LawrenceQueen

Attorney Barbara Queen

As a Managing Partner with LawrenceQueen, Barbara Queen is a compassionate yet aggressive attorney, who devotes her practice to employment law. She has worked in this field for 24 years and through this time has gained invaluable experience that she brings to every new case the firm takes on. Ms. Queen recognizes the value of detailed preparation and personalized attention to help every client through difficult employment law matters.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Ms. Queen earned her law degree from Syracuse University College of Law, graduating with cum laude honors.

She began her career with the New York Attorney General’s Office, winning a competitive position as a legal intern. She then interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York. Joining Lisa Lawrence in 2002, she has since represented clients before the Department of Health Professionals, Merit Systems Protection Board, U.S. District Court, Commonwealth of Virginia Court, EEOC Administrative Hearings, and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Queen was named 2021 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by Cancer LINC, an organization linking people with resources that ease the day-to-day challenges of cancer. Virginia Lawyers Weekly also recognized Barbara for winning a $3.7 million verdict, the 4th largest verdict in Virginia in 2016.

Bar Admissions:

• Commonwealth of Virginia
• United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• American Bar Association
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
• National Employment Lawyers Association

Attorney Ashley R. Passero

Ashley R. Passero, a managing member at LawrenceQueen, appreciates what is at stake when employees and employers face challenges in the workplace. Clients can rely on Ms. Passero to provide an honest, straightforward assessment of their case, and to partner with them to negotiate, or litigate, a successful resolution. For the past ten years, Ms. Passero has practiced almost exclusively in the area of employment law, representing both employees and employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies on a variety of employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misclassification, whistleblower, and wage and hour. Ms. Passero also advises and litigates on behalf of clients with respect to both contractual and tort-based claims that arise from the workplace, including employment agreements, fiduciary duties, tortious interference, and defamation.

Before joining LawrenceQueen, Ms. Passero was an employment attorney at a management-side employment law firm in Richmond, Virginia, where she focused on counseling employers and litigation. Previously, Ms. Passero was an employment attorney at a law firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ms. Passero received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, graduating both with magna cum laude honors.

When not working, Ms. Passero enjoys traveling, trying new local restaurants, and spending time with her husband Mark and their three sons. Ms. Passero is also an adjunct instructor for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education, teaching business law.

Bar Admissions:

• Virginia Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association

Honors & Awards:

• 2018 Rising Star - Virginia Super Lawyers: Employment Law

Attorney Mark Passero

Mark Passero is an experienced trial attorney and counselor – practicing exclusively in employment law for nearly his entire career. Mark’s practice focuses on all aspects of employment law, including individual claims and class actions in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. Mark litigates matters and provides counsel relating to all types of employment claims: wage and hour disputes, whistleblower retaliation (including under the False Claims Act, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)), employment discrimination (ADEA, Title VII, ADA, and state law claims), wrongful discharge, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of restrictive covenants, and tortious interference. Mark also has significant experience conducting workplace investigations and arbitrating and mediating matters to successful resolutions.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Mark spent nearly a decade at national and global law firms (Fox Rothschild and Reed Smith) focusing his practice on employment law, litigation, and counseling. Mark then leveraged that experience and founded his own employment law firm, Passero Employment Law – using his experience to guide workers and small businesses though negotiations, litigation, and workplace disputes. Mark is honored to join the experienced team at LawrenceQueen and continue his career helping employees and small businesses.

In his practice, Mark values communication and understanding above all. While he is a passionate advocate, he understands that each client and case is different. He will provide honest and direct advice that not only analyzes the law but considers the realities of each case.