In 2019, Lisa Denig was appointed Special Counsel for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiatives for the NYS Office of Court Administration, overseeing one of the most innovative programs to date in the New York Court system: the creation and implementation of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore’s initiative, the New York State Presumptive ADR Program. The Presumptive ADR Program was implemented in all five boroughs in addition to three specialty courts inside New York City. A certified mediator herself, Lisa is a strong advocate for requiring early ADR in civil court cases and strongly believed in and advocated for the initiative long before it came to fruition.

Lisa notes, “In order to implement this program properly, I had to meet with bar associations, ADR groups and other stakeholders to incorporate them into the new program as well as provide the necessary training opportunities for court staff and outside lawyers. I worked with numerous committees to create rules, templates, develop a data tracking system, along with evaluation forms so we could actually see how the newly instituted program was working and report this to the Chief Judge.”

The program was a success, but it was an uphill battle at times. When asked about one of the biggest challenges she faced, Lisa answered: diversity. “I knew that there would be a diversity issue in the pool of mediators, but did not realize how serious it was. On the first day the mediation program was rolled out in New York City Civil Court, we had four cases that were amenable to mediation-all of whom spoke Spanish-and one Spanish interpreter. This brought home the issue of culture and diversity in mediation as well as all the concerns about access to justice that such challenges raise. From there, I made it a point to promote mediation trainings for diverse attorneys, connect with affinity bar associations, and more.”

Due in part to Lisa’s work, ADR plans were created that require litigants to attempt some form of ADR early in the stages of a civil case. The required ADR may include settlement conferences with judges or court staff, mediation, arbitration, or summary jury trials. Statistically speaking, the NYS Presumptive ADR Program is massive; Lisa notes that it deals with “over 1 million civil filings per year and more than 800,000 of those are in New York City alone.”

Last year, in honor of her work advancing the Presumptive ADR Initiative, Lisa was recognized as one of New York Law Journal’s Attorney Innovators of the Year. “Not long ago, settlement or mediation were thought of as secondary to years of discovery, enormous cost outlays, and time spent on trial preparation. That is no longer the case. Today, attorneys come prepared-at the preliminary conference - to discuss alternative ways to resolve their case. Alternative dispute resolution is not the wave of the future, it is the present.”

After serving as Special Counsel for ADR Initiatives for two and a half years, Lisa recently accepted a position as Counsel to New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. Although her role has expanded, Lisa remains the Chief Judge’s liaison to the Presumptive ADR Initiative, giving her the opportunity to remain active in the programs she spent years building. Previously, Lisa spent nearly eight years at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in a variety of roles.

Lisa, who is an active member of Haub Law’s advisory board, the Board of Visitors, recalls fond memories of her time at the law school, which set her on the path for ADR success. “Pace gave me the tools I needed for a successful legal career after law school,” she said. “I loved my time as a law student and I continue to remain involved with the school. The best advice that I could give any current or future law student is to get involved and network – this will open up more doors than you could imagine.”

How did you become interested in a major in Digital Journalism and a minor in Sports Media and Broadcasting?

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I have always enjoyed writing, and I would consider myself to be a very curious person. I’m passionate about covering stories in a truthful way and enjoy learning about turning points in media throughout history and the different media systems of the world. Pace teaches journalism as a powerful tool in society. I played football on my high school’s varsity team and formed a passion for sports journalism after learning about my teammates and covering them in my high school newspaper.

Why did you choose to attend Pace?

Pace accepted me into their Pforzheimers Honors College and has strong connections with their alumni.

What have your experiences been like with the Media, Communications, and Visual Arts Department? Have certain faculty members been instrumental in your academic journey?

I have always felt like I was in good hands from the minute I stepped into Willcox Hall. I started working with Professor Fink as a contributing writer for Pleasantville’s on-campus newspaper, The Pace Chronicle, and she helped me develop story ideas and find contacts, always encouraging me to dive deeper. After developing a focus on sports journalism, I began taking sports media classes taught by Professor Pulaski-Behling. Her perspective as a woman in the sports industry was very important to me as a sophomore at Pace. She and Professor Fink encouraged me to establish connections through the newspaper, leading me to my current position with Professor Ziek at Booth Review.

Tell us more about Booth Review and what you hope to achieve through your role in it.

Booth Review is a project that I am excited to be a part of. It consists of content created by me and another student intern, JJ Perdido, on our blog website, social media accounts (Instagram and Twitter), and, of course, the podcasts. There are two types of podcasts we create. One is a recap of Pace Athletic events throughout the week, while the other is an interview with Pace alumni who work in the field of sports media. This is my first experience covering sports outside of writing articles for The Pace Chronicle, which is very exciting to me. I hope that through Booth Review, we establish a space for the Sports Media and Broadcast minor to thrive.

Are there any other activities or organizations you have you been involved with as a student?

I have been writing for The Pace Chronicle since freshman year, but I became sports editor during my second semester. I then became managing editor during my sophomore year, and editor-in-chief in my junior year. I still run The Pace Chronicle, and am also a general member of Colleges Against Cancer, which holds Relay for Life every spring. Additionally, I am a member of the Pforzheimers Honors College and Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, and work part-time as a youth gymnastics coach in Chappaqua, NY.

What life challenges have you overcome?

I first started going to therapy at Pace’s Counseling Center after experiencing burnout during my sophomore year. I always knew that my mental health was something I had to eventually face, and it was really difficult to balance self-discovery on top of the newspaper and regular classwork. The pandemic drove me to Telehealth sessions, which were also difficult to get used to, but it's a lot easier to manage your life with a better headspace.

What would you like to do upon graduation/what are your career goals?

I hope to cover the NFL as a color commentator on broadcast television, which is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play commentator, or as a scriptwriter for broadcast. Overall, I want to continue my goal of breaking gender barriers in the sports world.

What advice, if any, would you like to give to our current students?

Don’t be afraid to participate in the events and programs that interest you. It’s a wonderful way to meet people who can help you socially and professionally. Also, don’t be afraid to take advantage of office hours offered by your professor, especially if you are taking mostly Zoom courses.