Selected by the board of directors to assume the role of executive director beginning in 2023, Marissa Parker currently serves as deputy executive director, combining her legal expertise and passion for people-centricity to drive operational agility and exceptional client service. Marissa focuses her time on practice group management, lateral acquisitions and integration, firm operations and strategic initiatives, business process improvement, advancing diversity, and professional development across the firm. She works closely with firm leadership and helps oversee many of the firm’s business support functions, including human resources, talent acquisition and development, information technology and security, marketing, and office infrastructure.
A practicing litigator for over a decade, Marissa draws upon a wealth of experience representing and advising institutional clients in complex, high-stakes disputes involving securities fraud, professional liability, fiduciary breaches, healthcare, patent infringement, and the scope of constitutional protections for religious organizations. Hallmarks of her litigation career – a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, commitment to achieving outcomes with short and long-term value, and high-touch mentoring and training of associates – now resound in her role as deputy executive director.
Since joining the firm as a summer associate, Marissa spearheaded technology and talent initiatives through the firm’s associates’ committee, was elected to the firm’s partnership in December 2015, served as co-chair of the investment management litigation practice, led the firm’s hiring committee from 2017 to 2021, and served as vice chair of the litigation department in 2021 and 2022. Marissa has long embraced a growth mindset in the practice and business of law. While serving as hiring partner, Marissa oversaw the firm’s entry-level and lateral associate recruiting efforts, with particular emphasis on continuing to build a diverse body of accomplished associates who are resilient self-starters and leaders, consistent with the culture of Stradley Ronon. In that effort, she re-designed the firm’s recruiting and interview process to reduce unconscious bias and emphasize behavioral assessments of candidates through structured panel interviews.
Prior to attending law school, Marissa worked as a project director and research consultant for two international environmental nonprofit organizations, engaging in policy-related research and programming.