Mary-Jo Rebelo
Mary-Jo Rebelo
Biography
Mary-Jo Rebelo is Burns White’s Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Practices Liability and Complex and Commercial Litigation/Dispute Resolution practice groups, and a senior member of the Business Practices and Litigation groups. A seasoned litigator and business advisor with more than 35 years of experience, Ms. Rebelo has successfully represented manufacturers, distributors, retailers, property owners, business owners, boards of directors and other governing bodies, physicians, physician practices, health systems, and other medical service providers in a broad range of matters. From violations of federal and state securities laws and business fraud to misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, contract disputes, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, and labor relations. Ms. Rebelo has the insight and experience to deliver positive outcomes in the most difficult cases.
In the area of labor and employment law, Ms. Rebelo regularly defends actions involving claims for race, sex, age, religious and disability discrimination, as well as claims for harassment, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, retaliation and breach of employment-related contracts, including but not limited to employment agreements, non-compete agreements, non-solicitation agreements and confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements. Ms. Rebelo also counsels employers regarding obligations under federal and state employment statutes and assists clients in implementing human resources policies concerning recruitment, employee evaluation and discipline, termination, severance, and employee handbooks. Ms. Rebelo also regularly negotiates and drafts employment-related contracts. In addition, Ms. Rebelo regularly assists employers with labor relations matters, including collective bargaining and labor arbitrations.
In the areas of business practices and litigation, Ms. Rebelo’s practice spans a variety of industries and involves both risk management (i.e., litigation avoidance) and litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Ms. Rebelo regularly represents clients on corporate governance issues, officers and directors liability, insurance coverage, family business disputes, shareholder and partner disputes, contract disputes, trade secrets, restrictive covenants and non-compete/non-solicitation issues, and unfair competition.
Ms. Rebelo has been appointed as both a Special Master and a Special Discovery Master by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is a Member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and is a Past Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA). Additionally, she serves on the ACBA’s Board of Governors and Federal Court Section Council.
Prior to joining Burns White, Ms. Rebelo was a shareholder and Director in the litigation and employment groups at a mid-size Pittsburgh-based law firm. She is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, and was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Women’s Law Association at the University for her professional, moral and ethical integrity, and commitment to the community. She received her undergraduate degree from Elms College.
Credentials
Areas of Law
- Labor and Employment, including Employment Litigation
- Business Practices
- Commercial/Complex Litigation, including Class Action Litigation
Education
- Duquesne University (J.D., cum laude, editor-in-chief of the Duquesne Law Review)
- Elms College (B.A., magna cum laude)
Bar and Court Admissions
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Tax Court
Memberships
- Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Fellows Program
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Board of Governors
- Judiciary Committee
- Federal Court Section Council
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- National Association of Women Lawyers
- Defense Research Institute
- Society for Human Resource Management
- Deloitte’s Board Ready Women Program, Class of 2019
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- Turnaround Management Association, Board Member
- National Association of Corporate Directors, Future of Board Leadership Committee Member
- Duquesne University School of Law
- Former President of the Alumni Board of Governors
- Dean’s Advisory Board Member
Accolades & Involvement
Honors/Awards
- Best Lawyers in America®, 2013-2024
- Best Lawyers Business, Women in the Law, 2018-2024
- Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania, 2014-2024
- Woman of the Year, Woman’s Law Association of the Duquesne University School of Law, 2008
Involvement
- DRI Employment, Program Planning Committee
Presentations
- “COVID-19 Vaccine: What Employers Need to Know” Pennsylvania Self-Insurers’ Association Webinar, April 2021
- “Key Issues in Creating a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Webinar” Master Builders’ Association Webinar, January 2021
- “Pennsylvania’s Evolving Cybersecurity Law: What Employers Should Know” Burns White Webinar, October 2019
- “Utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution Tactics In Employment Matters” National Business Institute, Philadelphia, PA, October 2019
- “Pennsylvania’s Evolving Cybersecurity Law: What You Need to Know” Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers Annual Convention, September 2019
- “Discrimination by Association” Burns White Employment Law Seminar, April 2019
- “Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – Intermittent Leave: How can employers best manage?” Burns White Employment Law Webinar, June 2019 Burns White Employment Law Seminar, Pittsburgh, PA, April 2019
- “Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace” In-house client presentation, May 2018
- “Harassment Training”, In-house client presentation, June 2018
- “Impact of the #METOO and Time’s Up Movements on Employers and their EPLI Carriers” Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters All Industry Day, October 2018
- “Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, April 2016
- “Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets: What you need to know” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, September 2017
- “Employee Injuries: Best Practices Shared” 25th Annual Short Lines and Railroad Seminar, July 2018
- “Defense of Trade Secrets” Academy of Trial Lawyers, December 2018
Publications
- “The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP) & The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA),” Burns White Inights, July 2023
- “The Interplay of Workers’ Compensation, FMLA and ADA,” Lawyers Journal, April 2023
- “Employee Personal Travel During COVID-19” Burns White Insights, June 2020
- “COVID-19: What Employers Need to Know and FAQs on Federal Labor and Employment Laws” Burns White Insights, March 2020
- “Linde V. Linde: Pennsylvania Superior Court’s Latest Take on the Business Judgment Rule” Burns White Insights, January 2020
- “The Impact of the #METOO and Time’s Up Movements on Employers and their EPLI Carriers” CPCU Newsletter, February 2019
