Wendy Johnson Lario

• Prevailed in April 2023 on a motion to dismiss the Complaint of a health care worker alleging religious discrimination and harassment against a Major Hospital System. The case in New Jersey Superior Court involved the worker’s refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccination or submit to testing, as then required by the State of New Jersey for health care workers. No appeal was taken by the worker.
• Prevailed in April 2023 on a motion to dismiss the Title VII race discrimination claim from a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of a Major Hospital System.
• Prevailed on appeal in February 2023, obtaining the reversal of an award of paid time off (“PTO”) to a former employee of a Major Hospital System who was terminated for disciplinary reasons. The lower court deemed PTO to be “wages”, but the Appellate Division reversed, concluding that PTO was not wages under New Jersey law and that the client – and employers generally – have the right to define the terms of paid leave programs and enforce well-written policies.
• Obtained trial defense verdict in October 2021 on behalf Major Hospital System in multimillion-dollar breach of contract, restrictive covenant case.  
• Prevailed on appeal on behalf of Conduent Business Services obtaining reversal of the trial court’s refusal to enforce a former Conduent employee’s arbitration agreement and concluding that an amendment to the NJ Law Against Discrimination was preempted when applied to the arbitration agreement at issue.
• Prevailed on appeal in January 2022 on behalf of Major Hospital System, obtaining reversal of a NJ Department of Labor overtime wage determination.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a Major Hospital System in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in a case filed by a former reservation specialist who alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; and the parallel provisions of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
• Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all race discrimination claims in 2020 in the Southern District of New York on behalf of large luxury retail client. The Second Circuit affirmed summary judgment on behalf of GT’s client in a May 2021 ruling. The former employee’s request for en banc review by the Second Circuit was also denied and GT’s client was awarded the costs of appeal. In January 2022, GT defeated the former employee’s request for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a Major Hospital System in 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in a case filed by a former registered nurse and supervisor, who alleged interference with her Family and Medical Leave Rights and who further alleged that her termination violated the Family Medical Leave Act and constituted disability discrimination and a failure to accommodate in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. In July 2021, the Third Circuit affirmed the District Court’s order.
• Prevailed in 2018 on a motion to dismiss a complaint filed in the Superior Court, Mercer County, by a former employee alleging age and disability discrimination, wrongful termination, and retaliation in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Successfully defended a subsequent motion for reconsideration in 2019 and was further awarded attorneys’ fees.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a Major Hospital System in 2019 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County in a case filed by a former director against the Hospital System and several officers, claiming gender and age discrimination in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and whistleblower retaliation in violation of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act.
• Representation of York Risk Services Group, in the Western District of Michigan, in a case involving an executive’s breach of his non-compete restrictive covenant. Initially awarded a temporary restraining order and, following an evidentiary hearing, prevailed on an order to show cause resulting in a preliminary injunction enforcing the restrictions in their entirety. 
• Representation of a major package delivery organization in a nationwide class discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the US District Court of the Eastern District of New York. The EEOC claimed that the organization did not accommodate certain religious practices and was in violation of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Successfully negotiated a settlement without trial.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of York Risk Services Group in 2017 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County in a case filed by a former executive claiming race discrimination and retaliation in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of York Risk Services Group in 2017 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County in a case filed by a former executive claiming retaliation in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a major package delivery organization and the individual defendants in an age discrimination matter in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County.
• Representation of a major package delivery organization in a military and age discrimination matter in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Obtained dismissal of the complaint.
• Obtained summary judgment for a major package delivery organization and various individually named defendants in this race and disability discrimination and failure to accommodate matter in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County.
• Obtained dismissal for a major package delivery organization based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction in connection with this race, age and national origin-based discrimination matter in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
• Obtained summary judgment for a major package delivery organization in a race-based harassment and discrimination matter in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
• Representation of a major package delivery organization in trial where jury returned a no cause of action verdict in an age discrimination and hostile work environment harassment matter in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Givaudan in an age discrimination matter in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Sanctions were also obtained against plaintiff's counsel in connection with an expert deposition and report. Both orders were affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
• Obtained summary judgment for a major package delivery organization in a national origin and age discrimination matter in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
• Obtained no cause determination for a major package delivery organization following a protracted public hearing before an administrative law judge in this New York Division of Human Rights action alleging sexual harassment.
• Obtained no cause of action ruling for a major package delivery organization in this age discrimination arbitration at the American Arbitration Association.
• Obtained summary judgment for a major package delivery organization in ADA disability discrimination and failure to accommodate case in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
• Established the legal standard requiring petitioners seeking an award of workers’ compensation temporary disability benefits to prove actual wage loss due to the disability. (Cunningham v. Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co., 386 N.J. Super. 423 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 188 N.J. 492 (2006))
• Representation of a major package delivery organization in jury trial where jury returned a no cause of action verdict in a race-based hostile work environment harassment matter in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

• Representation of AT&T Corp. in jury trial where jury returned a no cause of action verdict in a disability discrimination matter in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County.°
• Representation of Ford Motor Co. in jury trial involving race discrimination and retaliation where a jury returned a no cause of action verdict in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County.°
• Obtained summary judgment for Frontier Communications/Global Crossing, Inc., in pregnancy discrimination matter in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County.°
• Representation of Bosal USA in a multi-plaintiff national origin and race discrimination case in Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County. Settled case on the eve of trial.°
• Obtained summary judgment for P.C. Richard in race discrimination case in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County.°
• Representation of Knoll Pharmaceuticals in a trial of public policy wrongful termination matter in Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County. Appellate division upheld trial court's dismissal of claims against Knoll Pharmaceuticals.°

°The above representations were handled by Ms. Lario prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

• Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall University School of Law

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
  • Employment Law - Management, 2013-2024
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2017-2024
• Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2005-2009, 2011-2024
  • Corporate Counsel edition, 2010
• Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2011-2023
• Listed, Euromoney's Expert Guides: "Women in Business Law," 2021-2022
• Listed, Benchmark Litigation, "Labor & Employment Star," 2019-2024
• Selected, Euromoney, "Women in Business Awards - Best in Labor & Employment," 2020
• Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2013-2023
• Listed, Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2018-2024
• Honoree, New Jersey Law Journal, “Top Women in Law,” 2018
• Honoree, WILL Platinum Gala, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, 2017 
• Recipient, "Trustees of Justice Award," Tri-County Scholarship Fund, 2015
• Recipient, "Alice Paul Equality Award," Alice Paul Institute, 2013
• Team Member, Lexology’s Client Choice Award USA & Canada, United States: New Jersey, 2013
• Team Member, a Law360 "Employment Practice Group of the Year," 2011 & 2013
• Listed, NJBIZ, "Best 50 Women in Business," 2012
• Selected, "Professional Lawyer of the Year," NJ Commission on Professionalism in the Law, 2010
• Rated, AV Preeminent^® 5.0 out of 5.0

°AV^®, AV Preeminent^®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM and Martindale-Hubbell Notable^SM are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell^® certification procedures, standards and policies.

A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

• Member, Seton Hall University School of Law, Board of Visitors
  • Chair, 2022-Present
  • Vice Chair, 2018-2021
  • Secretary, 2017-2018
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2014-Present
• Board Member, SOMERSET COUNTY YMCA, 2015-2019
• Member, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
  • Immediate Past President and Nominations Chair, 2012-2013
  • President, 2011-2012
  • President-Elect, 2010-2011
  • Secretary, 2009-2010
  • Board Member, 2007-2009
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, New Jersey State Bar Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Trustee, Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey