David A. Schaefer

As a principal attorney at McCarthy Lebit, David focuses the majority of his practice on serving as a mediator and adjudicating arbitration disputes. He also has extensive litigation and trial experience in complex business and tort matters, addressing a diverse spectrum of personal and business grievances.

David spent most of his career representing clients (both plaintiffs and defendants) in a wide range of business and tort litigation, breach of contract, trade secrets, product and professional liability, employment discrimination, and construction litigation claims. In recognition of his distinguished litigation and trial advocacy, he was selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an honor awarded to a highly select group of accomplished trial attorneys. David is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, an invitation-only organization comprising leading corporate and defense attorneys, further underscoring his reputation for litigation excellence. Additionally, David is a Life Member of the Eighth District and Sixth Circuit Judicial Conferences.

Over the years, his practice evolved with the growing popularity of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a cost-effective and timelier alternative to traditional court-based litigation. As David gained more experience with ADR, he also sought to expand his capabilities and skillset to deliver a stronger service to his clients. Today, David's ADR practice is comprised of legal disputes for which he now routinely acts as the neutral party, overseeing the resolution of conflict by either adjudicating the facts and evidence to render a decision in an arbitration that typically is legally binding, or by advising and guiding the parties in a legal dispute toward a resolution as a mediator that is mutually agreeable to both sides.

David's ADR success as a neutral is attributed to his significant career as a courtroom litigator, where he forged relationships with co-counsel and opposing counsel for many years. Ohio litigators who know David and his track record of success in the courtroom also acknowledge the reputation he has earned for strong judgment and fairness as an arbitrator and mediator. The longevity of those relationships and the depth of trust David has earned from his peers is never more obvious than when they repeatedly seek out his expertise to help one of their clients resolve a dispute.

David's seasoned judgement and fair-mindedness as a neutral have earned him recognition and admittance to The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, an invitation-only alternative dispute resolution professional association.

• Miami University, Bachelor of Science in Economics, Cum Laude
• Northwestern University, Master of Arts in Economics
• Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Juris Doctor

ADMISSIONS

• Ohio
• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

MEMBERSHIPS:

• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Member
• Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
• Litigation Counsel of America, Diversity Law Institute, Member
• Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Law Institute, Member
• American Arbitration Association, Multi-Panel Member
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, ADR Committee
• Federal Bar Association, Cleveland Chapter, Past President
• Eighth District Judicial Conference, Life Member
• Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference, Life Member
• American Inns of Court, John M. Manos, Founding Member, Master Bencher
• Cleveland Bar Foundation, Fellow
• International Association of Defense Counsel, Member

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