Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella
ATTORNEYS
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella
Phone: 410-843-3458
Fax: 410-752-8861
E-Mail: etd@shawe.com
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella focuses her practice on the representation of management in employment matters. After practicing for several years with a large management employment law firm in Washington, D.C., Liz joined Shawe Rosenthal in 1995. Since then, Liz has tried cases, both jury and non-jury, involving claims of sexual harassment, national origin discrimination, race discrimination, wage and hour, and wrongful discharge. Liz also has obtained summary judgment for employers on a wide range of employment-related claims. Additionally, Liz designs and conducts customized training sessions for managers and employees intended to foster behavior that will reduce the potential for employment-related claims.
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Liz co-authored briefs amicus curiae to the U.S. Supreme Court on labor and employment issues for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Liz served as General Counsel to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors from May 2013 to May 2020. Liz also is a member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s Employment Relations Task Force which advises the Chamber on positions to take on pending labor and employment legislation.
Liz has authored numerous articles in labor and employment publications and served as a member of the Editorial Board of Mathew Bender’s “Labor and Employment Bulletin” from 2018 to 2020
Practice Areas
- Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
- Employment Audits
- Employment, Non-Compete/Non-Solicit, Confidentiality and Severance Agreements
- Employment Litigation, including complex Class and Collective Actions
- FMLA/ADA/Workers’ Compensation Leave Management
- Human Resources Advice and Counsel
- Independent Contractor Issues
- Personnel Policies, Procedures and Handbooks
- Training
- Unfair Competition, Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets Litigation
- Wage and Hour Compliance and Litigation
Honors
- Chambers USA, 2016-present
- Best Lawyers in America, 2013- present
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Super Lawyers 2017-present
Memberships
- American Bar Association
– Member, Labor Relations Section
– Member, Litigation Section - Maryland State Bar Association
– Member, Labor Relations Section - District of Columbia Bar
– Member, Labor Relations Section
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 1992
– Associate Editor, Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics - University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, B.A., cum laude, 1985
Bar Admissions
- Maryland and District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States Courts of Appeals for the 3rd, 4th, and D.C. Circuits
News
NEWS
Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys Author Maryland Chapter of Lexology's "Employment: North America" Guide
Best Lawyers in America© Honors Shawe Rosenthal
All Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers©
Shawe Rosenthal Authored the Maryland chapter of Lexology's “Employment: North America” Guide
Best Lawyers in America© Includes Eleven Shawe Rosenthal LLP Partners In Its Inaugural 2021 Edition
Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers Honors Shawe Rosenthal
Best Lawyers Honors Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys
Best Lawyers Honors Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys
Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes Nine Shawe Rosenthal Partners
J. Michael McGuire and Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella Successfully Appeal OSHA Citation
Liz Torphy-Donzella Featured in Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s Reply All Series
Honor – Firm and Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Article- "T-Mobile, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board: Why the Perilous Choice Is Best"
Super Lawyers Recognizes Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella To Serve on Board and as GC of New Maryland Chamber Foundation
Four SR Attorneys Speak at HFAM Conference
Liz Torphy-Donzella at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Conference
Best Lawyers™ Recognizes Shawe Rosenthal Attorneys
Article- "Maternity and Parental Leave Policies: A Trap for the Unwary"
Appointment to General Counsel of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Honor – Firm and Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
Article – "Handling EEOC Systemic and Individual Discrimination Investigations and Litigation."
Nine S&R Attorneys selected for Super Lawyers Annual List
Conference: Liz Torphy-Donzella And Fiona Ong To Speak At HRASM's Annual Professional Day
Six Attorneys Honored by Best Lawyers
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella Wins Before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella Won Summary Judgment in Federal District Court for a Hospital
Liz Torphy-Donzella quoted in The Daily Record
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella on WYPR's "Midday with Dan Rodricks"
Summary Judgement Won in Pregnancy Discrimination Case
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella Provides Insight into Decline in EEOC Pregnancy Bias Claims
Liz Torphy-Donzella quoted in Daily Record
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella Panelist for Upcoming District of Columbia Bar Event
Shawe Rosenthal LLP Named as Top Tier Labor and Employment Law Firm in Maryland by Chambers USA
Shawe Rosenthal Partner Liz Torphy-Donzella Interviewed on Baltimore City's Ban the Box Legislation
Liz Torphy-Donzella voices concerns on Baltimore City Council's "Ban the Box" ordinance
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella interviews with MYPR Maryland Morning to discuss "Ban the Box" Legislation
Elizabeth Torphy-Donzella selected as member of small group advising U.S. District Court of Maryland
Eight S&R Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in Baltimore-Washington Area.
Liz-Torphy Donzella Invited to Participate In EEOC Roundtable
Liz Torphy-Donzella to Speak at The Baltimore Jewish Council's Government Relations Commission
Chambers USA Recognizes Shawe Rosenthal LLP and 5 Partners in 2013
Publications
The Practical Implications of the DOL’s Proposed Independent Contractor Test
TOP TIP: Leave Donation Programs – Complying with IRS Requirements
Newly Issued DOL Poster for FFCRA and More Updates
U.S. House of Representatives Amends the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act”
U.S. Supreme Court’s Upcoming Employment Docket
U.S. Supreme Court Holds Arbitration of Classwide Claims Not Required Where Agreement is Ambiguous
TOP TIP: Avoiding Jury Trials Through Written Agreements
Supreme Court Issues Arbitration Decisions
T-Mobile, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board: Why the Perilous Choice Is Best
Supreme Court Holds that Public Sector Unions May Not Assess Union Fees Against Non-Union Employees
Automobile Service Advisors: Exempt or Non-Exempt?
Overtime Rule Will Not Take Effect On December 1
Don't Overlook Labor And Employment Issues In Corporate Acquisitions
NEWS & EVENTS
Fiona W. Ong and Lindsey White Authored “New Rulings Show Job Duties Crucial To Equal Pay Act Claims”
Fiona Ong and Lindsey White authored “New Rulings Show Job Duties Crucial To Equal Pay Act Claims,” which was published as Expert Analysis by Law360.com on February 17, 2023.
Lindsey A. White and Veronica Yu Welsh presented on “Handling EEOC Investigations and Litigation”
Lindsey White and Veronica Yu Welsh presented a one-hour webinar for HRSimple, “Handling EEOC Investigations and Litigation” on February 9, 2023. The session provided insight into the Equal Employment Opportunity
Teresa D. Teare and Courtney B. Amelung won partial dismissal of a federal lawsuit against a hospital asserting retaliation
On behalf of a healthcare employer, Teresa Teare and Courtney Amelung won a partial motion to dismiss an employee’s claims of retaliation, ostensibly for opposing race discrimination. As the federal
New Partner Veronica Yu Welsh
We are delighted to announce that Veronica Yu Welsh has been made a Partner at our Firm. Veronica represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment-related matters in
Fiona Ong was a panelist for a presentation to the American Subcontractors Association of Baltimore
Fiona Ong was a panelist for a presentation to the American Subcontractors Association of Baltimore on “Mental Health, Addiction, and Suicide in the Construction Industry, Part 2: Helping Employees and
Paul Burgin authored a Practice Point for the ABA Business Torts & Unfair Competition Committee
Paul Burgin authored a Practice Point for the ABA Business Torts & Unfair Competition Committee, “Do Not Assume Your Usernames and Passwords Are Protected Trade Secrets,” explaining a growing body
Evan Conder’s Blog Re-Posted on Native.news
Evan Conder’s blog post, “Can Rap Music in the Workplace Create a Hostile Work Environment?” was republished in the December 19, 2022 issue of Native.news, the bi-weekly newsletter of the
Fiona Ong quoted in SHRM Article “ESPN Sued Over COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements”
Fiona Ong was quoted in a January 23, 2023 article by Allen Smith for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM.org), “ESPN Sued Over COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement.” (Subscription may be
Teresa Teare Spoke at Practising Law Institute
Teresa Teare was a speaker at the Practising Law Institute (PLI)’s full-day program on “Wage and Hour Litigation and Compliance,” on January 23, 2023, in New York City. Teresa discussed