Marissa Franco | Of Counsel | Irvine
I saw people I respected joining FP.
I actually interviewed with Fisher Phillips in law school 15 years ago. Life took me on a different path, but over time I noticed colleagues and lawyers I respected moving to FP. After 12 years of practicing employment law – handling single plaintiff matters and wage and hour class actions at midsize and Big Law firms in Los Angeles – I reached a turning point. I could see the firm’s growth and the quality of the work. It made the choice easy.
I’ve been really surprised how quickly I integrated.
A couple months after I joined, a colleague said it felt like I’d been here for years. That speaks to how embraced I felt by the partnership, associates, and staff. My office works incredibly hard and is intensely client-focused, but it’s also genuinely supportive. Doors are open, associates are in and out of my office strategizing. We bounce ideas off one another all day. It’s collaborative in a very real way.
“Whatever you need to succeed, we’re going to give it to you.”
That was the promise when I joined, and it’s been kept. If I want to pursue a speaking engagement, attend a conference, or pitch a marketing idea, the firm is receptive. The managing partner – who’s juggling so much – has asked, “What else do you need? Would it help if I jump on that call?” That kind of proactive support makes an enormous difference when you’re building a practice.
They’ve provided the opportunities I was interested in.
I still handle single-plaintiff and advice work, but now I’m running a larger caseload with associate teams; one client relationship grew from four cases to 17. I said I wanted to do more labor work, and within months I was in a labor arbitration. New clients have gravitated toward me, and I’ve become their go-to for daily calls that often grow into larger projects.
A busy partner took time to call and recognize my mentorship.
A partner I deeply respect called to share fantastic feedback from associates about my mentorship and training. That meant a lot. It’s something I do because I want my colleagues to excel. The fact that she took the time to call says a lot about what FP emphasizes – not just producing excellent work but developing the people around you.
Three words: supportive, client-focused, innovative.
We sign a client pledge every year focused on service and accountability – that matters to me. And FP’s use of AI to streamline and economize the practice of law is exciting. It allows me to focus on strategy and novel arguments. I truly feel like my possibilities are endless here.
