Overview
Lisa A. Linsky focuses her practice on complex investigations and litigation. With more than 15 years’ experience as a criminal prosecutor, Lisa has handled matters involving sexual assault, abuse and misconduct. She is the founder of the Firm’s Institutional Sexual Misconduct Response Team (SMRT). Lisa leads a team of approximately 12 attorneys who assist institutional clients, including religious entities, academic institutions, businesses and nonprofit organizations to navigate high-profile and sensitive sexual assault and abuse matters. Her clients rely on her guidance and good counsel to protect them from reputational harm that can result from being sued in these cases. Lisa draws on her experience as a seasoned prosecutor with a trauma-informed background when investigating and litigating such matters. She also handles trust and estate matters, including New York Surrogate’s Court litigation, complex commercial and civil rights litigations.
Lisa was McDermott’s first partner-in-charge of Firm-wide Diversity and partner-in-charge of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Diversity and Inclusion. She created and chaired the Firm-wide LGBT Committee, and currently serves on the Firm’s Pro Bono and Community Service and Diversity and Inclusion Committees. In addition to her litigation skills, Lisa has received numerous awards for her distinguished service in both the public and private sectors.
Lisa joined McDermott with extensive trial experience. She was formerly with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, where she held the positions of associate chief of the Special Prosecutions Division and chief of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Bureau of the same division. Lisa investigated and prosecuted, as first chair, countless sexual abuse cases involving children and adults, and has been recognized for her expertise and work in the fields of domestic violence, child abuse and sex crimes investigations and trials. She is an accomplished public speaker and has trained members of law enforcement, the judiciary, mental health professionals, teachers and parents on the identification and prevention of child sexual abuse, among other topics.
Results
- Represents religious, academic and other organizations and businesses in cases involving the New York Child Victims Act, Adult Survivors Act and other sexual misconduct allegations
- Successfully litigated complex sexual abuse cases and obtained dismissals for multiple clients in pre-answer and pre-discovery stages of litigation
- Assists religious and other private and nonprofit organizations in evaluating risks in connection with decades-old sexual abuse allegations, and works with clients to ensure their policies and practices are state-of-the art, particularly in view of the evolving legal landscape for sexual assault and abuse cases
- Represented a major insurance carrier in various arbitrations involving sexual misconduct allegations and commercial disputes
- Served as handler for the corporate representatives of a Fortune 100 company for a national docket of product liability cases with a focus on deposition and trial preparation
- Successfully litigated a Surrogate’s Court challenge to a 30-year-old settlement agreement and obtained a complete dismissal of a petition to re-open the estate of a famous art dealer, and argued the case before the First Department of the New York Appellate Division which affirmed the Surrogate’s decision, and was later affirmed by the New York State Court of Appeals
- Served as national and local counsel to a major corporate client, managing large dockets of product liability cases and conducting investigations and trials of asbestos personal injury claims; successfully argued summary judgment motions, conducted fact investigations, hearings and trials
- Represented an HIV/AIDS provider in litigation against a former subsidiary that resulted in a successful settlement
- Represented the board of a New York special needs plan in connection with an independent investigation into allegations of fraud, mismanagement and discrimination
- Served as lead investigator in a major breach of personally identifiable information for a New York hospital that resulted in the return of the data
- Represented a New York City nonprofit facility that provides long- and short-term care to vulnerable populations in connection with allegations of discrimination by former employees resulting in dismissals by the New York State Division of Human Rights
- Served as outside counsel to The Mattachine Society of Washington, DC, investigating and litigating cases involving Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to uncover hidden historic governmental documents evidencing decades-long discrimination against LGBTQ Americans
Recognitions
- Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Law Honoree, 2022
- Outstanding Top 100 LGBT+ Executives Role Model List, 2022
- LGBT Bar Association of New York’s Community Vision Award, 2020
- Above and Beyond Award by City & State New York, 2019
- New York City Bar Association, Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award, 2019
- The LGBT Community Center of NYC’s Women’s Event Community Impact Award for Social Justice, 2017
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Paula L. Ettelbrick Award for LGBT Lawyer of the Year, 2016
- New York Law Journal Lawyers Who Lead by Example Award for Public Service, 2016
- Edward R. Murrow award for best documentary on work with the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC, 2016
- Chambers Diversity Award for LGBT Equality Lawyer of the Year in Private Practice, 2016
- Arthritis Foundation Woman on the Move Award, 2013
- Empire State Pride Agenda Equality@Work Award, 2010
- HELP/PSI Empowerment Award, 2014
- MCCA Mover & Shaker, 2009 and 2013
- New York Observer New York City Top 50 Power Gay, 2011
- New York City Bar Association Art Leonard Pride Award, 2013
Community
- American Bar Association Litigation Section’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Section Leader
- Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, Attorney Grievance Committee, member, 2018 through 2020
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Diversity Committee chair, 2012 to 2017
- New York City LGBT Community Center, board secretary, executive committee member, 2015 to present
- Lambda Legal, officer of the board of directors from 2007 to 2014, and current member of the National Leadership Council and Emeritus Board
- Law Firm Diversity Professions, elected as director at large to the board of the association, 2011 to 2013
Credentials
Education
Pace University School of Law, JD, with honors, 1984
Villanova University, BA, with honors, 1981
Admissions
New York
Courts / Agencies
Supreme Court of the United States
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
