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Marie Bussey-Garza

Of Counsel
About

Marie Bussey-Garza is an experienced litigator with a nationwide practice focused on class actions, high-stakes government-facing litigation, and appellate advocacy. Marie's experience includes successfully defending complex actions alleging deceptive business practices, violations of consumer protection laws, defamation, and related constitutional claims, as well as pursuing affirmative statutory and constitutional challenges to state legislative actions. At the appellate level, Marie has successfully represented clients in practice-changing appellate disputes with critical implications for a broad range of industries.

Marie is a versatile and creative attorney who is adept at identifying out-of-the-box solutions to complex legal problems. As a prior entrepreneur and educator in diverse industries—including information technology, winemaking, hospitality, healthcare, research, and higher education—Marie is attuned to a broad range of business concerns and sees opportunities that others often miss. Her common-sense approach to legal practice is informed by her extensive and varied career experience. Consistent with her professional background, Marie represents leading businesses across industries, including retail, life sciences, hospitality, communications, financial services, and manufacturing.

Marie is also a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and social justice, with a particular emphasis on women's issues. She is a founding member and the Immediate Past President of the Villanova Law Women's Network (VLWN), which is the official alumnae network of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Communications Committee for the VLWN. In addition, Marie maintains an active pro bono practice, with an emphasis on civil rights actions.

Bar admissionsPennsylvaniaTexas
CourtsSupreme Court of the United StatesUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of TexasUnited States District Court for the Western District of Texas

EXPERIENCE

  • Counsel for a large, non-profit health system in an affirmative constitutional challenge to a state law imposing government take-over of nonprofit corporate governance functions
  • Currently representing a network analysis and managed services company in a putative nationwide class action alleging federal statutory claims for purported censorship of online speech
  • Currently representing an international development firm in a defamation action asserted in federal court
  • Secured total defense victory at trial and a multimillion-dollar fee award for a publisher falsely accused of deceptive sales practices by the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  • Developed appellate strategy for a Fortune 500 life sciences company that ultimately resulted in withdrawal of the action by the opposing party
  • Successfully managed and resolved multiple appeals against a major pharmaceutical company brought by plaintiffs dismissed from a multidistrict litigation involving a critical lifesaving drug
  • Successfully defended a leading retail foodservices company against defamation claims
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of a global power equipment manufacturer in an action alleging wrongful death due to a product defect
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a nationwide putative class action against a Fortune 100 retailer in a case alleging willful violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a putative class action against nine national retailers in a case alleging deceptive business practices
  • Secured dismissal of a nationwide putative class action against a national cloud service provider in a case alleging negligence, deceptive business practices, and breach of contract in connection with a data breach
  • Successfully resolved a putative nationwide class action against a national mortgage provider in a case alleging breach of contract and statutory violations of a debt collection act
  • Secured voluntary withdrawal of a putative nationwide class action alleging deceptive business practices and common law fraud against a world-class museum
  • Secured voluntary dismissal of a putative class action alleging privacy claims against a luxury retailer based on its purported use of session replay software on its website
Languages
  • Spanish

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Rising Star Lawyers, Scene in SA, (2025)
  • Rising Star, Class Actions & Mass Torts, Super Lawyers, (2024 – 2025)
Education
  • J.D., Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
    summa cum laude
    Managing Editor, Villanova Law Review, Tolle Lege
  • B.S., California State University, Fresno
    Bayer Agriculture Division Graduate Viticulture Assistantship
  • B.B.A., The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business
    with highest honors

Seminars

  • Guest Speaker, "Interviewing and Counseling, Counseling Clients in Preparation for Depositions," Charles Widger School of Law, November 8, 2023; April 10, 2024; April 7, 2025
  • Speaker, "Quick Hit: From Class Actions to Mass Claims: Exploring the Mass Arbitration Phenomenon," October 23, 2024
  • Panel Moderator, "Strategic Litigation Against the Government: When, Why, and How," May 15, 2024
  • Panel Moderator, "Better Briefs. Session 1: Setting Yourself up for Success," March 1, 2024
  • Guest Speaker, "Class Actions, Defending Class Actions," Charles Widger School of Law, January 23, 2024
  • Guest Speaker, "Civil Procedure, Defending Class Actions," Charles Widger School of Law, November 20, 2023

Media Mentions

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Marie interned for the Honorable Michael M. Baylson of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • President, Villanova Law Chapter, Order of the Coif
  • Immediate Past President, Villanova Law Women's Network
  • President, Villanova Law Women's Network, (2022 – 2025)
  • Board of Governors, SA Youth, (2022 – 2023)
  • Inaugural Vice President, Villanova Law Women's Network, (2020 – 2022)