Marissa Parker

Vice Chair, Litigation

mparker@stradley.com

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Marissa Parker
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Overview

Marissa Parker represents corporate, mutual fund, institutional and nonprofit clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation matters, with a focus in securities, investment management, health care and ERISA. Routinely serving clients in highly-regulated industries, she brings a practical, business-oriented approach to problem solving and a commitment to achieving outcomes with short and long-term value. This includes counseling clients on early case assessment, potential litigation opportunities and strategic resolution of disputes short of trial. Marissa’s practice is informed by a wide range of experience litigating cases involving securities fraud, professional liability, shareholder derivative and investor rights, fiduciary breaches, contract and indemnification obligations, wrongful death, patent infringement, and the scope of constitutional protections for religious organizations. 

Both informally and as chair of the firm’s Hiring Committee, Marissa champions the development of associate talent, diversity leadership and firm citizenship.

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Focus

Results

Representative Matters

    • prosecuting claims of mutual funds in securities fraud opt-out actions against:
      - Perrigo, arising from statements made by Perrigo to fend off a hostile takeover attempt; case pending in the District of New Jersey
      - Teva, arising from alleged price-fixing of generic drugs; case pending in the District of Connecticut
    • advising mutual funds and investment advisors on affirmative litigation strategies for U.S. and global securities fraud matters
    • obtained favorable settlement for more than 100 mutual funds and institutional investors as plaintiffs in securities fraud opt-out actions against Petrobras arising from the Brazilian oil industry giant’s long-running bribery and kickback scheme and overstatement of assets
    • represented special litigation committee of publicly traded company for potential accounting misconduct by sales and executive team
    • vindicated business judgment of Invesco mutual funds and their special litigation committee by securing dismissal of derivative lawsuit challenging redemptions of auction-rate preferred securities
    • obtained a unanimous arbitration award for specific performance of sellers’ post-closing contingent payment obligations arising out of client-buyer’s $60 million acquisition of a global apparel labeling business
    • obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement on the night before trial for local manufacturing company in a merger and acquisition dispute with global packaging company
    • defended law firm in ERISA class action involving allegations of malpractice and equitable claims for disgorgement, resolved by settlement
    • obtained dismissal of putative class action 401(k) fee suit alleging excessive fees and improper menu recommendations for ERISA plan by investment advisor
    • defeated an emergency application for temporary restraints brought by 42 providers against a UnitedHealth Group managed care organization seeking to enforce the terms of its provider contracts
    • obtained dismissal of putative class action against health insurer for policy rescission practice
    • obtained dismissal of a RICO and tortious interference lawsuit brought against SPX Corporation subsidiary in the business of manufacturing of industrial ventilation equipment
    • obtained a reversal on appeal of an agency’s denial of a financial hardship exemption for a nonprofit entity to demolish an historically designated building
    • defended STMicroelectronics, a Swiss-based semiconductor company, against patent infringement claims relating to transistor design in high-speed integrated circuits
    • secured full release and dismissal of third-party claims against a wastewater treatment company with zero contribution to multiparty, six-figure settlement of Clean Water Act civil enforcement suit
    • represented UnitedHealth Group’s managed care organizations in dozens of evidentiary hearings involving challenges to due process and medical necessity determinations regarding Medicaid benefits
    • defended Ivera Medical Corporation, a California-based medical products company, in a series of related cases against patent infringement claims and validity challenges to patents concerning disinfecting products
    • contributed to numerous state and federal appellate, trial, and amici briefs on the scope and applicability of the First Amendment to regulation of religious institutions, particularly the ministerial exception
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Credentials

Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Education
  • J.D., cum laude, Temple University Beasley School of Law
  • B.A., Brown University
Memberships

  • Board of Directors, Friends of Hebrew Public
  • Past Board Member, Minds Matter of Philadelphia
  • Executive Committee, Brown Alumni Club of Philadelphia
  • Women's Investment Management Forum
  • Chair, Stradley Ronon Hiring Committee
  • Co-Chair, Stradley Ronon Technology Committee
  • Stradley Ronon Diversity Committee

Publications

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News

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Recent Presentations

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, “To The Limit: A Discussion of Litigation and Public Policy Considerations Regarding Reviving Time-Barred Civil Claims,” American Property Casualty Insurance Association’s Virtual National General Counsel Conference
  • Featured Mentor, Women in ETFs Philadelphia Annual Mentorship Event, 2019
  • Panelist, “Practice Group Areas Led by LCLD Fellows,” 2018 1L LCLD Scholars Summit
  • Speaker, “Role Reversal: Funds as Plaintiffs,” ICI Mutual Insurance Company Risk Management Conference, 2018
  • Presenter, “Opt-In or Opt-Out: The Changing Landscape of Securities Class Actions and Its Impact on Mutual Funds,” Mutual Fund Directors Forum Webinar, 2018
  • Panelist, “You Passed the Bar, Now What: How to Succeed in Your First Year as an Attorney, and How to Gain Experience,” Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and Large Firm Management Committee Bootcamp, 2017
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Recognition

  • The Legal Intelligencer, "Lawyers on the Fast Track"
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow
  • Forum Of Executive Women’s Mentoring Program Graduate
  • United Way’s Young Leaders Program Graduate
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star
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In The Community

Marissa is committed to pro bono work, volunteering her time as a board member, and focusing her efforts on furthering education opportunities in Philadelphia. As an active member of the Board of Friends, Hebrew Public, and former past board member of Minds Matter of Philadelphia, she is committed to supporting students of all backgrounds to realize and achieve their educational and professional goals. In her role as firm hiring partner, Marissa recently led a 250-hour research and writing pro bono project with the SeniorLAW Center, addressing best practices for remote court proceedings to increase equity and reduce bias, recommended legislative and social services changes for older LGBTQ community members, and ways to enfranchise eligible older voters during the pandemic. Marissa is a tireless mentor to law students and junior lawyers within and outside the firm. She is also a Philadelphia City Lead for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Alumni Network, contributing to programming, mentoring and networking among diverse lawyers and law students in the area.
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