a small strip mall owner, condominium and homeowner associations, a manufacturer of printing supplies, an animal rescue organization, and a children’s museum. I have represented both individuals and major corporations in disputes involving contracts, leases, employee issues, employment discrimination claims, employment restrictions, covenants not to compete, real property covenants and restrictions, land use and zoning. I have drafted contracts and negotiated deals involving matters from commercial and residential leases to contracts for the performance of services during the Olympic Games. I have also handled the sale of private and commercial real estate and dealt with issues relating to land use, zoning and environmental regulations regarding both private and commercial properties. My practice focuses on civil litigation, business representation, real estate, land use and zoning, mediation, and arbitration.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training:
· AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, 2009
· Advocating Ethically in ADR Proceedings, 2009
· Law Firm Barriers to Successful ADR Practice, 2009
· Successfully Transitioning to and Starting an ADR Practice, 2009
· An Introduction to Mediation in the Suffolk Commercial Division, 2009
· AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators, 2007
· Nassau County Supreme Court & State Office of Dispute Resolution, Commercial Mediation Training, 2003
· Alternative Dispute Resolution - Revised Uniform Arbitration Act, 2003
· How to Design & Sustain an Internal ADR Program, 2003
· Guardian Ad Litems in the ADR Process, 2000
· Case Studies in Mediation, 1999
· Communicating in a Changing Environment, 1998
· NASD Dispute Resolution, Inc., Arbitration Training, 1999
· Peculiarities in Court-Annexed Mediation, 1996
· Advanced Mediation Training, Ethics and Value Differences in Mediation, 1997
· Alternative Dispute Resolution - Revised Uniform Arbitration Act, 1996
· Resolution Resources Corporation, Arbitration Training, 1995
· Atlanta Divorce Mediators, Inc., Divorce & Family Mediation, 1993
· Resolution Resources Corporation, Civil Mediation, 1993
Court Admissions:
U.S District Court for the Eastern District of New York; U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York; Supreme Court of Georgia; Georgia Court of Appeals; Superior and State Courts of Georgia; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Professional Associations:
Suffolk County Bar Association
Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Employment History:
Attorney – Lisa A. Azzato, Attorney at Law (October 2009 – present)
Attorney – Lamb & Barnosky, LLP (March 2008 – September 2009)
Attorney – Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP (June 2004 – March 2008)
Attorney – Westerman, Ball, Ederer, Miller & Sharfstein, LLP (June 2002 – June 2004)
Attorney – Law Offices of Lisa A. Azzato, P.C. (July 1993 – June 2001)
Attorney – Weinstock & Scavo, P.C. (April 1990 - April 1993)
Law Clerk – Judge Hilton M. Fuller, Dekalb County, Georgia, Superior Court (August 1988 –April 1990)
Teaching Positions Concurrent with Law Practice:
· Adjunct Professor, Labor & Employment Law, Arbitration and Grievance Handling – Stony Brook University, Harriman School of Business, 2002
· Adjunct Professor, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Emory University School of Law, 2000
Speaking Engagements, Workshops and Lectures:
· “Mediation: A Valuable Tool for Litigators”, National Business Institute, May 2008
· “Commercial Mediation”, Suffolk County Bar Association, May 2008
· “Representing A Client in Arbitration”, Suffolk County Bar Association, April 2007
· “Overview of ADR Processes and a Mediation Role Play”, Emory University Conference on Conflict Resolution, February 2000
· Emory Trial Techniques Program, Instructor, May 1998, May 1999, May 2000
· Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, Orientation on professionalism, August 1998, August 1999
Publications:
· “The Multi-door Courthouse Approach: A Look Across the Threshold”, The Suffolk Lawyer, December 2006
Civic Involvement:
· Board of Trustees, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Long Island Chapter
· Task Force Chair, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light the Night Event 2008
· Vassar College Alumni Admissions Committee
· American Cancer Society, Relay for Life 2006, 2007
· Long Island Cares Food Drive, 2006, 2007
Compensation:
Hourly Rate: $350/hour
3