Akerman Labor and Employment Partner Emily Patajo has been named among the 2025 Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The publication selects recipients based on their professional achievements, community leadership, significant milestones, and recent notable accomplishments.

Emily focuses her practice on employment litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration. She represents employers across a wide range of industries, including grocery, retail, technology, and healthcare. Highly regarded for her expertise in litigation matters involving wrongful termination, unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in violation of California law, Emily's clients also rely on her to litigate complex wage and hour class action cases.

Beyond her litigation practice, Emily regularly defends employers facing charges and complaints before state agencies such as the California Civil Rights Department and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. She provides strategic advice to human resources and employee relations teams on personnel management, including conducting investigations and evaluating requests for reasonable accommodations. Emily also serves as a trusted advisor on drafting, enforcing, and analyzing arbitration agreements.

Emily has earned numerous honors and distinctions for her work. The Legal 500 recommends her for Labor and Employment – Labor and Employment Disputes. Super Lawyers magazine named her a "Rising Sar" for Employment & Labor in California.