Lisa Sommer Devlin has practiced law since 1984, and has concentrated in hospitality law since the early 1990s. She drafts standardized contracts, provides legal training for sales staff and handles convention and meeting related litigation nationwide for major hotel chains, including Hilton and Starwood. 

In 2002, Lisa was named one of the 25 most influential people in the meeting industry by Meeting News magazine. In 2006, the magazine gave her the honor her again, stating: “More than anyone else, she is the legal voice for the industry.” She is a member of the Legal Advisory Counsel and on the Contracts panel for the APEX Initiative sponsored by the Convention Industry Council, and is on the Board of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys.

She is has published numerous articles on hospitality related topics in a variety of publications, including being the primary drafter of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s meeting planner brochure, “Meeting in the Middle,” as well as writing a series of articles as a meeting industry “guru” on the industry website, mimegasite.

A sought after public speaker, she has spoken at events sponsored by Meetings Professional International, Professional Convention Management Association, Exhibitor Show, Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International, Society of Government Meeting Planners, Conference Direct, Conferon and others, and served as adjunct faculty for Arizona State University’s Professional Meeting Manager’s Partnership program. In addition,

The State Bar of Arizona Trial College has asked Lisa to serve as a faculty member for many years to teach other lawyers trial advocacy skills, and she has also been a facilitator at the State Bar’s Professionalism Course as well as a faculty member at various ethics seminars. She was one of the first five women certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.

Lisa attended the University of Iowa where she received her B.S. in 1981 in Anthropology and Journalism with High Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa; and her Juris Doctor in 1984, also with High Distinction, and Order of the Coif.

After beginning her litigation practice at a large law firm in Phoenix, Arizona she started her solo practice, Devlin Law Firm P.C.  in December, 2003.

She is married to Matthew Devlin and has four children.