Defense Counsel Journal

Editor's Page - Volume 92, Number 2

June 25, 2025

Peter J. Pizzi

Peter J. Pizzi

Peter J. Pizzi is a founding member of Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP, a 33-lawyer majority women-owned firm with offices in Newark, New York City, and Philadelphia. Peter is a trial lawyer with decades of experience in commercial litigation, business valuation and close corporation disputes, the defense of class actions, and healthcare and information law. He holds the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Certified Civil Trial Lawyer designation and the CIPP/US certification. Currently the Defense Counsel Journal’s Editor-Elect, Peter has served in various leadership positions within the IADC and the New York State Bar Association, and regularly participates in CLE programs and writes on information privacy, data security, and eDiscovery topics. Awarded the Best Lawyer® recognition, Peter was the recipient of the IADC’s 2022 Yancey Award for excellence in the Defense Counsel Journal writing for his article “Social Media Immunity in 2021 and Beyond: Will Platforms Continue to Avoid Litigation Exposure Faced by Offline Counterparts.” He is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Fordham Law School.

In March 2023, when Michele Smith asked me to serve as Editor-Elect of the Defense Counsel Journal, leading to the Editor’s position a year later, she made clear that one of her goals as President was to raise the profile of the DCJ. I was honored by Michele’s invitation but, before accepting, I sought advice from IADC colleagues about the scale of the undertaking. As I have come to expect from my IADC friends, I received thoughtful guidance. No one minimized the challenges.

After a brief period of reflection, I accepted Michele’s gracious offer and, as I now conclude my time in this role, I am so glad I did!

Michele came through on her commitment, highlighting DCJ at meetings and appointing a Board of Editors composed of IADC luminaries. Donna Lamontagne continued the momentum, adding institutional strength where needed and responding immediately to any request. This past year, I have also been well-supported by Editor-Elect Craig Liljestrand, who takes the lead job next month, placing DCJ in great hands.

My DCJ involvement made me realize now how much I enjoy serving as the editor of a journal, coaxing articles out of friends at the bar, panelists encountered at meetings, a valued client or two, lawyers in my own law firm, and entirely new contacts, and then seeing those conversations bear fruit when each issue emerges. The current issue presents a nice manifestation of that process, presenting articles on US and international regulatory issues and strategies for effective use of experts in litigation wherever filed. A piece by a long-time IADC member looks back on how a routine employment law matter ended up as a vehicle protecting civil rights, exposing litigation funding, and advancing the rule of law.

I conclude by thanking Michele for this opportunity and recognizing the many authors who spent their precious time and intellectual energy contributing articles during my time as Editor. I am in your debt.

Best,    
Peter J. Pizzi, Editor and Chair of the Board of Editors of the IADC Defense Counsel Journal

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