Marie E. Lihotz

The Honorable Marie E. Lihotz joined Archer as Of Counsel after serving twenty years as a member of the New Jersey Judiciary, including more than eleven years in the Appellate Division. Judge Lihotz concentrates her practice in resolving legal disputes through mediation and arbitration, including family, business, estate, employment, discrimination (civil rights and LAD), whistleblower (CEPA), civil sexual abuse suits, as well as appellate arbitration matters. She is a member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial and Employment Roster of Arbitrators, an approved Rule 4:21A arbitrator, a member of the roster of Bankruptcy mediators, and completed the requirements for a Rule 1:40 civil mediator. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators. Further, Judge Lihotz consults on trial and appellate presentations.

Judge Lihotz enjoys working with clients and recognizes the need to give a voice to their concerns to resolve legal issues. She understands the many sides of a problem and offers creative resolutions. Clients appreciate that she is an active listener and asks pointed questions to unwind issues, exposing other concerns not readily recognized by one party. She also recognizes the viability of certain legal challenges, which would lead to success or failure in a courtroom. These skills aid resolution.

Judge Lihotz has settled multimillion dollar civil sexual abuse matters, employment discrimination and whistleblower challenges, complex matrimonial matters involving intricate business interests, and disputes between Estate beneficiaries. She has arbitrated commercial lease determinations, whistleblower and LAD challenges, matrimonial custody and divorce matters, and consumer fraud suits. Appellate consultations include assisting parties in brief drafting, presenting legal arguments in briefs and during oral argument.

Judge Lihotz was originally appointed to the Tax Court of New Jersey by Governor Christine Todd Whitman. During her judicial career, she served as Presiding Judge of the Family Part, Burlington Vicinage and, as one of the Appellate Division’s senior judges, the Presiding Judge of Part B. During her tenure in the Appellate Division, Judge Lihotz authored more than 120 published opinions.

In arbitrations, clients describe Judge Lihotz as objective, fair, direct and respectful. They appreciate her well-reasoned awards. For appellate consulting, Judge Lihotz writes well and creates concise and persuasive presentations.