Maria brings more than 20 years of litigation experience representing Fortune 500 and multinational corporations in complex commercial and product liability matters, including overseeing and managing local defense in mass tort litigation. She has defended clients across a wide range of industries, including cosmetics, chemicals, construction equipment, medical devices, and building materials, and has represented manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and premises owners.

Prior to her legal career, Maria served as a registered nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she provided care to critically ill trauma and surgical patients. While attending law school at night, she also worked in the regulatory product safety department at Merck Pharmaceuticals, gaining valuable experience in compliance, risk assessment, and product safety issues. This combined clinical and regulatory background informs her approach to complex litigation, particularly in matters involving medical and scientific evidence.

Maria has extensive experience handling high-stakes asbestos and talc litigation. She is deeply involved in all phases of the litigation process, including the retention and development of medical experts, formulation of trial strategy, and coordination of defense efforts. Her practice is marked by strong analytical skills, including the development of case theory, trial preparation, and the identification of key factual and legal issues. She is also an effective negotiator who consistently works to achieve favorable outcomes in complex, high-exposure cases.

Experience

• Darger Errante Yavitz & Blau
  
• Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber
  
• Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
  
• Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney