Maria Greco Danaher regularly represents and counsels companies in employment related matters. She specializes in representing management in labor relations and employment litigation, and in training, counseling, and advising human resource departments and corporate management on these topics. Maria has first chaired trials in both federal and state courts since 1986, and regularly instructs attorneys and students in issues related to trial tactics.
In addition to her litigation experience, Maria regularly acts as a “neutral” for the local federal court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, and was a co-drafter of the local rule related to ADR. She counsels and trains companies on dispute resolution procedures and facilitative communication, and is a member of the firm’s Diversity Steering Committee. Maria also writes regularly for HR News, a monthly publication of the Society for Human Resource Management, and is on the Advisory Board of “You & the Law,” a publication of the National Institute of Business Management. She is a regular contributor to the Allegheny County Bar Association's Lawyer's Journal. She is a presenter for Pennsylvania Bar Institute continuing legal education programs, and is an adjunct professor for the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and has been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America.”
Experience
Maria’s prior experience includes having acted as in-house litigation counsel for a Fortune 100 company based in Pittsburgh, where she was involved in oversight and management of litigation done by outside counsel in over twenty domestic locations, including general tort litigation and employment law matters. She also coordinated counseling and training of that company’s management, supervisory, and line employees regarding basic obligations under various employment-related statutes.
Maria also has acted as outside counsel for various corporations on labor and employment issues, including participation in defense of claims made to EEOC and state agencies, resolution of grievances, and trials of employment matters in both federal and state courts. Her current legal work includes formulation and drafting of corporate employment policies and procedures for national corporations and small businesses, as well as training and counseling regarding various labor and employment issues, workplace violence avoidance, and cultural diversity. In addition, she regularly instructs attorneys in trial tactics and procedures, both through the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and through in-house programs.
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
U.S. District Court, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Circuits
Education and Honors
- Rated AV (its highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (yearly since 1999)
- Best Lawyer in America (yearly since 2007)
Professional Activities
- Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA)
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- Adjunct Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- American Inns of Court, Amy Reynolds Hay Chapter (Executive Board Member)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Instructor, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA)
- American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) (Vice-chair, Labor & Employment Practice Group)
- AHLA Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institute - "The Intersection of Peer Review and Discipline of Employed Physicians" - Las Vegas - February 11, 2011
- Client Seminar - "Handling Discrimination Complaints: Training for Managers and Supervisors" - Beckley - November 11, 2010
- National Institute of Business Management - "Employment Law 101" - webinar - November 4, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Briefing - "Collision Course: Physician Staffing Issues and Employment-Related Lawsuits" - Pittsburgh - October 26, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing - "Independent Contractors: Is there any such thing . . . ?" - Pittsburgh - October 20, 2010
- Providing Advice and Guidance in Internal Investigations - "Investigating Employee Complaints: A Protocol for Offering Legal Direction to HR" - Woodcliff Lake - October 5, 2010
- Healthcare Goes Lean Conference - "The Intersection of Employment and Peer Review" - Pittsburgh - August 27, 2010
- HortySpringer Seminars - "Employed Physicians’ Credentials Files vs. Employment Files: Does it Matter?”" - audio conference - August 13, 2010
- NYU School of Law - "NITA Advocacy Teacher Training Program" - New York - June 11, 2010 - June 13, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar - "Workplace Romance: Minimizing the Legal Risks" - Las Vegas - May 7, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing - "Tips Toward Trouble-Free Terminations" - Pittsburgh - April 20, 2010
- PA Bar Institute’s Annual Healthcare Law Symposium - "The Hybrid Medical Staff: Do Employed and Independent Physicians Mix?" - Philadelphia - March 11, 2010
- PA Bar Institute’s Employment Law West - "Family and Medical Leave Act: Employee’s Duty to Cooperate" - Pittsburgh - January 21, 2010
- American Health Lawyers Association - "H1N1: the Flu Shot Heard ‘Round the World" - webinar - January 14, 2010
In The News
- May 2013 - InsideCounsel - "Employer Not Obligated to Provide FMLA 'Light Duty' Assignment"
- April 4, 2013 - Human Resource Executive - "Same-Sex Harassment Not Always Straightforward"
- January 27, 2013 - Pittsburgh Post Gazette - "Regulators set stance on worker Web posts"
- January 2013 - InsideCounsel - "EEOC warns employers of discrimination related to domestic violence"
- March 25, 2012 - Business Insurance - "Severance Pay Must Be Set With Equality In Mind"
- February 23, 2012 - InsideCounsel - "EEOC Rule Defines "Reasonable" in ADEA Cases"
- February 22, 2012 - Society for Human Resource Management - "Undegreed Applicants May Be Hired in Some Positions"
- December 21, 2011 - BNA's Employment Discrimination Report - "What HR Says Can Be Used Against It; Experts Suggest Termination 'Talking Points'"
- November 2011 - InsideCounsel - "Cat's Paw Case Leaves Imprint on Proper Employee Termination Steps"
- November 13, 2010 - Pittsburgh Tribune Review - "Posting Gripes About Job a Risky Practice"
- August 1, 2010 - InsideCounsel - "Lenient Leaves"
- July 1, 2010 - InsideCounsel - "Lay Testimony Can Create Fact Issues in FMLA Case"
- April 16, 2010 - Law360 - "Bias Suits Rise, Spurred In Part By Stronger ADA"
- April 1, 2010 - InsideCounsel - "Gender Stereotyping Leads to Title VII Claim"
- November 1, 2009 - InsideCounsel - "Gay People Can Bring Title VII Gender Stereotyping Claims"
- May 6, 2013 - SHRM.org - "Ostracism and Petty Mistreatments Can Add Up to Hostile Work Environment"
- May 6, 2013 - Ogletree Deakins Blog Post - "Ostracism and Petty Mistreatments May Collectively Rise to the Level of Hostile Work Environment for Light Duty Employee"
- April 26, 2013 - SHRM.org - "Employer's Job Description Instrumental in Determining Essential Duties"
- April 26, 2013 - Ogletree Deakins Blog Post - "Does Partial Deafness Constitute a Disability Under the ADAAA? The Question Remains Unanswered"
- April 22, 2013 - Ogletree Deakins Blog Post - "Employer’s Judgment About What Constitutes an Essential Job Function Carries Substantial Weight"
- April 9, 2013 - Ogletree Deakins Blog Post - "Dishonest Response on an Initial Application Can Come Back to Haunt an Employee"
- March 17, 2013 - Business Management Daily - "Firing for Facebook Post Doesn't Violate Texas Privacy Law"
- November 27, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Blog Post - "Termination for Facebook Posting Does Not Violate State Invasion of Privacy Law"
- November 20, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Blog Post - "Employee’s Signs of Severe Emotional Distress and Anxiety May Constitute a “Report” of the Need for FMLA Leave"
- October 1, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "NLRB Is Finding Ways To Implement Its Employee Rights Notice Posting, In Spite Of Legal Challenges"
- September 10, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Definition Of “Concerted Activity” Continues To Be Construed Broadly By The NLRB"
- August 27, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "An Indefinite Exemption From The Essential Functions Of A Job Is Not A Reasonable Accommodation Under The ADA"
- August 20, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Federal Appeals Court Resists Categorizing “Sexual Stereotyping” Claim As Violation Of Title VII"
- August 6, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "FMLA Does Not Prohibit Termination Of Employee Who Abuses Leave"
- July 30, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Employers Must Be Able To Recognize A Weingarten Request In Order To Avoid Liability Under The NLRA"