Maralyssa alvarez-Sanchez is Of Counsel in the San Juan, Puerto Rico, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She counsels employers on compliance with state and federal employment laws in executing personnel decisions and defends employers in all stages of litigation in discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, reasonable accommodation, unjust dismissal and leave-related claims in federal and state judicial and administrative forums.
Ms. alvarez-Sanchez has successfully defended claims against employers before the Puerto Rico Courts of First Instance and Appeals and the Puerto Rico Supreme Court as well as obtained favorable dismissal for employers of federal discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims before the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Ms. alvarez-Sanchez also provides counseling to clients on employment matters related to the establishment of operations in Puerto Rico as well as the administration of health and welfare benefit plans and compliance with ERISA and COBRA. She has participated in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and has counseled companies as to the implementation of labor-relations policies and represented management in unfair labor practice charges and representation cases before the NLRB.
Ms. alvarez-Sanchez worked as a programmer analyst in the information technology consulting industry in Chicago before obtaining her law degree. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, she was a Partner at a prominent full-service law firm in San Juan, where she devoted her practice exclusively to the representation of employers in labor and employment law matters.
Published Works
• Cigna Corporation v. Amara: Supreme Court Clarifies ERISA-Provided Remedies for Misrepresentations in Summary Plan Descriptions, Federal Lawyer (October 2011)
Maralyssa alvarez-Sanchez Publications
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Puerto Rico Senate Approves Reverting to Pre-2017 Employment Law Reform Sick, Vacation Leave
May 15, 2020
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Puerto Rico Starts on Path to Reopening, Requires Employers to Certify Exposure Control Plan
May 3, 2020
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Puerto Rico Employers Must Provide Information on Unemployment Benefits Program to Laid Off Workers
April 22, 2020
Webinars
webinar
COVID-19: Interpreting the Opinions Issued by the PR-DOL Secretary and Other Recent Legislation
2 - 3:00 PM EST
Archived
webinar
Puerto Rico Passes New Leave of Absence for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment and Assault
2 - 3:00 PM EST
Archived
webinar
Guidelines for the Interpretation of Puerto Rico’s Employment Legislation
2 - 3:00 PM EST
Archived
Maralyssa alvarez-Sanchez Blog Posts
COVID-19 Workplace Law Advisor
Puerto Rico Enacts Five-Day Paid Emergency Leave for Pandemic Illness
April 15, 2020
Disability, Leave & Health Management
Puerto Rico Enacts Five-Day Paid Emergency Leave for Pandemic Illness
April 15, 2020
Disability, Leave & Health Management
Puerto Rico Senate Considers Unpaid Emergency Leave for Pandemic Illness
March 13, 2020
