Conna A. Weiner, Esq., FCIArb brings to her U.S. and international mediation and arbitration practice a unique combination of litigation, transactional and in-house experience after roles with internationally known outside counsel and multinational life sciences (pharmaceuticals, medical device, diagnostics, vaccines and other therapeutics) and health care companies. She has extensive experience mediating and arbitrating (in-person and virtually) complex general commercial cases in the U.S. and internationally, as well as franchise and employment matters, and serves as a sole arbitrator, neutral party-appointed arbitrator on three member panels and as the chair of arbitration tribunals with many of the major ADR providers. Her experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and other therapeutics industries is particularly unique and sought after in connection with dispute resolution clause requirements requiring therapeutics or related industry experience. She also has an extensive healthcare disputes practice and is retained in technology disputes outside of the life sciences involving IT and related patent, copyright, and trade secret disputes, such as disputes regarding the development and implementation of databases and allegations of infringement and misappropriation of technology-related IP and trade secrets by business partners.

Although she has decades of experience in general commercial and employment matters representing both plaintiffs and defendants and is noted for her ability to help parties assess their positions before and after litigations or arbitrations are filed, Ms. Weiner’s extensive transactional and deal work over the years help her rapidly appreciate the core issues involved in business arbitrations and mediations and creatively assist parties in structuring an appropriate arbitration process or working out negotiated business solutions that help preserve relationships. Her inside counsel experience helps her understand and communicate with clients and maintain an objective perspective in connection with a wide variety of matters.

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS.

Selected Appointments and Memberships

• Vice Chair, Boston International Arbitration Association, Inc. 
• ABA Health Care Section Leader: for the 2018-19 Bar Year - Vice Chair, ADR & Conflict Management in Healthcare
• Vice Chair, USCIB/ICC Arbitration Northeast Subcommittee
• Fellow of the International Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Named on the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center’s List of the World’s Leading Technology Neutrals in 2016
• Appointed to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Panel of Neutrals
• Available for American Arbitration Association and International Centre for Dispute Resolution cases through party or neutral appointment. Previously served on the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) arbitration and mediation panels, including its commercial, large complex cases, health care and joint venture and mergers and acquisitions specialty panels, and the AAA's international affiliate, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) 
• American Bar Association (Section on Dispute Resolution; appointed co-chair, Women in Dispute Resolution Committee 2015–2018; Section of Litigation; Commercial and Business Litigation Section, appointed chair of ADR subcommittee; Health Law Section, appointed to ADR Task Force)
• New York City Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section)
• Women’s Bar Association (Massachusetts), Co-Chair, ADR Committee
• Massachusetts Bar Association (appointed to Dispute Resolution Council)
• American Health Lawyers Association (appointed to panel of neutrals)
• International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (appointed to Distinguished Panel of Neutrals, including to specialty health care and life sciences and technology panels)
• Association of Corporate Counsel
• Licensing Executives Society
• Boston Bar Association

Publications and Materials

• Conna Weiner & Bennett Picker, “Commercial Mediation Practice Guide: A Practical Handbook for Lawyers and their Business Clients, Third Edition”, American Bar Association, January 27, 2023
• “Mediating Complex Business Disputes Before Litigation: Making the Most of the Moment,” The Resolver, Spring 2018, Federal Bar Association
• “Reassessing Commercial Arbitration: Making It Work for Your Company,” with Steven M. Greenspan, American Corporate Counsel Docket magazine, March 2017
• Case Note, New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Lawyer, Spring 2015: Second Circuit Refuses to Enjoin Subsequent Arbitration Based Upon All Writs Act: Citigroup, Inc. v. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
• “Striving for the ‘Bulletproof’ Mediation Settlement Agreement,” with Edna Sussman, April 2015
• Outlines, Materials and Forms for Mediation Convening and Intake Best Practices, with Nancy Greenwald, 2015 ABA Section on Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting Program
• Foundational materials and bibliography for presentations regarding “Beyond ADR: Managing Conflict with External Partners Before and After the Contract Is Signed,” selected for CLE presentation at the February 2016 Annual Meeting of the Association of University Technology Managers in San Diego

Selected Speaking/Teaching Engagements and Panel Presentations

• June 2022: Mediator, Introduction of the Moot Trial, 8th Annual World Life Sciences Conference
• May 2018: Panelist, Arbitration Best Practices Tips, American Bar Association Section of Litigation National Annual Meeting
• May 2018: Organizer and Panelist: Managing Dispute Risk in Business Agreements: How Transactional Lawyers and Litigators Can Work Together
• April 2018: Panelist, Cutting-Edge Issues in Commercial Arbitration, New York Law School
• February 2018: Organizer and Panelist, How Experience Lawyers Can Hone Their Mediation Advocacy Skills, American Bar Association Corporate Counsel CLE Program
• April 2017: Organizer and Panelist Special Issues in Health Care Arbitration, Boston Bar Association
• Organizer and Panelist: Essentials of Mediation and Arbitration, Massachusetts Bar Association 2017-2018
• January 2017: Co-Chair and Panelist, New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Annual Meeting
• October 2016: Organizer, Moderator and Panelist: Reassessing Commercial Arbitration in 2016: Making It Work for Business, New England Legal Foundation
• July 2016: Seminar, Dispute Risk Management in External Alliances, Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals
• May 2016, Speaker, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Women Who Build: Leadership and Networking Summit Construction Institute of the University of Hartford
• April 2016: Speaker, Unpacking, Mapping and Evaluating Conflicts: Analytical Tools for Resolving Complex Disputes and Enhancing Your Practice, ABA Section on Dispute Resolution Spring Meeting
• February 2016: Organizer, Moderator and Speaker, Beyond ADR: Managing Disputes with External Partners Before and After the Contract Is Signed, Annual Meeting of Association of University Technology Managers
• February 2016: Organizer, An Insider’s Look at Alternative Dispute Resolution, Women’s Bar Association ADR Committee
• November 2015: Organizer and Speaker, What Every Litigator Needs to Know About ADR to Be Competitive in Today’s Marketplace, ABA Women of the Section of Litigation
• October 2015: Speaker, What Lawyers Need to Know About Dispute Resolution Methods and Drafting, D.C. Bar Association
• 2015: Organizer, Moderator and Speaker: The Alternative Dispute Resolution Continuum: Ombuds, Early Neutral Evaluation and Med-Arb, Arb-Med, New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Fall 2015 Meeting
• 2015: Organizer, Moderator and Speaker: Mediation Convening and Intake Best Practices, ABA Section on Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting
• 2015: Speaker, High-Technology ADR, ABA Section on Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting
• 2015: Speaker, ADR in Intellectual Property Cases, CPR Annual Meeting
• 2014: Speaker, Managing Disputes in Life Sciences Collaborations, Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals
• 2014: Semifinal Judge, ABA National Mediation Competition
• 2014: Speaker, Dispute Resolution: Managing Your Exposure and Avoiding Your Day in Court (And What to Do If You Can’t Avoid It), New England Corporate Counsel Association
• 2013: Speaker, ADR and Business Disputes, Massachusetts Law Weekly
• 2013: Speaker, Arbitration Evolution, ExecuSummit on ADR
• 2013: Speaker, What Clients Are Looking for in Arbitration, ABA Section on Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1987
• Massachusetts, 2013
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1989

Background and Education

• Independent Mediator, Arbitrator and Consultant, 2013–2018
• General Counsel, North America, Mylan, Inc., 2010–2012
• Vice President and Lead Counsel, Shire Human Genetics Therapy, 2009–2010
• U.S. and global roles, Novartis, 1993–2009
• Head of Litigation, Ex-Americas, 2009
• Global General Counsel and Global Compliance Officer, Novartis Animal Health, Inc., 2007-2008
• Vice President, Legal, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, 2004–2007; specific roles included U.S. Legal Head of Transplant, U.S. Legal Head of Ophthalmics, Legal Head of U.S. Managed Markets and work in oncology and epilepsy
• Executive Director and Section Head, 1996–2003
• Litigation Associate, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, 1987–1993
• J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1986
• B.A., With Highest Honors, Oberlin College, 1983