Maureen has defended more than two hundred discrimination charges before state and federal agencies, including those based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual harassment and Equal Pay Act violations), sexual orientation, disability, age, and retaliation. She also has considerable experience defending employment discrimination cases in both state and federal courts (including cases involving multiple plaintiffs), as well as cases alleging various state law claims such as intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent retention, negligent supervision, and wrongful termination. Maureen also devotes a substantial amount of her practice to wage and hour issues, including preventive consultation, audits, and defense of wage and hour litigation (including those involving class claims). Maureen's wage and hour litigation experience includes cases involving state and federal minimum wage and overtime violations, stemming from alleged off-the-clock work, deletion of hours, and/or improperly-applied tip credits. She has counseled clients on these and other wage and hour issues, such as white collar exemptions, tip pooling/sharing, break requirements, child labor issues, payroll frequency, salary deductions, and compensability of time. Maureen also has experience with assisting smaller, but growing, companies with the numerous employment-related issues that arise, including creating an employee handbook, providing advise and counsel regarding personnel actions and decisions, and ensuring proper pay practices. Finally, Maureen has investigated numerous claims of discrimination and retaliation pursuant to clients' internal grievance programs, acting as a trusted neutral fact-finder. Maureen is particularly proud of being the recipient of an award, generally reserved for company employees, by a client’s legal department for her responsiveness and legal expertise.

Representative Matters

• Obtained jury verdict in federal court on race discrimination and retaliation claim against major retailer.
• Obtained directed verdict in highly-publicized public hearing regarding redlining allegations against major chain restaurant
• Secured dismissal of discrimination lawsuit filed against bank
• Prevailed on summary judgment in discrimination lawsuit filed against major chain restaurant by former employee
• Obtained summary judgment in discrimination lawsuit filed by three employees of major retail establishment
• Authored amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court
• Obtained severe discovery sanctions against plaintiffs in fifteen related lawsuits filed by fifteen former employees, forcing nominal settlements of potential class action

Prior Legal Experience

Paralegal with Constangy for five years prior to graduating from law school

Publications/Presentations

"Money Men" (and Women) Are Winning Big Bucks in Overtime, The Job Description, Winter 2007, published by the DRI Employment Law Committee
"The History and Future of Class Action Lawsuits," a publication of the Washington Legal Foundation
"Why Defense Counsel Should Be Aware of the Growing Trend of FLSA Collective Actions," The Job Description, Spring 2004, published by the DRI Employment Law Committee
"Responding to Discrimination Charges," a presentation to Dallas Area Paralegal Association, June 2005
"Rainmaking and Other Skills Learned from the 2006 WILL Academy," The Woman Advocate, Fall 2006
"Are Class Action Waivers in Employment Arbitration Agreements Too Good to Be True for Employers?", Employment & Labor Relations Law (publication of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation), Winter 2007 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

Professional Activities/Associations

American Bar Association
Loudoun County Bar Association
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Northern Virginia Society for Human Resource Management (NOVA SHRM)

Awards and Recognitions

Virginia Rising Star

Civic/Charitable Activities/Associations

Business Committee Member of Co-op Preschool
Member of Food Pantry Committee, collecting and distributing food to Food Bank for people in need

Other Personal Background Information and Interests

Maureen is married to her husband Craig, and they have three beautiful children.  She most enjoys spending time with her family (including their two almost-always-lovable Labrador retrievers), particularly during family camping trips.  She also enjoys gardening, playing soccer, and wine tasting.

Education

George Mason University School of Law,
Arlington, VA
J.D., 2001
Moot Court finalist and recipient of the Betty Southard Murphy Award in Labor Law

Strayer University,
Arlington, VA
B.S., magna cum laude, 1997

Admitted

• Virginia, 2001
• United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2002
• United States District Courts for the Western District of Virginia, 2002