Deborah A. Reperowitz | More Background

Mediator, Arbitrator, ADR Advisor

Ms. Reperowitz graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and minors in Psychology and Sociology. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she was a member and editor of the Seton Hall Law Review, published an article analyzing a seminal decision authorizing school authorities to conduct warrantless searches of students under certain circumstances, and served as a member of the Moot Court Board.

Ms. Reperowitz began her career serving as law clerk to the Honorable Rosemary Gambardella, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey, where she discovered that bankruptcy was a dynamic practice, involving urgent issues that frequently are resolved through multi-party negotiation and compromise. Following her clerkship, Ms. Reperowitz worked as a corporate bankruptcy attorney ultimately becoming a partner at Reed Smith and working on some of the largest and most complex bankruptcy issues and cases of our time. As referrals to mediation became more common in bankruptcy cases and the question of the enforceability of arbitration clauses in bankruptcy cases emerged, Ms. Reperowitz found herself representing clients in ADR proceedings. It was then that she realized that the success of commercial ADR proceedings is largely dependent upon the neutral being well-prepared and possessing strong business acumen and interpersonal skills.

In 2006, Ms. Reperowitz joined CIT Group Inc., then an international, century-old, Fortune 500, financial services company. As Senior Vice President, Chief Litigation Counsel Ms. Reperowitz was tasked with centralizing, building and managing CIT’s litigation and government actions group. During her tenure, Ms. Reperowitz reported directly to the Board of Directors, developed litigation policies and procedures, and authored public reports. She oversaw the company's litigation and personally negotiated the resolution of the majority of its significant legal and regulatory issues, including class and mass actions and matters involving simultaneous private and government challenges. Ms. Reperowitz also worked closely with business leaders to minimize litigation and proactively manage dispute resolution. When CIT was faced with financial difficulty in 2007, Ms. Reperowitz assisted in CIT’s transformation to a bank holding company, borrowing under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and preparation for its notorious six-week bankruptcy. Upon CIT’s exit from bankruptcy, the company was re-listed on the NYSE and Ms. Reperowitz became the General Counsel of Fairholme Capital Management LLC, the then largest holder of CIT’s restructured stock. She remained in this role for less than two years while the firm struggled with highly publicized changes in leadership and investment outflows.

Ms. Reperowitz ultimately returned to law firm practice, shifting her focus from commercial litigation and bankruptcy to ADR, and forming JustitiaADR, dedicated exclusively to ADR. Ms. Reperowitz is listed on the register of mediators maintained by the Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Complex Commercial Arbitration and Mediation panels maintained by the American Arbitration Association and the Panels of Distinguised Neutrals maintained by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), where she serves as the co-chair of the CPR Banking and Financial Services Alliance. Ms. Reperowitz has served as a neutral in more than 150 matters involving diverse subject matter.

Ms. Reperowitz currently is a member of ACT-ADR, an organization of business and commercial leaders with deep experience in preventing and resolving disputes utilizing pragmatic business skills and solutions. She also is a member of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association, where she previously served for five years as a member of the Executive Committee and for three years as the Treasurer. She co-founded and for two years served as the co-chair of the Technology Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section. Ms. Reperowitz previously served as the president of the New York Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association and a member of the global board of that organization. She previously was a member the Board of Directors of DayOne, a non-profit organization partnering with NYC youth in an effort to end dating abuse and domestic violence through community education, supportive services, legal advocacy, and leadership development. She also previously served on the Board of Directors of the Integrity House, one of the largest non-profit organizations in New Jersey and a leading provider of integrated mental health, physical health, and addiction services.

Ms. Reperowitz frequently has been called upon to speak on ADR issues, including at CPR’s international annual conference in 2024 and at various panels hosted by the American Arbitration Association. She also has published numerous articles, many on ADR topics.