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.

Judge Lihotz led the Supreme Court’s Family Practice Committee for a decade, served as a member and instructor for judicial education. Judge Lihotz is past president and a founding member of the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court. During her term as president, the Inn was first recognized by the National AIC in the Circle of Excellence and later achieving the Platinum Level of excellence in the requisite core competencies. She also is a member of the Justice Marie L. Garibaldi ADR Inn of Court.

In private practice prior to joining the judiciary, Judge Lihotz focused on commercial and family law litigation, as well as corporate, tax, estate planning/administration, and bankruptcy matters. She served as a commercial arbitrator and a bankruptcy mediator.

As an attorney and a judge, Judge Lihotz has always participated in legal education. In addition to lecturing for NJICLE, the NJSBA, county bar associations, the NJAPM, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Judiciary, she participated as an adjunct lecturer for Rutgers University Law School, Camden.

Judge Lihotz earned her L.L.M. (taxation) from New York University School of Law and her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware.