MariaPapasevastos

Maria has extensive experience defending employers before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and other tribunals in a wide array of employment law disputes, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and breach of contract matters. An experienced trial attorney, Maria has successfully litigated trials to verdict on a variety of claims. She once secured a complete defense jury verdict for a Fortune 25 client following a six-day trial in the Eastern District of New York where the plaintiff had claimed discrimination based on national origin, race, and religion, failure to accommodate, hostile work environment, and breach of contract. She also won a complete defense victory for a national retailer in a pregnancy discrimination case following a four-day jury trial in the Eastern District of New York.

Maria serves as a trusted advisor and outside investigator for numerous Fortune 500 companies and organizations, partnering with human resources and legal professionals to navigate current and emerging legal risks. She regularly advises employers on company policy and procedure development, as well as federal, state, and local employment law compliance, with an emphasis on nationwide pay equity and pay transparency matters. Most recently, in response to the proliferation of pay transparency laws nationwide, Maria’s counseling practice has focused on wage range disclosure laws at the state and local level. She counsels employers of varying sizes and industries on compliance with such laws and provides strategic advice for implementation of practices and procedures that are legally compliant while also meeting business objectives.

In addition to her employment law practice, Maria has experience representing developers, institutions, and nonprofit organizations in New York City land use and zoning matters, including variances, special permits, designations and alterations of landmarked buildings, and air rights transactions. Her work in this area also includes representing clients in proceedings before the New York City Planning Commission, Board of Standards and Appeals, and Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Maria joined the firm initially as part of the Labor & Employment department’s fellowship program, an innovative training-focused program for law students with an affinity for labor and employment law. While in law school, Maria also served as a legal intern for the Honorable Joanna Seybert, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, and at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.