Maria Anastas

Maria has handled over 100 union organizing drives since 1995 and has earned a national reputation for her high rate of success and her low rate of unfair labor practice charges during campaigns. She has also negotiated dozens of collective bargaining agreements.  In addition to her union campaign expertise and collective bargaining for initial and successor labor agreements, Maria handles representation case hearings and unfair labor practice trials before the NLRB, labor arbitrations including high-value contract interpretation and discipline cases, strikes, picketing and labor relations training.  She provides labor advice to employers in a variety of industries concerning such special issues as establishing new operations, plant relocations, effects bargaining, reductions in force and orderly shutdown agreements.  Maria works with employers of all sizes to develop strategic labor initiatives and long-range strategies, and guides management in creating employee engagement to support a productive and issue-free workplace.

Education

• J.D., Tulane University Law School, 1991
• B.A., Miami University, 1987
• B.S., Miami University, 1987

Admission to Practice

• California

• Contributing Editor of the Developing Labor Law since 1996
• American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
• San Francisco Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
• State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Section)

• Navigating California Employment Law – “Voices, Views, and Values: Managing Social and Political Expression In and Out of the Workplace” – Napa – March 13, 2026
• Navigating California Employment Law – ““Headline News”: The Latest Developments in California Employment Law” – Napa – March 12, 2026
• Labor Law Solutions – “The Sound of Silence? New Bans on Employer Communications” – Las Vegas – December 4, 2025
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Surfing the Labor Tides: The Impact of Organized Labor on Employers in the Golden State and Beyond” – Napa – March 7, 2025
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Managing Labor Concerns and Compliance in the Face of Immigration Policy Changes” – February 26, 2025
• Navigating California Employment Law – “The Latest on Labor: New Legislation, Unprecedented Strike Activity, and Widespread Organizing Efforts in California” – Napa – February 29, 2024
• Navigating California Employment Law – ““Headline News”: The Latest Developments in California Employment Law” – Napa – February 29, 2024
• Navigating California Employment Law – “The Remarkable Impact of Social Media on Today’s Workplace” – Napa – March 2, 2023
• Navigating California Employment Law – ““Headline News”: The Latest Developments in California Employment Law” – Napa – March 2, 2023
• Labor Law Solutions – “Strange Asks From Unions” – Nashville – December 9, 2022
• Navigating California Employment Law – “The Rising Wave of Employee Activism” – Napa – March 4, 2022
• Labor Law Solutions – “Cedar Point Nursery and Unions’ Right of Access” – Las Vegas – December 3, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California Traditional Labor Webinar Series: California’s Labor Code CBA Carve-Outs—A Negotiator’s Guide” – September 8, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 8: Labor Considerations for Mandatory Vaccination Policies” – August 30, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 7: Scabby the Rat” – July 30, 2021
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Organizing in the New World: Creative Responses to a Post-COVID, Woke Environment” – Austin – June 25, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California Traditional Labor Webinar Series: NLRB Weighs in on Workers’ Rights in Addressing Social Justice Issues” – June 18, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 6: Where Safety Meets Labor” – May 17, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 5: Current Hot Topics” – April 16, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This is Labor in California, Episode 4: Predictions for 2021” – March 8, 2021
• Navigating California Employment Law – “An Energized Labor Movement in California: What to Expect in 2021” – March 5, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 3: Granting Access to Private Property During Labor Disputes” – February 8, 2021
• Labor Law Solutions – “Video Killed the Labor Star: Zooming Through Remote Hearings” – December 2, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 2: Concerted Refusals to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic” – November 5, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “This Is Labor in California, Episode 1: Union-Sponsored AB 685’s New COVID-19 Requirements” – October 7, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Virtual Conference – “Has COVID-19 Been a Friend or Foe to Organized Labor?” – May 15, 2020
• California Employment Law & Cabernet – ““Headline News”: The Latest Developments in California Employment Law” – Napa – March 5, 2020
• Labor Law Solutions – “Step Two: At the Table” – Nashville – December 5, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “It’s Not Your First Rodeo (or Maybe It Is): Avoiding Critical Missteps and Protecting Your Business Through Collective Bargaining” – Las Vegas – May 3, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “What’s New in California Employment Law” – Napa – February 28, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Labor Law Solutions – “Interactive Campaign Workshop, Round 3: After a Campaign Win” – Las Vegas – December 6, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “I Can Say What I Like: It’s a Free Country” – Napa – March 2, 2018
• Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “In-House Counsel’s Role in Protecting Employers From Protected Concerted Activity Claims” – Boca Raton – November 10, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The NLRB Under President Trump: A New Course Charted” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “What’s New in California Employment Law? Plenty!” – Napa – March 2, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Competing On An Uneven Playing Field—Labor Relations In 2014” – Las Vegas – May 8, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Defending Against Union Organizing Today: New Rules From The NLRB And New Tactics From Labor” – New Orleans – May 8, 2013
• Not Your Father’s Labor Problems – “An In-Depth Review of the Most Far-Reaching Recent NLRB Decisions and What They Mean to You” – Washington – December 7, 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Are You Ready To Rumble? A Union Campaign Workshop” – Phoenix – May 11, 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The National Labor Relations Act—Much More Than Just For Organizing” – Phoenix – May 11, 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Remaining Union-Free As Organized Labor Turns Up The Heat” – Chicago – May 13, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Not Your Father’s NLRB—The New Organizing Dynamic” – Chicago – May 11, 2011
• Progressive Business Conferences Audioconference – “Terminating Unsafe Employees” – February 3, 2011
• Not Your Father’s Unions Campaign – “An Introduction to the New NLRB – Look for the Union Label” – Las Vegas – December 8 – 10, 2010
• Not Your Father’s Unions Campaign – “Redefining Supervisor Status and From Whom Employers Can Demand Loyalty” – Las Vegas – December 8 – 10, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “2010 Employment Law Developments in California” – San Francisco – October 26, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Watch Your Language: Employer Policies That May Run Afoul of the NLRB” – San Francisco – October 26, 2010
• BLR webinar – “Unions: How to Effectively – and Legally – Resist Union Drives and Activities in Your Workplace” – July 9, 2010
• BLR webinar – “Employee vs. Independent Contractor: Where’s the Line? How to Make the Proper Call” – May 11, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Preparing Your Workforce for the Impending Organizing Surge” – Las Vegas – May 6 – 7, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Remaining Union-Free As Organized Labor Turns Up The Heat” – Las Vegas – May 6 – 7, 2010
• Not Your Father’s Unions Campaign III – “Creative Training Techniques – A Front Line Defense” – Washington, D.C. – April 8 – 9, 2010
• Not Your Father’s Unions Campaign III – “Trials And Tribulations — NLRB Litigation Today And In The Future” – Washington, D.C. – April 8 – 9, 2010
• 3rd Annual NBA Labor & Employment Law CLE Conference – “The New NLRB and Other Developments in Labor” – Atlanta – March 25 – 26, 2010
• BLR webinar – “Unions: Best Practices for Resisting Union Drives and Activities in Your Workplace” – January 6, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Obama Labor Board and EFCA: What Employers Should Be Doing Now to Maintain Positive Employee Relations” – San Francisco – November 17, 2009
• Ogletree Deakins webinar – “Three-Part Webinar Series: The Fundamentals of Labor Law: Understanding the NLRA” – November 3 – 17, 2009
• BLR webinar – “Unions: Why the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) Could Change Your Workplace Forever” – June 30, 2009
• BLR webinar – “Unions: Why the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) Could Change Your Workplace Forever” – June 22, 2009

• April 8, 2021 – Law360 – “Zoom Bargaining May Be ‘Here To Stay’ After Pandemic Ends”
• March 3, 2021 – Law360 – “New COVID-19 Safety Rules May Boost Union Leverage”
• November 23, 2015 – Law360 – “The Do’s And Don’ts For Your Law Firm App”
• December 15, 2014 – Daily Journal – “Labor Board Issues Another Union-Friendly Ruling”
• March 15, 2013 – Human Resource Executive – “Voters Decide Battle for Better Wages”
• July 2011 – Workforce Management – “Heightened Union Activity Putting HR on Notice”

• Top 100 Labor Lawyers in America (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009)
• Named one of California’s leading labor & employment lawyers for 2014
• Thomson-Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2024, 2025, 2026)