Margaret G. Maraschino

Her practice primarily focuses on labor and employment matters. She frequently defends leading national and California companies against wage and hour class and collective actions, discrimination claims and termination challenges.

In addition to the litigation, trial, and appeal of employment disputes, Ms. Maraschino also provides strategic advice to major companies on a broad range of employment matters, including issues related to mergers and other corporate transitions. She has extensive experience in representing clients in the banking, distribution, media, entertainment, and retail industries. Ms. Maraschino also regularly advises individuals and non-profits regarding employment issues.

Ms. Maraschino recently obtained summary judgment and the dismissal of a statewide wage and hour class action on behalf of a mortgage lender in Orange County Superior Court. She has also succeeded in defeating a variety of employment claims, ranging from discrimination to defamation, at trial and in arbitration. Ms. Maraschino has appeared in arbitration matters before FINRA, including a recent case that resulted in a complete defense victory for a major financial firm. She also advises employers regarding dealings with labor unions and has represented organizations in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.

In addition to her employment practice, Ms. Maraschino enjoys representing and advising clients in a broad range of other complex civil litigation matters. She has previously defended major companies against environmental, tax, malpractice, insurance, securities and contract claims.

Ms. Maraschino also maintains an active pro bono practice. She is representing an inmate on Louisiana’s death row in seeking habeas relief. She partnered with the ACLU and MALDEF in challenging the constitutionality of Arizona’s SB 1070 “show me your papers” legislation. She has represented juvenile applicants seeking asylum before the immigration courts and USCIS. She has also worked closely with the Alliance for Children’s Rights to advocate on behalf of students with special needs as well as representing foster parents seeking to finalize adoptions of their foster children.

In her spare time, Ms. Maraschino volunteers at the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law and assists individuals who are representing themselves in a variety of family law matters. She is a member of the board of directors and on the executive committee of Amanecer, a non-profit organization that provides counseling and mental health services to low-income children and families in Los Angeles who are recovering from abuse. Ms. Maraschino is also a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee and co-chairs its Women+ Initiative.

Ms. Maraschino received her law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law and was elected a member of the Order of the Coif. Her interests included intellectual property and privacy issues and she published two articles on these topics. She was publishing editor of the Berkeley Technology and Law Journal and a Fellow of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology. Ms. Maraschino’s team won a prize in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition, which focuses on trademark law.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Maraschino completed a master’s degree in education while teaching twelfth grade at Compton High School as a member of Teach For America’s national teaching corps.