Lisa Smith
Presta

Bio

Lisa is a senior attorney at MacDonald Illig and serves as Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. She represents individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in a wide range of complex litigation matters. Lisa regularly handles disputes involving commercial transactions, employment claims, and professional liability issues, providing strategic advocacy in both trial and dispute resolution settings.

Lisa Helps Clients With:

• Commercial and business litigation
• Breach of contract disputes
• Fiduciary duty claims
• Professional services disputes
• Employment litigation
• Harassment and discrimination claims
• Retaliation and wrongful discharge claims
• Complex multi-party litigation
• Arbitration proceedings
• Alternative dispute resolution matters
• Administrative agency proceedings

Lisa represents clients across a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, economic development, real estate, and insurance.

Approach to Client Service

Lisa approaches litigation with careful preparation and attention to detail. She works closely with clients to understand their objectives and provide practical legal advice throughout the dispute resolution process. Clients rely on her for thoughtful strategy, clear communication, and effective courtroom advocacy.

Experience and Professional Background

Lisa has extensive experience handling complex litigation matters involving multiple parties and sophisticated legal issues. She regularly represents clients in:

• Pennsylvania state courts
• Federal district courts
• Appellate courts
• Administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Arbitration proceedings, including those conducted through the American Arbitration Association (AAA)
• Alternative dispute resolution proceedings

As Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, Lisa also provides leadership and mentorship within the firm.

Professional Leadership and Involvement

Lisa is actively involved in the legal community and previously served as President of the Erie County Bar Association. She has also served as Chair of the association’s Civil Litigation Section.

She is a member of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute and is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to substantive law and trial practice.