LAWYER PROFILE
Maureen Knight

Maureen Knight

USA 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

USA

Practice Areas

Labor & Employment

Class/Collective Actions

Employment Litigation Prevention & Defense

Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition

Wage and Hour Compliance & Litigation

Career

Maureen is a seasoned litigator who co-chairs Constangy’s Class Action Practice Group and counsels employers on wage and hour compliance.

She focuses a significant portion of her practice on wage and hour matters, advising clients on preventive strategies, internal audits, government investigations, and the defense of class, collective, and representative actions. Maureen has handled cases involving minimum wage and overtime violations tied to off-the-clock work, hour deletion, exemption misclassification, and misapplication of tip credits. She works with employers to develop compliant pay practices and provides guidance on white-collar exemptions, tip pooling, break and rest periods, salary deductions, and other time compensation issues.

In addition to her wage and hour work, Maureen defends employers in discrimination and retaliation matters before state, local, and federal agencies and in litigation. She has experience handling cases involving Title VII, FMLA, and other employment laws, as well as common law and contract-based claims, including restrictive covenants and employment agreements. Her litigation work spans single-plaintiff disputes to complex multi-plaintiff and class action trials in both state and federal courts.

Maureen represents national Fortune 100 and 500 companies and also serves as a trusted advisor to small and growing businesses. She regularly assists with day-to-day employment counseling, employee handbooks, policy implementation, and workplace compliance matters. Clients value her ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical guidance that supports business goals.

Maureen frequently speaks and writes on wage and hour topics for HR professionals and in-house counsel. She is AV Preeminent® rated and has been recognized by Chambers USA and Virginia Super Lawyers as a top practitioner in employment law. She is also the recipient of the Betty Southard Murphy Award in Labor Law and was honored by a national client’s legal department for her responsiveness and legal insight—a rare recognition typically reserved for in-house team members.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

Fairfax County Bar Association

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Northern Virginia Society for Human Resource Management (NOVA SHRM)

Personal

Maureen is married to her husband Craig, and they have three wonderful children. She most enjoys spending time with her family (including traveling the country visiting Major League Baseball stadiums) and digging in the dirt of her multiple gardens.

Education

George Mason University School of Law

J.D.

2001

Awards

Legal Leaders: Washington D.C. & Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyer

ALM

2015

Employment Law – Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment

The Best Lawyers in America®

2026

Client Service All-Star

BTI Consulting Group

2024

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent®

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Virginia

Supreme Court of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Court - CO

U.S. District Court - D.C.

U.S. District Court - IL - N.D.

U.S. District Court - VA - E.D., W.D.

U.S. District Court - WI - E.D.

Key sectors

Retail and ConsumerLeisure and Hospitality

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Labor & Employment - Virginia

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial
Maureen Knight is cochair of the class action practice group at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP. She is noted for her wage and hour expertise, advising clients on investigations and audits as well as providing representation for litigation and other contentious claims.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Maureen is an excellent attorney.

    Labor & EmploymentChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP (23)

Alabama

California

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Massachusetts

Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds

New York: Upstate

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

USA - Nationwide

Virginia

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