Susan R. Maisa is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. She joined the firm in 1983, and since that time has concentrated her practice on representing employers in all areas of employment law. Ms. Maisa’s particular emphasis has been defending employers in employment discrimination litigation in federal and state court. Over the years, she has handled hundreds of cases before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. She has defended employers across the country, including in California, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Her litigation experience includes not only cases involving single plaintiffs, but also class actions and multiple plaintiff lawsuits.
In addition to her trial work, Ms. Maisa also has extensive appellate experience and has successfully argued a number of cases before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, including Cooper-Schut v. Visteon Automotive Systems, 361 F.3d 421 (7th Cir. 2004); Lowe v. Consolidated Freightways, 177 F.3d 640 (7th Cir. 1999); Local 332, AIW v. Johnson Controls, Inc., 969 F.2d 290 (7th Cir. 1992); Smith v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 959 F.2d 655 (7th Cir. 1992); Local 332, AIW v. Johnson Controls, Inc., 921 F.2d 732 (7th Cir. 1991); Mursch v. Van Dorn Co., 851 F.2d 990 (7th Cir. 1988).
She is a contributor to the annual employment law treatise, The Law Guide - Employee Relations Law for Wisconsin Employers, published by MRA - The Management Association, Inc. In recognition of her experience, Ms. Maisa has been Peer Review Rated as AV® Preeminent™, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell's peer review rating system. Ms. Maisa has also been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 and 2013 in the area of litigation – labor & employment.
Ms. Maisa received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1979 and her law degree, with honors, in 1982 from Marquette University. From 1982 to 1983 she served as law clerk to Chief Justice Bruce F. Beilfuss of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Ms. Maisa is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. She is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the Sixth and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeals.
Over the years, Ms. Maisa has been admitted pro hac vice on numerous occasions to try cases in federal and state courts across the country.
Ms. Maisa is a frequent speaker on employment law topics, including sexual harassment, employment discrimination, state and federal family and medical leave laws, wrongful discharge, and personnel policies and practices.