Allan Witz is an attorney, mediator and arbitrator who practices in the Rochester, Minnesota office of Witz Law P.A. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota, Florida and Michigan. Allan previously practiced in South Africa from 1986 until 2001, when he immigrated to the USA.
Allan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (UCT), a Bachelor of Laws degree (Rhodes), and a Master’s degree in Commercial Law (Company Law and Income Tax) (UCT). He also has a Master’s degree for International Lawyers and a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, (class rank 7th of 197) from Hamline University School of Law.
Allan’s principal practice areas are business law, estate planning, and immigration law. Allan also undertakes special projects for local and international clients requiring the research, interpretation and strategic application of complex national and international laws and regulations.
Allan is an Early Neutral Evaluator (SENE /FENE) and a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. He has extensive experience in family and civil mediations. He received a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Hamline Law School’s Dispute Resolution Institute. At law school he received a CALI award for Excellence in Dispute Resolution.
Allan is currently a member of the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, following his appointment by the Minnesota Supreme Court. He serves as President of Mediation & Conflict Solutions, a non-profit organization providing civil, family and school mediation services, and is Vice-Chair of the Olmsted County Human Rights Commission. Allan volunteers for the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Legal CORPS Business Law Clinic.
Allan is a former member of the Minnesota State Bar Assembly; was President of the Third District Bar Association, and was President of the Olmsted County Bar Association. He has also served on the Council of the Minnesota State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, and has served as the Chair of the Third District Bar Association Fee Dispute Resolution Committee. He is a former member of the Third District Bar Association Ethics Committee and has been the Chair of the Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, a non-profit organization providing services to refugees and immigrants. Allan also served as the Chair of the Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission.
Allan has been a guest speaker on law and ethics at the University of Minnesota Rochester UMR Connects lecture series, and moderated a public debate on the proposed 2012 Minnesota Voter ID constitutional amendment. He also moderated the public forum of the Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission as part of the Commission’s outreach to obtain public comment on the proposed body camera policy for the Rochester Police Department.
Allan has written and presented continuing education courses for lawyers and mediators, and for insurance and real estate professionals. As an adjunct instructor, Allan has taught courses in law, business and ethics in the United States. He has also presented workshops on international business and international business law to MBA students in China, and has lectured in ethics and leadersship in Vietnam.
Practice areas
15 years
Minnesota and Florida: Wills, Living Wills, Trusts, Probate, Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney
15 years
15 years
15 years
15 years
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
MN | Authorized to Practice | 2006 | 03/15/2022 |
FL | Member in Good Standing | 2006 | 03/28/2022 |
MI | Active And In Good Standing | 2003 | 05/11/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Award for Excellence in ST/Dispute Resolution | CALI Excellence for the Future Award® | N/A |
Award forExcellence in ST/Food & Drug Law | CALI Excellence for the Future Award® | N/A |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Shareholder | Witz Law P.A. | 2006 - Present |
Partner | Smiedt - Witz Attorneys | 1989 - 2001 |
Partner | Arthur E. Abrahams & Gross Attorneys | 1988 - 1989 |
Associate | Arthur E. Abrahams & Gross Attorneys | 1986 - 1987 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board | Member | 2016 - Present |
Mediation and Conflict Solutions (Non-profit Mediation Center) | President | 2010 - Present |
Olmsted County Human Rights Commission | Vice Chair | 2010 - Present |
Minnesota State Bar Association | Member | 2006 - Present |
Florida Bar | Member | 2006 - Present |
State Bar of Michigan | Member | 2003 - Present |
Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission | Chair | 2015 - 2017 |
Olmsted County Bar Association | President | 2014 - 2015 |
Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyers | Member | 2014 - 2014 |
Olmsted County Bar Association | President-Elect | 2013 - 2014 |
Minnesota State Bar Association, 3rd District Bar Association, Ethics Committee | Member | 2013 - 2016 |
Minnesota State Bar Association, 3rd District Bar Association | President | 2012 - 2013 |
Minnesota State Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section | Vice Chair, Publications | 2012 - 2013 |
Minnesota State Bar Association, 3rd District Bar Association, Fee Arbitration Committee | Chair | 2011 - 2016 |
Minnesota State Bar Association, 3rd District Bar Association | Vice President | 2011 - 2012 |
Minnesota State Bar Assembly | Member | 2010 - 2011 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Hamline University School of Law | LLM - Master of Laws for International Lawyers (4.00 GPA) | N/A |
University of Cape Town | LL.M - Master of Laws in Commercial Law | N/A |
Rhodes University, Faculty of Law | LL.B - Bachelor of Laws | N/A |
Hamline University School of Law - Dispute Resolution Institute | Certificate in Dispute Resolution | N/A |
University of Cape Town | BA - Bachelor of Arts | N/A |
Hamline University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor (Magna Cum Laude) | N/A |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Volunteer of the Year 2021 | Minnesota supreme Court | 2021 |
Continuing Education for Mediators | Mediation Ethics & Law II | 2016 |
Continuing Education for Mediators | School Mediations - Legal and Ethical Issues | 2016 |
Continuing Education for Mediators | Advanced Topics in Mediation II | 2016 |
Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission | Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission: Police Body Camera Public Forum - Moderator | 2015 |
Olmsted County Law Library | Minnesota Employment Law "Ban the Box" - One Year Later | 2015 |
May 2015 Public Meeting Olmsted County Human Rights Commission | Minnesota's Open Meeting Law | 2015 |
February 2015 Public Meeting Olmsted County Human Rights Commission | Minnesota’s “Ban the Box” Employment Law | 2015 |
Continuing Education for Mediators | Advanced Topics in Mediation I | 2015 |
Continuing Education for Mediators | Origins & Cultural Impact of Circles in Mediation | 2015 |
Olmsted County Law Library | Minnesota Attorney Ethics Complaints 2014 Update | 2014 |
Olmsted County Law Library | What Happens to that Ethics Complaint? | 2014 |
Olmsted County Law Library | What Every Minnesota Employer Should Know in 2014 | 2014 |
University of Minnesota Rochester UMR Connects | Legal & Ethical Issues in National and International Law | 2013 |
Minnesota State Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution (Continuing Legal Education - Co-Presenter) | Rediscovering and Reinventing Local Bar Association Legal Fee Arbitration Programs | 2013 |
May 2013 Public Meeting Olmsted County Human Rights Commission | What a Difference a Year Makes: Current Minnesota Law of Marriage | 2013 |
Continuing Education for Mediators Rule 114 MN Supreme Court | Advanced Mediation Practice and Problems | 2013 |
University of Minnesota Rochester UMR Connects | Minnesota's Constitutional Amendment | 2012 |
Moderator | Minnesota's Voter ID Amendment | 2012 |
Continuing Education for Mediators | Legal & Ethical Issues for Mediators (MN Supreme Court Rule of Practice 114) | 2012 |
Posted by Nora
March 9, 2017
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