Akerman is proud to share that Labor and Employment Partner Mishell Parreno Taylor has been selected as a 2024 Houston Business Journal Diversity Champion. The award recognizes individuals who have shown initiative to promote diversity and inclusion either within the community or their for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Parreno Taylor's practice includes partnering with clients across the country in navigating workforce compliance, investigation and high-stakes litigation matters.  Her role in designing as legally compliant diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across a wide-spectrum of industry including  finance, private equity, legal services, and food and beverage industries underscores her impactful contributions to advancing equity in the workplace. She has worked with many law firms to develop, reshape, and evolve their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and ensure that these programs are consistent with stakeholder goals while legally compliant with current legal parameters regarding DEI initiatives. 

As an influential thought leader, she plays an active role in DEI discussions by authoring articles and serving as a speaker in notable forums. Her engagements cover diverse topics, from workplace issues to the implications of legal decisions on employers, showcasing a comprehensive approach to DEI and workplace access. Of note, she has been extensively quoted in Law360 and Wall Street Journal articles. She has also co-authored articles, such as "Turning Pandemic Burnout Into Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Opportunities" on Bloomberg Law.

Parreno Taylor also participated as a speaker at the University of Houston Law Center, Hispanic National Bar Association Annual and Corporate Counsel Conferences, and San Diego Women's Week. Parreno Taylor has been recognized by multiple publications including the Los Angeles Business Journal and San Diego Daily Transcript as an influential leader for her commitment to her practice, mentorship and the equitable future of the legal profession.