Lisa Southerland is an Attorney-Advisor with the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she supports programs in the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

She began her legal career as an associate with Steptoe LLP, and later practiced at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.  Her practice focused on complex commercial disputes, consumer litigation, and internal and government investigations.  Lisa also previously served as a Resident Legal Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Lisa earned her J.D. (summa cum laude) from American University Washington College of Law, where she was the Executive Editor of the American University Law Review, and her B.A. from Emory University.  Before attending law school, Lisa served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia from 2011-2013.  She is conversational in Armenian and Spanish and is admitted to practice law in Washington, D.C. and Washington State.