Maria Antonieta Grasso (formerly Sager) feels fortunate to be a lawyer—especially given her humble beginnings. She immigrated to the United States from El Salvador at age four and was raised in poverty by parents who could not read, write, or speak English. Her Italian father encouraged her to pursue a career in law, and her Spanish mother supported her every step of the way. Maria learned early on the value of hard work and perseverance and has carried those lessons throughout her life and applies them every day in her representation of clients. She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in Italian.

Maria earned her undergraduate degree in social work, which helped prepare her to be a more empathetic and passionate workers’ compensation attorney. After nearly 25 years of representing injured workers at Boxer+Gerson, she still truly loves coming to work each day.

Maria often says that joining Boxer+Gerson was one of the best decisions of her life. From day one, the firm has treated her with kindness and respect and has consistently supported her professional development. Boxer+Gerson has long understood the importance of giving back to the community through pro bono work and public education, and the firm has encouraged Maria to grow as a lawyer in ways she may not have been able to elsewhere.

Certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in workers’ compensation law, Maria was named the 2025 Applicant Attorney of the Year by the Workers’ Compensation Section Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association (CLA). In selecting Maria, the committee considered her nearly 25 years of contributions to the workers’ compensation community and beyond.

Maria spent seven years with the CLA, which represents approximately 3,200 workers’ compensation attorneys and judges statewide. She served five years as an officer, one year as Chair, and one year as Immediate Past Chair and representative to the CLA Board of Representatives, which serves roughly 100,000 lawyers across California.

She also chaired a 12-member committee for the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA) that organized a Latino Symposium in Sacramento, helping attorneys and policymakers better understand workers’ compensation issues affecting Latino workers.

Maria served on the board of directors of Centro Legal de la Raza for six years, including three years as Chair. She currently serves on Centro Legal de la Raza’s Youth Law Academy Advisory Committee, which supports disadvantaged Oakland students in graduating from high school and pursuing college and law school. For nearly a decade, Maria mentored Centro’s high school and college students during summer internships at Boxer+Gerson, helping them learn about workers’ compensation law.

An outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, Maria published an article in the American Bar Association Journal titled “How Law Firms Can Increase Diversity Among Equity Partners” (September 10, 2020).

Maria also works closely with the San Francisco–based consulates of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras to educate their citizens about workers’ compensation law. In August 2019, she was named an attorney consultant to the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco—a role she continues to hold today. She also delivers monthly presentations in Spanish for members of these communities.

In 2009, Maria began a tradition of bringing together hundreds of members of the workers’ compensation community to support Oakland children during the holidays by collecting toys and donations. This tradition continues today. In 2025, the committee raised more than $27,000, with all donations benefiting Alameda County Firefighters Local 55.

Maria is a pro tem judge for the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board in Oakland. She regularly presents on workers’ compensation law to community organizations, including Centro Legal de la Raza, La Raza Centro Legal, Puertas Abiertas, Líderes Campesinas, the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, and various unions such as AFSCME Local 2019, AFSCME Local 3299, and SEIU Local 2007. She is a frequent guest on the Spanish-language radio program Information Is Power on KIQI 1010 AM, where she discusses workers’ compensation law.