Akin Strengthens Labor & Employment Litigation Practice with Addition of Margaret Maraschino in Los Angeles

(Los Angeles) – Akin announced today that Margaret (Maggie) Maraschino has joined the firm as a litigation partner in Los Angeles, strengthening the firm’s market‑leading labor & employment litigation capabilities amid rising demand across California’s highly regulated and rapidly evolving business landscape. Her arrival expands Akin’s ability to handle the most sophisticated employment disputes and class actions facing employers nationwide.

Maggie is a leading advisor on complex labor & employment matters. She regularly leads the defense of cases against leading national and California companies against wage-and-hour class and collective actions, discrimination claims and termination challenges before federal and state courts and arbitration panels. In 2023 and 2024, she was named to the National Law Journal’s list of Employment & Discrimination Law Trailblazers and has also been named to Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

In addition to the litigation, trial and appeal of employment disputes, Maggie is an in-demand counselor. She provides strategic advice to major companies on a broad range of issues that confront employers, including matters related to mergers and other corporate transitions. She also has a niche practice advising the home offices and charitable foundations of celebrities and ultra-high-net-worth individuals regarding labor and employment issues arising from their personal teams and philanthropic endeavors. 

Her clients include multiple internationally recognized celebrities and leaders in the corporate world, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. She has also represented many game-changing companies in the financial services, media and entertainment, retail, hospitality and energy sectors.

Maggie has significant trial and arbitration experience and has successfully defended clients against a variety of employment claims, including through related appeals. She also advises employers regarding dealings with labor unions and has represented organizations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the National Labor Relations Board.

“Maggie’s arrival further positions Akin as a destination platform for top-tier litigators in California,” said Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi. “The depth of her experience with the labor and employment challenges companies face in an increasingly complex regulatory environment will build on our track record of delivering the best possible results for our clients.”

“Maggie is a highly accomplished litigator with meaningful trial and arbitration experience that aligns squarely with our clients’ most critical needs,” said Joseph Sorkin, leader of the firm’s litigation practice. “As demand continues to rise for sophisticated employment litigation counsel, her broad‑based capabilities further expand our capacity to serve investment funds, public companies, and emerging growth clients across industries.”

Bob Lian, head of Akin’s labor & employment litigation practice, added: “Maggie complements and enhances the outstanding team we’ve assembled in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. We are thrilled to welcome her to the firm.”

“Akin’s global litigation platform—especially its powerhouse labor and employment team—provides the ideal environment to continue growing my practice,” said Maggie on her move to the firm. “I’m excited to join my former colleague Laura Smolowe and leverage the strength of the firm’s platform to help clients navigate their most complex and high-stakes labor and employment challenges.”

Maggie’s arrival follows other high-profile additions to Akin’s labor & employment practice, including Laura D. Smolowe in Los Angeles and Jessica Rosenberg in New York.

Maggie joins the firm from Munger, Tolles, & Olson LLP where she was a partner.

About Akin’s Labor & Employment Litigation Practice

Described by Chambers USA as a “labor and employment giant [that is a] go-to firm for high-profile cases,” Akin has been repeatedly recognized as having one of the nation’s premier labor and employment practices. The firm’s labor and employment lawyers represent a wide range of employers on their most complex and challenging labor and employment legal problems, from wage and hour class actions and discrimination cases, to arbitrations involving key talent, to complex labor controversies.

Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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