Mishell Parreno Taylor is a national employment law practitioner who leads litigation in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies across the country. Mishell partners with stakeholders in organizations of all sizes, ranging from local to global corporations on a broad spectrum of workplace 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/California 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. Mishell is a trusted advisor to clients and partners with them as they navigate workplace investigations, compliance, and workforce restructuring.
People
Mishell Parreno Taylor
Partner, Labor and Employment
Notable Work
PAGA and Employee Rights Claims:
Successfully obtained early dismissal of PAGA, class, and employee rights claims in California and Texas for global restaurant brand client based on joint-employer defense theories.
Appeal for Major U.S. Airline:
Successfully obtained Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision affirming order granting Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of a major U.S. airline.
Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims:
Successfully litigated an all-defense verdict on behalf of a global defense contractor in the Southern District of California involving claims of national origin and race discrimination and retaliation.
Wrongful Demotion and Retaliation Arbitration:
Obtained an all-defense award for a large educational institution following a two-week arbitration involving claims of wrongful demotion and retaliation against a major San Diego employer and several of its executives.
Published Work and Lectures
- 46th Annual Labor-Management Conference for Arbitrators and Practitioners, Speaker, "Ethics Fest Part 2: The Ethical Selection of Neutrals and Implicit Bias," February 21, 2025
- California Lawyers Association Webinar Series, Speaker, "Litigating Employment Cases from Pleadings to Summary Judgement: How to do What You Do Even Better," October 15, 23, 30, 2024
- 2024 Triad Conference, Speaker, "The Union’s Role in Addressing and Preventing Discrimination/Harassment in the New World Order," June 27, 2024
- Akerman Labor & Employment Summit, "The Proliferation of Pay Equity Laws & Audits: What Does 'Doing the Right Thing” Mean?'" May 2, 2024
- Law360, Quoted, "How To Get Creative For Nursing Break Compliance," October 2, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Separating Fact From Fiction As DEI Critics Step Up Attacks," September 11, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "4 W&H Issues To Watch This Fall," August 24, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Employer-Side Attys Want Clarity After High Court Decisions," August 7, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "5 Major Wage & Hour Rulings So Far In 2023," June 29, 2023
- Wall Street Journal, Quoted, "What Does the New Breastfeeding Law Mean for U.S. Employers?" June 28, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Adolph Sees Calif. Justices Tackle Standing Issue Left By Supreme Court," June 21, 2023
- HNBA/BMA "El Encuentro en México," Speaker, "Women Leading the Legal Profession," June 16, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Safety Caveats Vital To Give Airline Crews PUMP Act Rights," May 26, 2023
- Akerman Labor & Employment Law Summit, Co-Moderator, "Pay Equity and Data Transparency: Essential Considerations for Elevating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace," May 4, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Influx Of Cash Draws Agency Scrutiny To Construction Sector," April 19, 2023
- HNBA/VIA Corporate Counsel Conference, Moderator, "Elevating Our Collective Latinidad and Recognizing our Hues – How Understanding the Impact of Colonialism and Colorism on Our Multifaceted Identities Can Help Shape a More Inclusive Future," March 11, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Pay History, Minimum Wage Bills On Deck In Texas Legislature," January 31, 2023
- Law360, Quoted, "Exclusion From Nursing Law 'Heartbreaking' For Airline Crews," January 1, 2023
- University of Houston Law Center, Speaker, Dean’s Diversity Dialogue: Texas Latinx Big Law Partner/General Counsel Summit, September 28, 2022
- Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Meeting, Panelist, "Latina Commission Plenary: Dobbs v. Jackson - Impact on Latinas," September 9, 2022
- Law360, Quoted, "3 Ways For Employers To Avoid Back-To-School W&H Issues," September 8, 2022
- SHRM Online, Co-Author, "Experts Share DE&I, Training Forecasts for 2022," January 6, 2022
- #evolve magazine, Co-Author, "Toeing the Line," November 2, 2021
- 2021 Houston Employer Conference, Speaker, October 26, 2021
- Bloomberg Law, Co-Author, "Turning Pandemic Burnout Into Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Opportunities," June 20, 2021
- Bloomberg Law, Co-Author, "Turning Pandemic Burnout Into Real Opportunities for Change," June 28, 2021
- San Diego Women’s Week Webinar, Speaker, "Navigating Bias and Embracing Inclusivity," March 19, 2021
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Pearls of Wisdom, Women’s History Month, Speaker, "Latinas in the Law," March 11, 2021
- Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce Webinar, Speaker, "2021 Legal Update," January 28, 2021
- Hispanic National Bar Association Webinar, Speaker, "The Inclusion Project: Building a Successful D&I Program,"January 13, 2021
- North San Diego Business Chamber Webinar, Speaker, "How Women Lead When 'Shift' Happens," October 29, 2020
- TLNT, Author, "Fairly and Effectively Managing in the New World Order," June 8, 2020
- Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce Webinar, Speaker, "COVID-19: Sick and Family Leave Regulations," April 8, 2020
- TLNT, Author, "3 Considerations for Managing Remote Workforces Beyond the Pandemic," May 28, 2020
- SHRM Online, Author, "San Diego Requires Temperature Checks," May 28, 2020
- Risk Management Magazine, Co-Author, " Post-Disaster Workforce Considerations for Employers," January 29, 2020
- SHRM Online, Author, "Today’s Affinity Groups: Risks and Rewards," October 11, 2019
- North San Diego Business Chamber, Speaker, "The Drama-Free Workplace: How You Can Prevent Unconscious Bias, Sexual Harassment, Ethics Lapses, and Inspire a Healthy Culture," July 24, 2019
- Executive Employer® Conference, Speaker, "Here, There and Everywhere: International Sexual Harassment Laws and the Evolving Impacts of #MeToo, #StandUp and Beyond," May 9, 2019
- Wolters Kluwer, Author, "#MeToo and How It May Impact You Too Across Latin America," December 1, 2018
- Fourth Annual Conference in Monterrey, Speaker, "Sexual Harassment and #MeToo," November 15, 2018
- Global Trade Magazine, Co-Author, "NAFTA 2.0," November 7, 2018
- Latina Success Conference MANA of San Diego, Speaker, "Speak Up: Finding Your Voice in the #MeToo Era," October 8, 2018
- Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Speaker, "Legal Update on Labor and Employment Laws Critical to Any Size Business," October 4, 2018
- 4a Conferencia Anual en Colombia, Speaker, "Sexual Harassment and #MeToo," September 26, 2018
- TLNT, Co-Author, " A Look at the #MeToo Movement’s Impact In the US, Brazil and the UK," August 8, 2018
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Speaker, " Leading Edge Employment Law: Emerging Trends In Pay Parity Litigation and Enforcement," March 17, 2018
- SHRM Online, Author, "California Employers Must Note Expansive Anti-Discrimination Rules," September 5, 2017
- Workforce, Author, "Hurricane Harvey Shows the Need for Employer Communication and Empathy," August 31, 2017
- TLNT, Author, "After Hurricane Harvey, Here’s What Employers Must Do," August 30, 2017
- SHRM Online, Author, "4 Wage and Hour Challenges for California Employers," August 22, 2017
- SHRM Online, Author, "4 California-Specific Leave Challenges for Employers," August 9, 2017
- LexisNexis, Chapter Co-Editor, Chapter 3: The California Employer, "Statutory Rights under California Law," 2009
Affiliations
- Akerman Foundation, Board of Directors, 2025
- Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA), Houston Chapter, President
- Law360, Employment Authority Wage and Hour Editorial Board, 2023
- American Bar Association, Member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Member
- Latina Commission, Vice Chair, 2022-2023
- HR Committee, Chair
- National Employment Law Council, Member
- San Diego Bar Association, Member
- Labor and Employment Section
- International Law Section
- San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Pro Bono Committee, Member
Honors and Distinctions
- College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Elected Fellow
- Houston Business Journal, 2024, Diversity Champion Honoree
- Los Angeles Business Journal, 2024, "Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys"
- Houston Business Journal, 2022, Women Who Mean Business, Listed as an "Outstanding Business Leader in Law"
- University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) Alumni Association Private Practice Achievement Award, Recipient
- The Daily Transcript, Named one of the "50 Influential Leaders in San Diego," 2020
- Golden Key National Honor Society, Member