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Teresa Burke Wright

(She/Her)
Principal
Washington, D.C. Region
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Teresa Wright is a principal in the Washington, D.C. Region office of Jackson Lewis P.C.

She is a seasoned litigator, having represented employers ranging in sizes from eight to 18,000 employees in litigation, severance negotiations and administrative proceedings. She helps clients on a daily basis to comply with state and federal employment laws and navigate challenging workplace law issues. She provides practical business advice based on “best practices” and is a sought-after speaker and trainer on employment law topics.

Teresa was the litigation manager of the Washington, D.C. Region office of Jackson Lewis from 2005 until 2014. As the litigation manager, she served as the office’s local expert on litigation questions, monitored litigation trends, educated the D.C. office attorneys on developments in workplace litigation, and assigned and tracked litigation within the office, while managing her own caseload.

Teresa also is active in the firm’s Disability, Leave and Health Management practice group. In that capacity, Teresa acts as a regional and national expert on employee health and leave issues facing employers, including issues arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and similar state and local laws, such as the D.C. Sick and Safe Leave Act and Maryland Flexible Leave Act.

Teresa has handled jury trials and other litigation involving discrimination, harassment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and wrongful termination. She counsels employers daily regarding such employment issues as employee discipline and termination; preparation of employment contracts; drafting personnel policies and handbooks; investigation of employee misconduct and preventing unlawful harassment.

Teresa is a popular lecturer on a wide variety of employment-related topics, including employee accommodations and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and state/local leave laws; avoiding unlawful harassment; preparing effective and enforceable severance agreements; and avoiding liability through appropriate performance evaluations, discipline and discharge practices. Teresa is a frequent speaker for such groups as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and the District of Columbia and Virginia Bar continuing legal education (“CLE”) programs. She contributes regularly to Jackson Lewis updates and special reports, including on regulatory developments under the FMLA and ADA, the D.C. Sick and Safe Leave Act and labor-related legislation in Maryland.

Teresa also serves as co-leader of Jackson Lewis’ Out Professionals and Allies in Law (OPAL) attorney resource group.

Honors and Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, "Employment Law - Management" and "Litigation - Labor and Employment" (2018-present)
  • Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, "Super Lawyers" (2011-present)
  • Virginia Super Lawyers®, "Super Lawyers" (2022-present)
  • Thomson Reuters, “Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer – Independently Rated Lawyers”

Pro Bono and Community Involvement

  • Northern Virginia Family Services, Oakton, VA, Pro bono attorney
  • The Shepherd’s Table, Silver Spring, MD, Pro bono attorney

Credentials

Education
Harvard Law School
J.D.
Muhlenberg College
B.A.
Phi Beta Kappa
Admitted to Practice
U.S. Supreme Court
4th Circuit Court of Appeals
District of Columbia - D.D.C.
Maryland - D. Md.
Virginia - E.D. Va.
Virginia - W.D. Va.
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia

Harvard Law School
J.D.
Muhlenberg College
B.A.
Phi Beta Kappa

U.S. Supreme Court
4th Circuit Court of Appeals
District of Columbia - D.D.C.
Maryland - D. Md.
Virginia - E.D. Va.
Virginia - W.D. Va.
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia