Akerman Partners Eric Gordon, Arlene Kline, and Mishell Parreno Taylor have been elected to the Class of 2025 Fellows of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Their election, finalized by the College’s Board of Governors on June 14, 2025, represents one of the highest recognitions for excellence in the field of labor and employment law.
Election as a Fellow is bestowed upon attorneys who have demonstrated at least 20 years of sustained outstanding performance, integrity, professionalism, and character in the practice of labor and employment law. It reflects the esteem of their peers and their significant contributions to the advancement of the profession.
Eric Gordon, who serves as chair of Akerman's Labor & Employment Practice Group, is an experienced litigator, representing Fortune 500 companies operating in the hospitality, healthcare, retail, and telecommunications sectors. He has substantial experience in federal and state jury trials, class actions, arbitrations, and defending claims before administrative agencies.
Arlene Kline is a veteran litigator defending labor and employment matters on behalf of banking, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, media, distribution, transportation, software, law firms, and nonprofit sector clients. A significant aspect of her practice also includes counseling on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and public access matters. In addition, she also routinely advises and trains clients on issues involving discrimination (including harassment), retaliation, whistleblowing, USERRA, wage and hour, and WARN Act.
Mishell Parreno Taylor litigates complex employment matters including wage and hour class, collective and California Private Attorney General Action (PAGA) actions, government enforcement efforts, and high-stakes claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims across the country. She also serves as a trusted business partner to clients navigating executive-level employment issues, labor disputes, global business restructuring, and pay equity matters. Mishell's clients span a broad cross-section of industries including healthcare, medical manufacturing, fintech, finance, energy, retail, food, and transportation services.
The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers is a prestigious professional association that recognizes leading labor and employment lawyers in the United States and Canada. Fellowship is by invitation only, following a rigorous nomination and vetting process.
The formal induction ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place later this year.