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 regular 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, Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
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
- March 25, 2012 - Business Insurance - "Severance Pay Must Be Set With Equality In Mind"
- February 23, 2012 - Inside Counsel - "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 - Inside Counsel - "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 - Inside Counsel - "Lenient Leaves"
- July 1, 2010 - Inside Counsel - "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 - Inside Counsel - "Gender Stereotyping Leads to Title VII Claim"
- November 1, 2009 - Inside Counsel - "Gay People Can Bring Title VII Gender Stereotyping Claims"
- July 1, 2009 - Inside Counsel - "The Parent Trap"
- March 2008 - HR Magazine - "Pep Talk May Support Claim"
- May 21, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Taking FMLA Leave Does Not Affect Employee’s Obligations Under Non-FMLA Attendance Policies"
- April 9, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Issue: Independent Contractor May Be Viewed As Employee For Purposes Of Title VII Liability"
- March 19, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Title VII Protects Both Current and Former Employees From Discriminatory Adverse Employment Actions"
- January 16, 2012 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Company's "100% Healed" Policy Does Not Create per se Disability Discrimination."
- December 19, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "OFCCP’s Proposed Revisions to Regs Require Increased Obligations and Affirmative Action Regarding Disabled Individuals "
- December 6, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "High School Diploma as Pre-Requisite to Employment May Violate the ADA "
- November 21, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Use of “English-Only” Policies is Subject of Disagreement Between Governmental Agencies "
- November 21, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Alleged Comments by HR Director Sufficient to Defeat Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment "
- October 31, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Supervisor’s Ill-Considered E-Mail Forms the Basis of an FMLA Lawsuit "
- October 3, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Inconsistent Treatment of Older Worker May Lead to Legal Liability"
- August 9, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is Not an “Adverse Employment Action” for Purposes of Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws"
- August 1, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "GINA Prohibits Financial Incentives as Inducement to Provide Genetic Information as Part of Employee Wellness Program"
- June 16, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Employer’s Actions Have Unintended Consequences in Texas Whistle-Blower Case"
- June 6, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "The NLRB is Making Clear Its Position Regarding Social Media Communications"
- June 2011 - HR Magazine - "USERRA Does Not Provide Claim for Hostile Work Environment"