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Walsh Announces Three New Partners

December 21, 2021 in Firm News, Press Release

NEWARK, NJ, December 21, 2021– Walsh, Pizzi, O’Reilly Falanga LLP, a leading women-owned law firm in the Mid-Atlantic region, announced three new partners effective January 1, 2022: Mariel L. Belanger, Caitlin P. Cascino, and David D. Cramer.

“Those who have worked with Mariel, Caitlin and David know first-hand that not only are they exceptional lawyers, but they are true professionals who will continue to bring honor and respect to the firm,” said Liza M. Walsh, Co-Founder and Managing Partner. “They are deeply committed to our clients, and I know that their futures at Walsh will be bright. Our selection represents our commitment to diversity, and they embody the firm values we hold dear.”

Meet Walsh’s newest partners

Mariel L. Belanger focuses her practice on general commercial and management-side employment litigation across a wide range of industries. She litigates in state and federal court and before administrative agencies. In addition, she devotes a significant amount of her practice to conducting in-depth internal investigations addressing issues ranging from employee misconduct, harassment, and discrimination, to fraud and whistleblower allegations. She also assists clients with investigations initiated by various government and regulatory entities. Ms. Belanger spent several years acting as an independent Title IX investigator for institutions of higher education, investigating highly sensitive student complaints pertaining to sexual assault, stalking, and gender-based discrimination and harassment. Ms. Belanger also regularly provides strategic employment counseling to clients on a wide range of personnel issues and assists in the drafting and review of policies and handbooks. Before entering private practice, Ms. Belanger served as a law clerk to the Honorable Katharine S. Hayden, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey.

Caitlin P. Cascino is a trial lawyer who defends employers against single- and multi-employee claims alleging workplace discrimination, harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and breach of contract. Ms. Cascino also prosecutes and defends matters involving employee breaches of restrictive covenants and confidentiality mandates. In addition, she works closely with in-house counsel, business executives, and human resources professionals on day-to-day employment counseling, advising management on a wide range of employment-related matters. With a recent defense verdict to her credit in an Essex County (NJ) age discrimination jury trial, Ms. Cascino brings her trial experience to bear on each engagement, whether counseling clients to avoid litigation or defending employers in court or administrative proceedings. She was also twice selected by a Fortune 100 financial services firm to complete a secondment managing employment litigation as in-house counsel. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Cascino served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mary Catherine Cuff, P.J.A.D. during Judge Cuff’s assignment to the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

David D. Cramer practices primarily in the areas of management-side employment and labor litigation as well as commercial litigation, advocating for clients in state and federal court and before administrative agencies. Recent successes include presenting successful summary judgment motions in multiple cases on behalf of a Fortune 100 financial services firm in employment law and product marketing matters. Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Cramer has significant experience assisting with internal investigations and crafting employment policies and handbooks.  Mr. Cramer also serves as counsel to a nutritional supplemental manufacturing company, providing day-to-day guidance on employment and business matters. Prior to arriving at Walsh, Mr. Cramer completed a clerkship with the Hon. Regina Caulfield, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, and practiced with a defense firm handling a wide array of matters in state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York.