PITTSBURGH, July 21, 2025 — Cozen O'Connor today announced veteran Pennsylvania employment litigator Marla N. Presley has joined its award-winning, cross border Labor and Employment Department. Presley brings a proven record of success in both jury and bench trials in state and federal courts, including favorable outcomes in appeals before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the West Virginia Supreme Court, and multiple appellate courts in Pennsylvania. She joins Cozen O’Connor as a shareholder and will be based in its Pittsburgh office.
Presley comes to the firm from Jackson Lewis P.C. and represents an array of employers, including those in the retail, restaurant, service industry, and higher education sectors. She typically represents employers in wage and hour disputes, class and collective actions, and claims of discrimination under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and various state tort theories. She also appears regularly before administrative judges and agencies.
“Labor and employment is a constantly changing practice area and that’s especially true today, with newly revised federal regulatory measures driving subsequent changes on the state and local level,” said Thomas S. Giotto, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Department. “Now more than ever our clients need counsel on the cutting edge, and as an experienced and highly successful employment litigator, Marla brings to us a proven track record of not only keeping her clients well informed, but also well protected. She’s a terrific addition to our department and I’m happy to welcome her aboard.”
Ranked by Chambers USA for “Labor & Employment” in 2025 and Martindale-Hubbell® as “AV Preeminent® - Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence” every year since 2014, Presley dedicates a significant portion of her practice to institutions of higher education — providing counsel on the full breath of compliance issues, constitutional and state statutory issues, and wage and hour matters. She frequently conducts third-party investigations, advises universities on policies and standard operating procedures, and provides training to responsible persons and investigators.
“One of our Labor & Employment Department’s greatest assets is the depth of its trial and courtroom experience,” said Jeremy Garvey, managing partner of the Pittsburgh office. “Marla routinely appears in court and agency and arbitration proceedings, which gives her tremendous insight into how a case is likely to play out in a litigation setting. That hard-earned knowledge is valued greatly by our clients, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the Pittsburgh office.”
Clients also rely on Presley to provide ongoing legal support and counsel, which includes reviewing and revising employee policies, counseling management on termination decisions, and performing complex human resource and wage audits. She routinely provides training to managers and supervisors in all areas of employment law, including supervisory training, sexual harassment prevention, investigation and disciplinary procedures, and leave management.
“As a Pennsylvania employment attorney, I’ve long admired the breadth and scope of Cozen O’Connor’s Labor & Employment Department,” Presley said. “My decades of experience in labor law, combined with my courtroom experience, especially on the appellate level, will not only serve our clients well, but help grow our practice further. I’m very happy to be here.”
Presley earned her J.D. at the Duquesne University School of Law and her B.A. at the University of Mount Union.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.
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