Maya Steinitz

Maya Steinitz

Professor of Law

R. Gordon Butler Scholar in International Law

LLB, Hebrew University Faculty of Law
LLM, New York University School of Law
JSD, New York University School of Law


Biography

Professor Maya Steinitz teaches civil procedure, international arbitration, and international business transactions. Her research focuses on a wide range of topics including the intersection of civil litigation and corporate law, public and business international law, transnational dispute resolution, and the global legal profession. She is one of the nation’s leading experts on litigation finance. 

Her articles have been published by leading law reviews and journals published by Harvard, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and Vanderbilt Law Schools and Oxford University. Her book about transnational mass tort litigation, “The Case for an International Court of Civil Justice,” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2019 and her next monograph, “Litigation Finance, Law Firm Ownership, and The Future of the Legal Profession” has been accepted for publication by Cambridge University Press.

Professor Steinitz has been interviewed and cited by scores of leading news outlets globally, including CBS 60 MinutesNew York TimesWashington PostWall Street JournalFinancial TimesNBCNPRThe AtlanticChicago TribuneReutersBloomberg, and The American Lawyer.

Professor Steinitz’s expertise in international law and dispute resolution is further exemplified by her significant engagement with the Middle East. This includes teaching appointments at Columbia Law School, where she co-taught a course on The Legal Aspects of the Israeli – Palestinian Conflict, designed as an “impartial, dispassionate look” at the legal issues from both sides. She also served as a Visiting Professor at Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she taught courses in international dispute resolution. She was instrumental to the establishment of the Israeli-Palestinian ICC Jerusalem Arbitration Center (JAC) and served on its inaugural bench. Her scholarship includes an in-progress monograph on the governance of holy sites in Jerusalem. Her recent service includes service on Boston University’s working group on antisemitism.

While in private practice, she led the representation of the emerging government of Southern Sudan in drafting its national and sub-national constitutions and provided legal advice on various aspects of the Sudanese peace process, in a representation which The American Lawyer described as “one of the most ambitious international pro bono undertaking ever by a commercial law firm.”

Professor Steinitz is a seasoned arbitrator with extensive experience in both private and public law, having served in over 100 arbitrations. Her representative matters include complex multibillion-dollar commercial disputes, sensitive NATO contracting, and a maritime boundary dispute.

A sought-after expert in litigation finance and the future of law firms, Professor Steinitz teaches a course on the topic at Harvard Law School. She regularly testifies, advises, and speaks on the topic at AmLaw 100 firms, Fortune 500 corporations, financial institutions, and governments across the U.S. and internationally.

Before joining academia, Professor Steinitz served as a litigator at Latham & Watkins, LLP (2003-2009) and Flemming, Zulack & Williamson LLP (2001-2002). She also clerked for the Hon. Esther Hayut, former Chief Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court (1998-1999).

Professor Steinitz’s publications are available on Social Science Research Network.

Publications

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  • Stella Burch Elias, Derek T. Muller, Jason Rantanen, Caroline Sheerin & Maya Steinitz, Rules & Laws for Civil Actions: 2025 Ed. (2024)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Zombie Litigation: Claim Aggregation, Litigant Autonomy and Funders' Intermeddling Cornell Law Review (2024)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Stella Burch Elias, Derek T. Muller, Jason Rantanen, Caroline Sheerin & Maya Steinitz, Rules & Laws for Civil Actions: 2024 Ed. (2024)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Stella Burch Elias, Derek T. Muller, Jason Rantanen, Caroline Sheerin & Maya Steinitz, Rules and Laws for Civil Actions 2023 (2023)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The Partnership Mystique: Law Firm Finance and Governance for the 21st Century American Law Firm 63 William & Mary Law Review (2022)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Follow the Money? A Proposed Approach for Disclosure of Litigation Finance Agreements 53 U.C. Davis Law Review (2019)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The Case for an International Court of Civil Justice (2018)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Letter to the Hon. Sen. Orrt (NYS Senate) Regarding Litigation Finance (Lawsuit Lending) (2018) (2018)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Testimony on Third Party Financing of Lawsuits (2018)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz & Paul Gowder, Transnational Litigation as a Prisoner's Dilemma 94 North Carolina Law Review (2016)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Geoffrey P. Miller, Maya Steinitz, Joshua Schwadron, Bradley Wendel, Michael Faure, Jef De Mot & Travis Lenkner, Panel 2: Types of Litigation Funding, 12 New York University Journal of Law & Business (2016)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Back to Basics: Public Adjudication of Corporate Atrocities Torts, 57 Harvard International Law Journal Online (2016)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Incorporating Legal Claims 90 Notre Dame Law Review (2015)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The Case for an International Court of Civil Justice 67 Stanford Law Review Online (2014)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Chapter 16: Transnational Legal Process Theories, in The Oxford Handbook of International Adjudication (2014)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz & Abigail C. Field, A Model Litigation Finance Contract 99 Iowa Law Review (2014)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, How Much Is That Lawsuit in the Window; Pricing Legal Claims 66 Vanderbilt Law Review (2013)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The Litigation Finance Contract 54 William & Mary Law Review (2012)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Whose Claim Is This Anyway? Third Party Litigation Funding 95 Minnesota Law Review (2011)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Joseph Matthews & Maya Steinitz, TDM Special Issue: Contingent Fees and Third Party Funding in Investment Arbitration Disputes 2011 Transnational Dispute Management Journal (2011)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, Internationalized Pro-Bono and a New Global Role for Lawyers in the 21st Century: Lessons from Nation-Building in Southern Sudan 12 Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal (2009)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz & Michael Ingrassia, The Impact of Sovereign Wealth Funds on the Regulation of Foreign Direct Investment in Strategic Industries: A Comparative View 10 Business Law International (2009)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as the Theater: The Social Negotiation of the Moral Authority of International Law 5 Journal of International Law & Policy (2007)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The Ad Hoc International Criminal Tribunals and a Jurisprudence of the Deviant 7 International Law FORUM du Droit International (2005)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Maya Steinitz, The Milosevic Trial - Live: An Iconical Analysis of International Law's Claim of Legitimate Authority 3 Journal of International Criminal Justice (2005)
    Scholarly Commons

In the Media

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  • Notre Dame Law School May 5, 2025

    Notre Dame Law School Hosts Private Law Workshop Featuring Leading Legal Scholars

    Maya Steinitz is mentioned.
    read more

  • Jotwell April 4, 2025

    From Frankenstein’s Monster to Zombie Litigation

    Maya Steinitz's work is featured.
    read more

  • The American Lawyer November 14, 2024

    GOP Trifecta in Washington Could Put Litigation Finance Industry Under Pressure

    Maya Steinitz is quoted.
    read more

  • American Lawyer October 28, 2024

    Secrecy or Prejudice: Panelists Debate Transparency in Litigation Financing Arrangements

    Maya Steinitz is quoted.
    read more

  • Law & Economics Center at GMU Scalia Law October 8, 2024

    Third Party Litigation Financing: The Role of Disclosure and the Judicial Role

    Maya Steinitz is featured.
    read more

  • JNS June 7, 2024

    Hebrew University Honors Alumna, Law Professor Maya Steinitz on Wall of Life

    Maya Steinitz is featured.
    read more

  • Daily Journal April 30, 2024

    Lawmakers Push for Transparency to Combat Foreign Influence in Litigation Funding

    Maya Steinitz is quoted.
    read more

  • Boston Globe April 22, 2024

    Campus Antisemitism Can Be Addressed by Encouraging More Speech, Not Less

    Maya Steinitz pens an opinion.
    read more

  • Bloomberg Law February 14, 2024

    Judge’s Order Deals Blow to Sysco, Burford Capital in Pork Suits

    Maya Steinitz’s expert opinion is referenced in Judge’s opinion.
    read more

  • Financial Times November 18, 2023

    Chinese-Funded Lawsuits Fuel Backlash against Litigation Financiers

    Maya Steinitz is quoted.
    read more

  • Law.com November 2, 2023

    The Law Firm Disrupted: Still Looking for the Gold Rush

    Maya Steinitz is quoted.
    read more

  • Litigation Finance Journal October 5, 2023

    Highlights from the 6th Annual LF Dealmakers Conference

    Maya Steinitz is featured.
    read more

  • Litigation Finance Journal September 27, 2023

    LF Dealmakers Panel: The Great Debate: Trust and Transparency in Litigation Finance

    Maya Steinitz is featured.
    read more

  • Bloomberg Law September 13, 2023

    Litigation Finance Has Become ‘Money Play,’ House Lawmakers Told

    Maya Steinitz is quoted.
    read more

  • Legal Newsline

    Activists, Hedge Funds in Crosshairs as House Committee Looks at Litigation Finance

    Maya Steinitz served as a witness for the hearing.
    read more

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Activities & Engagements

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Courses

LAW JD 873

Civil Procedure

4 credits

Examines the structure and function of civil procedure and the requirements of due process of law.


FALL 2025: LAW JD 873 A1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Janet Freilich LAW 211
FALL 2025: LAW JD 873 B1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Jed Handelsman Shugerman LAW 101
FALL 2025: LAW JD 873 C1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Maya Steinitz LAW 212
FALL 2025: LAW JD 873 D1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Naomi M. Mann LAW 410
FALL 2025: LAW JD 873 E1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 David H. Webber LAW 212
LAW JD 721

Happiness and the Law

3 credits

This seminar offers an in-depth exploration of the interactions of happiness and the law. The course is structured into three interconnected units: • Unit 1: Happiness, Law, and Public Policy: This unit delves into how social policies and legal frameworks can be designed to promote happiness and well-being at a societal level. It examines the use of happiness data and insights from behavioral sciences to inform legal change in areas such as criminal law, civil procedure, corporate law, and tax law. • Unit 2: How to Be a Happy Lawyer: This unit focuses on cultivating meaningful and fulfilling legal careers. Drawing on general happiness studies and the growing field of law and mindfulness, it explores strategies for lawyers to enhance their own well-being and job satisfaction. • Unit 3: The Lawyer-Client Relationship: This unit analyzes the lawyer-client relationship beyond traditional paradigms. It considers the potential for this relationship to increase the happiness and well-being of both attorneys and clients, incorporating perspectives from philosophy, psychology, economics, and political science. The seminar employs a variety of pedagogical methods to facilitate student learning. These include Socratic discussion of assigned readings, synchronous and asynchronous experiential exercises, and hands-on activities. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with mindfulness techniques and develop an actionable personal career-life plan that integrates the themes of the course. Additional experiential exercises will be incorporated throughout the semester to provide practical application of course concepts. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This seminar may be used to partially satisfy the requirement. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.


SPRG 2026: LAW JD 721 A1, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 8:30 am 10:30 am 3 Maya Steinitz
LAW JD 842

International Business Transactions

3 credits

This course provides a comprehensive survey of the legal and business issues arising in international commercial transactions. The course will cover key areas of international business and economic law impacting cross-border transactions, including: the basic documentary transaction (international sales and shipment contracts); agencies and distributorships; franchises and licensing; joint ventures; international project finance; and Cross-border mergers and acquisitions. In addition to substantive law, the course introduces students to essential lawyering skills crucial for success in international transactional practice. Students will develop their skills in negotiation, contract drafting, and client counseling. Through a combination of doctrinal study, case analysis, and practical exercises such as role-playing, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of international business transactions and the role of lawyers in facilitating these deals. The course will also address the importance of cultural awareness in international business dealings and explore topics such as corporate social responsibility and international dispute resolution. PREREQUISITE: Any course in International Law.


FALL 2025: LAW JD 842 A1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon 4:20 pm 7:20 pm 3 Maya Steinitz LAW 417