Luisa Lopez is an associate in the firm's Labor and Employment Group, where she represents public and private sector clients in employment litigation and counsels employers on diverse employment matters.
Employment Litigation. Ms. Lopez concentrates her litigation practice on the representation of employers in employment matters before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Her experience covers the full spectrum of employment litigation in both the single plaintiff and class action contexts, including harassment, discrimination and retaliation lawsuits; restrictive covenant, unfair competition and trade secret actions; breach of contract matters; wage and hour actions; and wrongful termination claims.
Ms. Lopez's litigation experience also includes defending clients against employee claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, defamation, false light, and abuse of process.
Employment Counseling. Ms. Lopez counsels clients on all facets of the employer-employee relationship, including employee discipline and termination; preparation of employment contracts, personnel policies and handbooks; employee classification; computer-related privacy issues; investigation of employee misconduct; management training; and preventing unlawful harassment.
Traditional Labor Law. Ms. Lopez's labor law experience includes representing employers before the National Labor Relations Board in union organization campaigns, unfair labor practice proceedings, and grievance arbitrations. Ms. Lopez regularly provides training for supervisors on union avoidance.
Spanish-Language Services. Fluent in Spanish, Ms. Lopez provides bilingual training for management on a variety of labor and employment topics. Ms. Lopez also regularly conducts internal investigations in Spanish that involve interviewing Spanish-speaking employees, reviewing and translating Spanish-language data, and providing related bilingual services.
Activities
Ms. Lopez is active in Venable's recruiting efforts, frequently interviewing candidates for summer associate and lateral attorney positions. She also serves as a mentor to summer associates during the summer program.
Ms. Lopez is a regular participant in Venable's pro bono program.
Industries
Education
Nonprofit Organizations and Associations
Construction
New Media, Media and Entertainment
Memberships
Hispanic National Bar Association
Maryland State Bar Association
News
March 28, 2011, The Venable Foundation honored as a distinguished partner by the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
Publications
August 2011, Final Rule on Notice of Employee Rights Covers Many Non-Unionized Employers
Maurice Baskin, Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
December 16, 2010, So You Want To Be On The Internet ®
Maurice Baskin, Thomas A. Cohn, George E. Constantine, Todd R. Farnsworth, Mikhia E. Hawkins, Lisa M. Hix, George W. Johnston, Matthew T. Journy, Joshua J. Kaufman, Gilead I. Light, Luisa M. Lopez, Caryn G. Pass, Janet F. Satterthwaite, Melissa Landau Steinman, Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Armand J. (A.J.) Zottola
Related Topic Area(s): Social Media
September 16, 2010, Social Networking from 9-5: Unique Challenges Facing Employers
Luisa M. Lopez
Related Topic Area(s): Electronic Communications, Employment Law, Social Media
September 2010, Union "Shame" Banners Not Confrontational Enough for the NLRB
Maurice Baskin, Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
May 12, 2010, Nonprofit Labor and Employment: Challenges, Solutions and Legal Pitfalls
David R. Warner, Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, Luisa M. Lopez
Related Topic Area(s): Employment Law
November 16, 2009, New Law Expands FMLA Coverage for Military Families
Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
January 30, 2009, Supreme Court Clarifies Reach of Title VII's Anti-Retaliation Provision
Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
June 5, 2008, Supreme Court Breathes New Life into Retaliation Claims; President Bush Signs Law Banning Genetic Information Discrimination in Health Insurance and Employment
Lesley Pate Marlin, Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
October 16, 2007, Employers Face Significant New Challenges Under Maryland's Amended Anti-discrimination Statute
Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
April 11, 2007, DC Circuit Holds That Non-Unionized Employer's Personnel Handbook Violates Employee Rights Under The National Labor Relations Act
Luisa M. Lopez
Labor & Employment News Alert
Events/Speaking Engagements
Past Events
April 19, 2011, Venable Breakfast Briefing: "How to Manage Your U.S. Workforce"
Brian C. Dunning, Mark S. Vecchio, Michael J. Volpe, Luisa M. Lopez
September 16, 2010, Social Networking from 9-5: Unique Challenges Facing Employers
Luisa M. Lopez
May 13, 2010, "Nonprofit Labor and Employment: Challenges, Solutions and Legal Pitfalls" audioconference presented by Association TRENDS
Luisa M. Lopez, Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum, David R. Warner
Related Topic Area(s): Employment Law
May 11, 2010, Legal Quick Hit: "What the Developing Federal Legislative and Regulatory Agenda Means to Your Nonprofit as an Employer," for the Association of Corporate Counsel's Nonprofit Organizations Committee
David R. Warner, Luisa M. Lopez, Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum
Related Topic Area(s): Employment Law