Professor Steinitz's talk is based on her book The Case for an International Court of Civil Justice which argues that we live in a world in which the victims of cross-border mass torts de facto lack a court to turn to in order to pursue legal action against multinational corporations responsible for disasters, atrocities, and other harms. And even though tort victims ultimately receive no redress, corporations must nonetheless spend large sums to defend against sprawling, parallel litigations. She argues that the only way to provide a fair, legitimate, and efficient process for both victims and corporations is to create an International Court of Civil Justice (ICCJ).

Professor Maya Steinitz teaches civil procedure, international business transactions, international arbitration and business associations (corporations). Her research focuses on a wide range of topics including the intersection of civil litigation and corporate law, public and business international law, transnational dispute resolution, and the global legal profession. Her articles have been published by leading law reviews and law journals published by Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Vanderbilt Law School, Oxford University, and others.

Prior to joining the University of Iowa College of Law, Professor Steinitz held a dual appointment as an Associate-in-Law and Lecturer at Columbia Law School (2009-2011). She is currently a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School and has also served as a Visiting Professor at Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to joining Columbia Law School, Professor Steinitz served as a litigator at Latham & Watkins, LLP (2003-2009) and Flemming, Zulack & Williamson LLP (2001-2002). She also clerked for the Hon. Esther Hayut, currently the Chief Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court (1998-1999). Professor Steinitz remains active in dispute resolution and frequently serves as an arbitrator in both international and domestic arbitrations.