Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that it has expanded its Houston and Los Angeles offices with Labor and Employment Practice Group partner Mishell Parreno Taylor. Parreno Taylor focuses her practice on employment litigation in federal and state courts and administrative agencies across the country. Parreno Taylor comes to the firm from Littler Mendelson, P.C.
“Mishell distinguishes herself from several of her peers with her ability to effectively handle employment compliance and litigation in circumstances involving multilingual and multicultural human capital across the globe,” said Labor and Employment Practice Group Chair Eric Gordon. “Her unique skillset will strengthen our practice and our presence in both Texas and California.”
Parreno Taylor partners with stakeholders in organizations of all sizes, ranging from local to global corporations on a broad spectrum of employment law issues, including defending clients against individual and class-wide claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Additionally, she handles both individual and class action/Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) wage and hour litigation in matters involving claims of missed meal and rest periods, unlawful deductions, misclassification, expense reimbursement, and off-the-clock work.
Parreno Taylor uses her deep multijurisdictional employment litigation experience to counsel clients in workplace crisis management and prevention. She has served as the key negotiator in high stakes workplace negotiations including exiting executives during threatened litigation. She conducts and oversees sensitive employee investigations involving post #metoo claims of harassment, inappropriate conduct, and whistleblower claims. Parreno Taylor also counsels organizations on COVID-19 workforce response, including compliance with government-related restrictions across the globe, managing remote workers, reorganizations, workplace safety related issues, and unemployment insurance and leave requirements under state and federal emergency legislation created during the pandemic.
Parreno Taylor is also focused on helping organizations build workplaces of the future through collaborating with global clients to develop innovative solutions for achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. She also serves as a trusted advisor to clients on a wide range of employment related issues across California and Texas, including counseling on hiring/onboarding procedures, testing, developing workplace policies and practices, anti-harassment/discrimination compliance and training, wage and hour compliance, leave administration, and termination decisions.
