practice areas
practice accolades
The American Lawyer Magazine's Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment Law Finalist 2004, Winner 2006, Finalist 2008, Finalist 2010, and Finalist 2012
Listed in the highest tier for National Labor and Employment Practice in Chambers USA 2011
Ranked in the top tier by The Legal 500 for Labor and Employment Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, and Workplace and Employment Counseling (2011)
Ranked, National Tier 1: Employment Law – Management, U.S. News and Best Lawyers (2010)
Named one of Law360's Employment Groups of the Year (2010)
Ranked #1 for "Most Prestigious" Labor and Employment Practice, Vault 2012 Associate Survey
honors + affiliations
Member, California State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
Member, Orange County Bar Association
Member, Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County
Member, National Latina Business Women Association, Orange County Chapter
bar admissions
- California
- Irvine
-
5 Park Plaza, Suite 1750
Irvine, CA 92614-3508
Phone: 949.399.7164
Fax: 949.399.7001
Maria O. Gutierrez is an associate in Morgan Lewis's Labor and Employment Practice. Ms. Gutierrez advises employers on a wide variety of employment law issues. She represents employers in litigation matters, including claims of violation of wage and hour law, wrongful termination, sexual and racial harassment, discrimination, and breach of contract. Ms. Gutierrez's wage and hour practice includes the counsel and representation of employers on pay deductions and docking, meal and rest periods, overtime pay, and classification of employees as exempt or nonexempt. A significant portion of Ms. Gutierrez's practice is dedicated to representing employers in putative wage and hour class actions.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Ms. Gutierrez was an associate at a labor and employment boutique firm and a law clerk for Judge Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Ms. Gutierrez received her J.D. from Columbia University Law School in 2000 and her A.B. from Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1997. Ms. Gutierrez is fluent in Spanish and English.
Ms. Gutierrez is admitted to practice in California.
education
- Columbia University Law School, 2000, J.D.
- Princeton University, 1997, A.B.