News Summary
Katherine Forster and Margaret Maraschino from Munger, Tolles & Olson have been recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence list for their significant contributions to labor and employment law. Forster is honored for the fourth consecutive year, with Maraschino earning recognition for the third time. Their expertise showcases the importance of skilled legal representation in this evolving field.
Los Angeles – Munger, Tolles & Olson partners Katherine Forster and Margaret Maraschino have been recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2025 Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys list, which highlights prominent labor and employment litigators in the Los Angeles area. This achievement underlines their significant contributions to the field, with Forster earning this honor for the fourth consecutive year and Maraschino for the third time.
Katherine Forster has an impressive track record, having litigated over 100 class, collective, and representative actions. Her expertise particularly shines in guiding companies through sensitive claims at the pre-filing stage. Notably, she represented BlackBerry in a lawsuit against a former executive and played a pivotal role in assisting the Downtown Women’s Center in defeating most claims in a comprehensive wage and hour class and PAGA action.
Meanwhile, Margaret Maraschino specializes in defending corporations against a myriad of employment-related cases, including wage and hour class actions, discrimination lawsuits, and issues surrounding wrongful terminations. Her strategic insights are highly sought after, particularly during mergers and corporate transitions, as she provides tailored advice to major companies. This includes internationally recognized figures from the corporate sector, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.
The recognition extends beyond Munger, Tolles & Olson, with Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s partners Roland M. Juarez and Emily Burkhardt Vicente also named on the 2025 Leaders of Influence list. Juarez is well-regarded for managing high-stakes employment cases, such as class actions and wage and hour disputes, achieving favorable outcomes for his clients in various industries across the United States. This marks his fourth consecutive year being recognized, emphasizing his sustained excellence in trial work, as recognized by multiple legal publications and directories.
On the other hand, Emily Burkhardt Vicente stands out as an accomplished trial lawyer who defends Fortune 100 companies in complex employment litigation. She has experience managing hybrid class and collective action cases and advises employers on compliance strategies to minimize disputes related to wage and hour laws.
Additional notable attorneys include Todd Scherwin from Fisher Phillips and Laura Worsinger from Dykema. Scherwin is known for his advocacy in employment issues and has a proven record of victories, achieving success in cases even before the United States Supreme Court. Laura Worsinger boasts an impeccable profile in wage-and-hour class actions, with a perfect track record of preventing class certification for plaintiffs.
This year’s recognition serves to highlight the ongoing importance of skilled legal representation in the evolving landscape of labor and employment law in California. The selected attorneys have established themselves as leaders in the field, providing strategic guidance and defense for a myriad of clients, from individual businesses to high-profile corporations.
Being named in the Leaders of Influence list not only reflects the individual attorneys’ accomplishments but also signifies the significant role they play in shaping labor and employment jurisprudence in the region. Their expertise and dedication continue to influence the legal landscape, ensuring that companies are well-equipped to navigate complex employment challenges.
The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Labor & Employment Attorneys list is an annual recognition that emphasizes the importance of effective legal representation in employment matters, drawing attention to the very best practitioners in the business.
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Additional Resources
- Munger, Tolles & Olson News
- Wikipedia: Labor Law
- Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP News
- Google Search: 2025 Leaders of Influence Labor and Employment Attorneys
- LA Business Journal: Todd Scherwin
- Google Scholar: Labor and Employment Law
- LA Business Journal: Laura Worsinger
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Employment Law
- LA Business Journal: Laura Reathaford
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LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
