Bio
Marian Zapata-Rossa is licensed in Arizona, California, and on the Navajo Nation. She defends employers against wage and hour, prevailing wage, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, and represents employers in disputes involving employment and arbitration agreements and restrictive covenants not to compete. Marian litigates both single plaintiff and class action employment lawsuits, and helps employers resolve administrative matters before numerous state and federal government agencies.
Marian also advises employers on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship with a focus on providing clients with business-oriented solutions to identify and mitigate risk. To this end, Marian has trained thousands of managers and employees on preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in the workplace. She also counsels employers and human resources professionals on best practices for handling day to day employment issues, including hiring, employee discipline, paid sick time, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, terminations, and whistleblower liability. In addition, Marian drafts employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, and keeps her clients abreast of current trends and the latest developments in local, state, and federal employment laws.
Education
- Howard University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2007)
- Trustee Merit Scholar
- Huber I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team (Co-Captain)
- Dean's Fellow
- Law Clerk for Administrative Judge Gladys O. Collazo at the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (2004-2005)
- The Ohio State University (B.A., cum laude, 2002)
Professional Memberships and Activities
- State Bar of Arizona
- Bar Leadership Institute Class IV
- Minority Bar Convention, Co-Chair (2010)
- Los Abogados Bar Association
- Board Member (2017)
- Vice President (2012-2013)
- Treasurer (2010-2012)
- Maricopa County Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Division Board Liaison (2009)
- American Bar Association
- Hispanic National Bar Association
Professional Recognition and Awards
- Hispanic National Bar Association, HNBA Top Lawyers Under 40 Award (2018)
- Latina Mentoring Project, Latina Leader of the Year (2018)
- Southwest Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Employee Litigation: Defense (2014-2018)
- 20 People to Know in Law, Phoenix Business Journal (2016)
- Los Abogados Emerging Leader Award Recipient (2016)
- Arizona’s Top Lawyers, Arizona Business Magazine (2014)
- Appointed by Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch to serve on the Commission on Minorities in the Judiciary (2012-2016)
- Forty Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Honoree (2011)
Community Involvement
- Latina Mentoring Project (LMP), Mentor Attorney (2009-2018)
- Xico, Inc.
- Board of Directors, Vice President
- A Day for Downtown, Volunteer
- Volunteer Lawyers Program, Volunteer Attorney
- Wills for Heroes
Other Professional Experience
- Quarles & Brady LLP, Partner
- U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Fellow
Bar Admissions
- Arizona
- California
- Navajo Nation
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Arizona
- Supreme Court of California
- United States District Court, District of Arizona
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States District Court, Eastern District of California
- Tribal Courts of the Navajo Nation
