Merriann Panarella is an independent arbitrator, mediator and consultant who practices in Boston and New York City and focuses on complex commercial and intellectual property disputes. Formerly a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, for over 25 years she served as trial counsel and advised technology clients on all aspects of the litigation process including trial preparation and strategy, business goal implementation, dispute resolution and cost containment.
She has experience as a litigator in diverse industries including telecommunications, medical devices, life sciences, software, oil and gas, plastics, and health care. She has served as an arbitrator in matters including medical device, pharmaceutical development, licensing, securities fraud, and legal fee disputes.Merriann is a Fellow in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is on the arbitral panels of the AAA (both New York City and Boston), WIPO, CPR, AHLA ,FINRA and the Massachusetts Fee Arbitration Board. She is a Harvard trained mediator and is certified by WIPO to mediate IP disputes. She serves on the New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Division, Roster of Neutrals and does pro bono mediations for Mediation Works, Inc. in Boston. She is on the CIArb Approved Faculty List. Merriann writes and lectures on intellectual property and alternative dispute resolution matters.
Merriann graduated from Wellesley College, cum laude Economics, Phi Beta Kappa and from the University of Virginia School of Law.
