McCarthy Lebit Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA

David A. Schaefer is a principal at McCarthy Lebit and head of the firm’s alternate dispute resolution (ADR) practice. David is also an adjunct professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he co-teaches a course on alternate dispute resolution. He devotes the majority of his practice serving as a neutral in arbitrations and mediations related to business litigation, complex insurance and tort litigation disputes, construction litigation, employment discrimination, and professional liability. As a litigator, David represents both public and private companies located in Ohio and nationwide and frequently counsels them on the advantages and cost-savings of ADR. He is a member of The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, an invitation-only alternate dispute resolution professional association. He has been listed for years in Best Lawyers in America (2003–2025) for his high caliber work in Mediation, Construction Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Litigation, Labor and Employment Litigation, and Bet-the-Company Litigation, and was named Cleveland Lawyer of the Year for both Bet-the-Company Litigation (2017), Insurance Litigation (2020), and Insurance Litigation (2025).  He has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers® for many years and is ranked on the Cleveland “Top 50” and Ohio “Top 100” lists. Education Miami University, Bachelor of Science, cum laude Northwestern University, Master of Arts, Economics Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Juris Doctor Memberships & Affiliations Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, ADR Section Federal Bar Association, Cleveland Chapter, Past President Eighth District Judicial Conference, Life Member Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference, Life Member John M. Manos Inn of Court, Founding Member, Master Bencher Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Fellow International Association of Defense Counsel, Member Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow Recent Publications “Some Thoughts About Mediation,” Litigation Commentary & Review (published by Litigation Counsel of America), April 2022 Awards The Best Lawyers in America© "Lawyer of the Year" Insurance Litigation – Cleveland 2025 The Best Lawyers in America© "Lawyer of the Year" Insurance Litigation – Cleveland 2020 The Best Lawyers in America© "Lawyer of the Year" Bet-the-Company Litigation – Cleveland 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers® Top 50 in Cleveland, 2004, 2006–2009, 2014–2025 America’s 100 Top Defense Civil Litigators National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Inside Business Magazine, Cleveland's Top Litigators, 2002–2014