Karen Ohnemus Lisko, Ph.D.
Senior Litigation Consultant

Experience
Dr. Karen Lisko has 23 years of experience in hundreds of cases across the country in the areas of civil plaintiff, civil defense, and criminal defense ranging from simple to complex litigation.  She provides expertise in courtroom persuasion, strategic jury selection, case theme development, persuasive opening statements and closing arguments, and assists with witness preparation for deposition, arbitration, and trial. She has trained many attorneys, individually and in groups.

Dr. Lisko utilizes her training to conduct focus group and mock trial research for arbitration, bench and jury trials.  She relies on her experience with hundreds of actual and mock juries as well as with mock judge panels to develop case strategy recommendations based on the research findings.  Dr. Lisko has provided expert witness testimony on jury bias, jury decision-making, and community attitude survey research for change of venue. She holds a doctorate in legal communication, a specialized degree held by only a few consultants in the nation.

Selected Publications and Speaking Engagements

Dr. Lisko has published several articles and has spoken to numerous groups regarding courtroom persuasion and jury decision-making. She recently completed a book entitled, Proven Jury Persuasion in Civil Litigation (James Publishing) and is currently writing a book for the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Litigation, entitled Patently Persuasive.

Selected Publications

Lisko, K.O. and Boully, K.R. (Book in Progress – Estimated 2011).  "Patently Persuasive".  Chicago, IL:  American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Litigation.

Lisko, K.O.  (April 2010).  "Proven Jury Arguments and Evidence in Civil Litigation".  Costa Mesa, CA:  James Publishing.

Lisko, K.O. (October 2009). "If You’ve Seen One Theme, You’ve Heard Them All." The Nebraska Lawyer.

Broda-Bahm, K., Boully, K. R., Lisko, K. O., Spiecker, S. C. (September 2009)  "Corporate America in Lean Times: Do Today’s Jurors Have Shallow Sympathy for Deep Pockets?" Inside Counsel.

Lisko, K.O. (December 2008).  "Want to Be a Great Speaker? Then Keep Your Mouth Shut" Law Practice Magazine.

Broda-Bahm, K., Boully, K. R., Lisko, K. O., Spiecker, S. C. (September 2008) "Are Judges Becoming More Like Jurors?" InsideCounsel.

Lisko, K.O. (August 2008).  Great Themes and How to Craft Them. Second Chair (ABA, Litigation Section Publication).

Broda-Bahm, K., Boully, K. R., Lisko, K. O., Spiecker, S. C. (September 2007) "Arbitration v. Jury Trial: What is the Real Difference?" Inside Counsel.

Lisko, K.O. (June 2006).  Newer Generations in the Jury Box:  Who Will Favor Your Cause?  Law Practice.

Lisko, K.O. (January 2006).  Collapsing Two Worlds of Voir Dire Thought into Three Parts. Trials & Tribulations: The Voice of the Defense Bar.

Lisko, K.O., Spiecker, S.C., Broda-Bahm, K. (2005). Jurors in Red and Blue America. Corporate Legal Times.

Selected Speaking Engagements

“Becoming a More Effective Witness” Lit Education Retreat for CAP – Mutual Protection Trust, Los Angeles, California (July 2009).

 “Not Alone: Working to Exonerate the Wrongly Convicted” NPR Broadcast for Nebraska Innocence Project, Omaha, Nebraska (May 2009).

"Communication for Women Attorneys: Keeping the Bored Out of the Boardroom" DRI's Sharing Success: A Seminar for Women Lawyers, Santa Monica, California (March 2009).

"Becoming a More Effective Witness." Litigation Education Retreat, Cleveland Ohio (July 2008).

"What is the Real Difference? Arbitration v. Jury Trial." Presentation at the TerraLex 2008 Americas Regional Meeting, Denver, Colorado (June 2008).

"Grabbing a Jury and Keeping 'Em" Presentation to the ABA Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Midwinter Meeting, Dana Point, California (April 2008).

"Intellectual Property Persuasion in Jury Trials" Presentation at Juries in Trade Secret Cases Seminar, Leydig Voit & Mayer, Chicago, Illinois (February 2008).

Public Perceptions of Corporate America.  Presentation at the 28th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute, Dallas, Texas (May 2006).

New Trends and Old Truths in Persuading Judges and Juries.  Presentation at Kansas Association of Defense Council Conference, Kansas City, Missouri (December 2005).

Winning Voir Dire Strategy:  Identifying and Retaining Jurors Responsive to the Theme of the Case.  Defense Research Institute Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Boston, Massachusetts (September 2004).

A Public Debate:  It Would Be Desirable For The ASTC to Certify Trial Consultants.  Presented to the 2004 ASTC National Conference, Memphis, Tennessee (June 2004).

Persuading the Factfinder Through Technology.  Presentation at the NITA Hanley Advanced Trial Advocacy Program, Thornton, Colorado (June 2004).

Professional Activities

• Past President, American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC)

• Member of the Board, ASTC Foundation

• Member, American Bar Association, Section of Intellectual Property Law

• Lecturer in Trial Consulting Certificate Program, Towson University, Towson, Maryland

• Former Editor, Court Call, the official publication of the American Society of Trial Consultants

• Former adjunct professor, college lecturer in legal communication, persuasion, and public speaking

• Facilitator for Colorado Bar Association - Multidisciplinary Task Force Committee

Education
University of Kansas (Ph.D., Legal Communication and Communication Studies, 1991)

University of Kansas (M.A., Communication Studies, 1990)

University of Arizona (B.A., Speech Communication, 1986)