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Marissa A.
Mastroianni

Member

Office 201.525.6223
Email mmastroianni@coleschotz.com
Maria Lopez |Legal Practice Assistant
201.489.3000 ext. 3003
mlopez@coleschotz.com
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Marissa A. Mastroianni is a member in the firm’s Employment, Litigation, and Cannabis practice groups.

 

Experience

Known for her expertise in employment law compliance and employment litigation matters, Marissa serves as a trusted advisor to her clients. She not only counsels employers regarding complying with the ever-changing employment law landscape, Marissa’s practical advice also incorporates business operations and risk management considerations.

In addition to participating in day-to-day discussions with clients regarding personnel decisions, employee leave and accommodation requests, and employee complaints, Marissa routinely prepares employee handbooks, policies, hiring protocols and packages, and workplace safety programs. On behalf of employers and, in some cases, high-level professionals and executives, she also regularly drafts and negotiates various types of agreements, including, employment agreements, separation agreements, confidentiality agreements, and restrictive covenant agreements. Marissa additionally conducts interactive discrimination, harassment, and diversity training for employers.

Marissa litigates a broad spectrum of employment litigation matters before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration tribunals. She zealously defends her clients against claims and charges brought by current and former employees alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, breach of contract, violation of restrictive covenant obligations, and misappropriation of confidential information claims. Marissa is also well-versed in representing clients in connection with investigations launched by various federal and local government entities, including, the U.S. Department of Labor, the N.J. Department of Labor, the N.Y. Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the N.J. Division on Civil Rights, the N.Y. Division of Human Rights, the N.Y.C. Commission on Human Rights, and the N.Y.C. Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

Additionally, Marissa is often called upon to conduct independent workplace investigations and audits in response to complaints or claims made by current or former employees involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other related issues. When conducting these sensitive investigations and audits, Marissa understands that businesses need an attorney who has the communication skills and tact necessary to effectively interview witnesses to gather information and evidence to serve as the foundation for the investigatory findings.

As the resident employment attorney in the firm’s Cannabis practice group since 2018, Marissa counsels employers regarding the growing anti-discrimination protections and drug testing regulations passed to protect medical and recreational cannabis users across the country. Marissa drafts substance-free workplace policies, drug testing programs, and hiring protocols for employers across industries that not only emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe working environment, but also foster positive company culture that is inclusive for cannabis users. As effective alternatives to impractical anti-cannabis policies, she also works with employers in creating and implementing workplace safety training for employees at all levels.

Prior to joining Cole Schotz, Marissa worked as a labor and employment associate for Proskauer Rose LLP. She also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Stephan C. Hansbury, P.J. Ch. (ret.) of the Chancery Division-General Equity Part.

 

Honors & Awards

Marissa is regularly called upon by publications and media outlets for her comments and insights into changes to employment laws, regulations, and government-issued guidance. Marissa has also received various honors given for exhibiting excellence in the practice area. In 2022, Marissa was named as an “Associate to Watch for Labor & Employment Law” in the prestigious Chambers USA Guide and a “New Leader of the Bar” by the New Jersey Law Journal. Additionally, Marissa was recognized as a “2022 Employment Law Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal. She was also recognized as a 2022 Cannabis Law Trailblazer by The National Law Journal. Since 2020, Marissa has been selected annually to the New Jersey Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list for her work in labor and employment law. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

See Award Methodology.

Areas of focus

    Practices
  • Employment
  • Employment Litigation 
  • Employment Counseling 
  • Employee Handbooks & Workplace Policies 
  • Employment Arrangements & Separation Agreements 
  • Workplace Safety Protocols 
  • Analysis of Worker Classification
  • Workplace Audits & Investigations
  • Government Investigations & Charges
  • Workplace Training
  • Litigation
  • Employment Litigation 

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D.
Lehigh University, B.A.

Bar & Court Admissions

New York
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

Honors & Awards

Cannabis Law Trailblazer, National Law Journal
Chambers USA
Employment Law Trailblazer, National Law Journal
New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars
New Leader of the Bar, New Jersey Law Journal
I’ve worked almost exclusively with Marissa Mastroianni for the past few years, and enjoy the relationship and trust we have developed. She has broad knowledge of employment law and able to help create strategies to achieve desired results while mitigating risk. She is always prompt to respond, including evenings/weekends as needed.
Jean Duncan Acme Smoked Fish Corporation
  • Blogs
  • Firm News
  • Webinars + Events
  • Awards + Recognitions

Blogs

  1. 01

    Attention Required: Amendments to the New Jersey Mini-WARN Act Will Go Into Effect Shortly

    January 19, 2023
  2. 02

    New York Passes Statewide Pay Transparency Law and New Electronic Workplace Posting Requirements

    January 4, 2023
  3. 03

    New York State Adopts Expanded Protections for Nursing Employees in the Workplace

    January 3, 2023
  4. 04

    New York Enacts Training Requirements for Certain Hospitality Employees and Posting Requirements to Combat Human Trafficking

    December 21, 2022
  5. 05

    Effective Immediately – Federal Prohibition on Nondisclosure and Nondisparagement Clauses in Pre-Dispute Agreements Regarding Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Enacted

    December 19, 2022
  6. 06

    New Jersey Enacts Job Protections for Health Care Workers Following Change in Control of Their Employer

    December 8, 2022
  7. 07

    New York Law to Prohibit Employee Discipline for Legally Protected Absences

    November 30, 2022
  8. 08

    Westchester County’s New Wage Transparency Law Now in Effect

    November 8, 2022
  9. 09

    Effective Today – New York City Pay Transparency Law

    November 1, 2022
  10. 10

    New York City Private Employer Vaccine Mandate To End On November 1, 2022

    September 23, 2022
News + Insights

Firm News

  1. 01

    What Can Employers Do If Former Employees Can’t Be Reached?

    January 19, 2023 | HR Magazine
  2. 02

    Law firms in NJ level up associates for 2023

    January 9, 2023 | NJBIZ
  3. 03

    Cole Schotz Elevates 7 To Partner In NY, NJ, Texas and Del.

    January 5, 2023
  4. 04

    Potential Costs Much Higher for Violating Labor Law

    January 4, 2023 | SHRM
  5. 05

    Cole Schotz Announces Seven New Members

    January 3, 2023 | Cole Schotz Press Release
  6. 06

    What can employers do if workers impaired by weed?

    September 28, 2022 | NJ Spotlight News
  7. 07

    Leaders of the Bar 2022

    September 26, 2022 | Law.com
  8. 08

    New Yorkers with pot convictions will now be the first to get to sell it

    August 27, 2022 | Politico
  9. 09

    New Jersey Legal Awards: Honorees Announced

    August 11, 2022 | New Jersey Law Journal
  10. 10

    N.J. legal weed in full swing, but still no rules for detecting if workers are high on the job

    June 5, 2022 | NJ.Com
News + Insights

Webinars + Events

  1. 01

    NJDPA’s 3rd Annual Independent Physicians Summit: Physician Workforce Protection

    May 20, 2022
  2. 02

    The East Coast, The New Frontier of Cannabis – Virtual Panel Discussion

    May 20, 2021
News + Insights

Awards + Recognitions

  1. 01

    Cole Schotz Lawyers and Chief DEI Officer Recognized as New Leaders of the Bar by New Jersey Law Journal

    August 11, 2022
  2. 02

    Chambers USA Recognizes 27 Cole Schotz Attorneys and Eight Firm Departments

    June 1, 2022
  3. 03

    23 Cole Schotz Attorneys Named 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers

    March 17, 2022
News + Insights

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