Maria C. Rodriguez - McDermott Will & Emery

Overview


Maria C. Rodriguez advises US and international corporations with regard to employment law compliance and mergers and acquisitions; and defends employment cases and class action litigation. She is a trusted advisor to clients helping them avoid or resolve disputes and protect resources through proactive and strategic planning. She is experienced working with clients in the sports, media and entertainment, technology, food and restaurant, airline, transportation and distribution, health care and fashion industries.

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Results


  • National quick service restaurant (QSR) and distribution and logistics companies
    (food and transportation industries): meal and rest periods, business expense reimbursement, unfair competition and labor code penalties claims. Class of US and State Department of Transportation regulated drivers. Defeated class certification. Decision affirmed on appeal to the California Court of Appeals*
  • National bank / financial industry:
    alleged exemption misclassification. Branch and assistant branch managers claimed misclassification, unpaid overtime and penalties. Defeated class certification. Defeated plaintiffs’ motions in limine prior to remaining single-plaintiff trial that defeated plaintiff*
  • Multinational media and entertainment company:
    meal and rest periods, business expense reimbursements, split shifts, reporting time pay, Business and Professions Code. All California non-exempt employee class was reduced by over one-fifth and resolved for less than one-fifteenth of the potential value*

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Recognitions


  • Chambers USA, California: Labor & Employment, 2017 to 2023
  • Legal 500 US, Labor and Employment Disputes: Defense, 2019, 2021 to 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation, Labor and Employment and Employment Law – Management, 2021 to 2023
  • Daily Journal, Top Women Lawyers, 2019 to 2023
  • Los Angeles Business Journal, Top 100 Lawyers, 2022
  • The National Law Journal, Entertainment Law Trailblazer, 2022
  • Daily Journal, Top Labor & Employment Lawyers, 2019 and 2020
  • Super Lawyers, Employment Litigation, 2012 to 2018

Community


  • Law360, 2022, Editorial Board for Media & Entertainment
  • Los Angeles County Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section, executive committee member
  • Cuban-American Bar Association, former president
  • Women’s Sports Foundation, supporter
  • Women In Film, executive member
  • Natasha Watley Foundation, board of directors,
  • Ketchum YMCA, former board of managers
  • CAN-Do, former board of directors

Credentials


Education
Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, JD, 1997
University of California – Los Angeles, BA, 1993

Admissions
California

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