Elizabeth Catalano
Associate
Elizabeth Catalano is an associate in Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department. She has broad litigation experience across multiple practice areas and industries, focusing her practice on complex litigation matters involving commercial disputes, products liability, and employment-related matters, including restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and internal investigations. She practices in federal and state courts and in arbitrations, handling all stages of litigation—from drafting pleadings and facilitating pre-trial discovery to arguing dispositive motions and examining witnesses at trial.
Elizabeth has significant trial experience, having second-chaired multiple high-stakes cases. She was part of a team that successfully handled a five-week jury trial in Boston, MA, involving complex damages theories and 32 witnesses (17 of whom were experts), ultimately securing a favorable outcome that significantly limited client exposure. She also second-chaired a seven-day jury trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of SEPTA, where the team achieved a full defense verdict in a case involving Federal Employers Liability Act claims. Elizabeth played a key role in all aspects of trial preparation, including arguing motions in limine and conducting direct and cross-examinations of several fact and expert witnesses.
In her employment and restrictive covenant practice, Elizabeth has represented large companies in the enforcement of restrictive covenants against former executives and business partners. She has also regularly counseled clients on matters related to trade secrets, non-compete agreements, and employment disputes, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and other employment-related discrimination claims.
Elizabeth is a member of Montgomery McCracken’s Hiring Committee, Associate Committee and Summer Associate Committee.
Prior to joining Montgomery McCracken, Elizabeth was a law clerk for a local Philadelphia law firm and a Certified Legal Intern in Villanova’s Health Law Clinic. Elizabeth earned her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as a Student Works Editor on the Villanova Law Review. She received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, in Political Science with a minor in Writing & Rhetoric from Colgate University.
RELATED Practices
Commercial Litigation
Montgomery McCracken’s Commercial Litigation Practice has a long and illustrious history. We handle a wide range of individual and corporate disputes involving virtually every area of personal and business endeavors […]
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Business Litigation
Montgomery McCracken’s Business Litigation Practice represents corporations and unincorporated business entities, their officers, directors, partners and managers, their financial advisors, and their shareholders and creditors in a wide array of […]
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Litigation
Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department offers a deep bench of skilled and experienced litigators whose practice areas encompass a broad array of industries and substantive legal disciplines. Our clients include individuals, […]
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Business
Montgomery McCracken’s Business Department works proactively and collaboratively with our clients to advise on the full array of corporate and business issues, ranging from finance and regulatory matters to mergers […]
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Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense
Montgomery McCracken’s Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense Practice has a national reputation for its successful representations of colleges, universities, and health care professionals in high-exposure sports-injury cases. We have achieved favorable results […]
Learn more about our Catastrophic Sports Injury Defense Practice
1 of 6 Credentials
Selected Representations - Represented the Plaintiff in Insys Liquidation Trust v. McKesson Corporation in Delaware, including prevailing against a motion to dismiss (see Bill Rochelle’s Daily Wire, July 27, 2021).
- Represented Illinois school district in case involving student who allegedly sustained traumatic brain injury after school activity bus rolled over.
- Represented a client in a five-week jury trial in Boston, MA, involving complex damages theories and 32 witnesses (17 experts), resulting in a favorable outcome that limited exposure.
- Represented SEPTA in a seven-day jury trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, resulting in a full defense verdict on Federal Employers Liability Act claims.
Selected Speaking Engagements - Speaker, “Legal Updates for Athletic Trainers,” ATI Sports Medicine, July 2025
- Speaker, “Legal Case Updates for Athletic Trainers,” College Athletic Trainers Society Symposium, May 2025
- Guest Lecturer, “Special Topics in Sports Medicine,” University of Michigan, December 2024
- Speaker, “Hot Legal Topics for Athletic Trainers – Sports Medicine and the Law,” College Athletic Trainers’ Society Spring Symposium, May 2023
Selected Publications Labor and Employment
- Co-Author, “Employee or Independent Contractor? Six factors to consider under new DOL rule,” January 2024
- Co-Author, “FTC Proposes Total Nationwide Ban on Non-Compete Clauses,” January 2023
- Co-Author, “Senate Passes Bi-Partisan Bill Prohibiting Mandatory Arbitration of Employee Sexual Misconduct Claims,” February 2022
- Co-Author, “In a Landmark Decision, Supreme Court Rules Title VII Protects LGBTQ+ Workers,” June 2020
- Co-Author, “WARN Obligations In Light of COVID-19,” March 2020
- Co-Author, “U.S. Department of Labor Updates its Guidance on FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions,” March 2020
- Co-Author, “Employers Must Prepare to Provide Paid Sick Leave to Employees Impacted by COVID-19,” March 2020
- Co-Author, “PA Governor Orders Closure of Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses,” March 2020
- Co-Author, “New Guidance Issued by the Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service for Employers Regarding FFCRA Paid Leave and Available Tax Credits,” March 2020
- Co-Author, “Labor and Employment Issues and the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” March 2020
- Co-Author, “DOL Provides Opinions on Non-Discretionary Bonuses, Per-Project Payments, and Public Agency FMLA Eligibility,” January 2020
Catastrophic Sports Injury
- Co-Author, “Bring It On: Indiana Court Finds That Accidents Are Ordinary in High School Cheerleading,” Sports Medicine and the Law, Summer 2022
- Co-Author, “No ATs? Huge Problem: Shocking Number of Public High Schools Don’t Have Medical Providers to Protect Student Athletes,” October 2021
- Co-Author, “The Proof is in the Poliquin: The Yin and Yang (R-ALA) of Brandon Copeland’s Battle Against Supplement Maker’s Fraudulent Practices,” Sports Medicine and the Law, Summer 2021
- Co-Author, “Pro Wrestlers Fail to Take Down WWE In Brain Injury Tag Team,” Sports Medicine and the Law, Summer 2020
- Co-Author, “Navigating A New Gauntlet: Pro Sports Leagues Adapt to Marijuana Legalization,” Sports Medicine and the Law, Spring 2020
- Co-Author, “Claims of Constitutional Violations Dismissed in Student Athlete Wrongful Death Case, Giordano v. School Board,” Sports Medicine and the Law, Winter 2020
- Co-Author, “Exercise As Punishment? Drop and Give Me 20… Hundred Thousand Dollars,” Sports Medicine and the Law, October 2019
Higher Education
Honors & Awards - Selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment lists in 2026. This list is issued by Best Lawyers® and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
- Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star list 2022-2025. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
Education Law School
- Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Undergraduate School
