Maria Tavano

Associate

Wayne, NJ | New York

Maria_Tavano@gshllp.com
(973) 256-9000 (New Jersey)
(212) 380-9560 (New York)
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Biography

Maria Tavano is a member of the Firm’s Employment and Litigation groups. Her practice involves defending management in both the private and public sectors in a wide range of employment matters, including discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims brought under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, EPA, and sections 1981 and 1983 of the Civil Rights Acts, as well as similar state and city statutes. She has experience litigating in both New York and New Jersey federal and state courts. Ms. Tavano has successfully represented clients in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, the New York State Division of Human Rights and the New York City Commission on Human Rights, with several matters resulting in no probable cause findings at the pre-conference stage.

Ms. Tavano also represents corporate clients and public entities in complex tort defense, commercial litigation, education law, and other litigation matters. Her experience includes briefing a successful summary judgment motion for a nationally chartered bank against claims of fraud and predatory lending.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Tavano served as a law clerk to the Honorable Estela M. De La Cruz, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division and as a judicial intern to the Honorable Edward H. Lehner, Supreme Court of New York, Civil Branch. Ms. Tavano was also a summer associate and law clerk in the New Jersey office of Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan.

While in law school, Ms. Tavano was a student attorney with the Rutgers Federal Tax Clinic; a member of the Rutgers Moot Court Board, earned the Best Brief Award in the Nathan Baker Mock Trial Competition; and was the Articles Editor for the Women’s Rights Law Reporter, which published her student Note entitled, Trafficking in Persons: Preventing Forced Labor. She has also authored articles on a variety of employment matters, including intern wage claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, military leave amendments to the Family Medical Leave Act, and developments in same-sex marriage legislation.

Ms. Tavano earned her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law – Newark. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Journalism/Media Studies at Rutgers College. Ms. Tavano is a court-certified mediator and is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.