Karen M. Morinelli

Office Managing Shareholder | Tampa

Karen M. Morinelli is a shareholder in the Tampa office. As a former General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources, she brings a strong business perspective to both client relations and in her approach to manage client issues.

Karen has managed a corporate legal department and a variety of employment related issues in corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, national class action litigation, and managed a successful appeal to the United States Supreme Court. She is a frequent lecturer for both state wide and national employer sponsored organizations on a variety of current labor and employment topics. Her practice includes both traditional labor in the public and private sector as well as employment law.

Karen’s traditional labor practice includes negotiating collective bargaining agreements including serving as Chief Negotiator for clients in both the public and private sector. Additionally, she represents management in ULPs, grievance and arbitration hearings and advising clients on preventative strategies with an organized workforce.

Karen also counsels employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including employer/employee relations, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. This includes litigation in both state and federal courts on matters under Title VII, the ADAAA, the ADEA, the FMLA, AAP, NLRA, PELRA, FCRA, and local fair employment practice standards.

Karen is a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for both Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management, and is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. She is a member of the Academy of Florida Management Attorneys. She earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, cum laude, in 1989, her M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame Graduate School of Business in 1985, and her B.A. from LaSalle University, cum laude, in 1976.

More About Karen M. Morinelli

Experience

Education & Admission

Professional Activities

Speeches

Workplace Strategies Seminar – ““Do This, Not That”: Tackling the Toughest Employment Issues During Tough Times” – Phoenix – May 7, 2022
Workplace Strategies Virtual Seminar – “Hot Topics in Discrimination and Harassment: Where Future Lawsuits May Arise” – June 25, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “FFCRA: What Employers Need to Know About the DOL’s Updated Regulations and New FAQs” – September 23, 2020
Managing a Workforce in 2020 – “Wage and Hour Power Hour: What’s on the Horizon for 2020” – Tampa – October 2, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Nine of Diamonds: Seeking Crystal-Clear Clarity From the Supreme Court of the United States” – Las Vegas – May 3, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Hospitality Symposium – “The Latest Labor Challenges Facing the Hospitality Industry ” – Las Vegas – May 1, 2019
Charlotte County SHRM – “Mr. Trump goes to Washington: Labor and Employment Developments in the First Year of the Trump Administration” – Punta Gorda – November 15, 2017
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “A Brave (and Scary) New World Without Performance Appraisals” – Tampa – September 29, 2017
FPELRA LR Professional Series Training – “Impasse Hearing Simulation” – Orlando – June 23, 2017
NPELRA 2017 Annual Training Conference – “Discipline and Documentation: Best Principles and Practices for New Supervisors” – Longbeach – April 2017
FPELRA 2017 Annual Conference – “Legal Update 2017 – Aloha” – Orlando – February 24, 2017
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Comfort Dogs, Odor-Free Workplaces, and Talking Websites – The Expansion of “Reasonable” Accommodations” – Tampa – November 4, 2016
University of West Florida Council of Counsels – “The ABC’s of Website Accessibility Litigation” – Pensacola – July 21, 2016
NPELRA – Labor Relations Academy I – “The Labor Contract” – Memphis – April 17, 2016
FPELRA Annual Training Conference – “Legal Update 2016 – Some “Good Oil” for the Outback” – Orlando – February 22, 2016
Charlotte County Society for Human Resources – “Legal Update: 2015 & Beyond” – Tampa – November 18, 2015
City of Sarasota – “Understanding Labor Contracts” – Sarasota – August 20, 2015
FPELRA – “Impasse Simulation Training” – Orlando – June 5, 2015
NPELRA – “Labor Relations Jeopardy” – Savannah – March 31, 2015
ACC West Central Florida Chapter – “Employment Law Jeopardy” – Tampa – February 19, 2015
FPELRA – “Legal Update” – Orlando – February 9, 2015
Charlotte County Society for Human Resources – “Legal Update” – Port Charlotte – November 2014
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Top Ten Ways to Get Sued” – Tampa – September 1, 2014
FPELRA Pre-Conference – “EEOC Goes Wild!” – Marco Island – July 2014
Charlotte County Society for Human Resources – “Legislative Update” – Port Charlotte – June 2014
FPELRA Annual Training Conference – “Legal Update” – Orlando – February 2014
NLRB – “Are Your Handbooks Compliant?” – Tampa – May 2013
FPELRA – “Legal Update” – Orlando – February 2013
NPELRA 2012 Annual Training Conference – “Avoiding Wage and Hour Mistakes (Fair Labor Standards Act)” – Orlando – April 15, 2012
Suncoast Human Resources Management Association – “2011 HR Legal Update” – St. Petersburg – September 14, 2011
NPELRA 2012 Annual Training Conference – “Ask An Expert – Labor & Employment Law” – San Diego – March 2011
FPELRA Annual Training Conference – “Legal Update: Know Where You Are!” – Orlando – February 9, 2011
NPELRA – Labor Relations Academy II – “Role of Arbitration in Union/Management Relations” – Raleigh – November 9, 2010
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Conducting Successful Workplace Investigations” – Tampa – October 21, 2010
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Evaluating Employee Performance Without Creating Legal Liability” – Tampa – October 21, 2010
NCLEPA Fall Conference – “Mandatory Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Employees: An Introduction to Organizing and Negotiation” – Boone – October 13, 2010
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “HR’s Role in Employment Litigation Management” – Las Vegas – May 6, 2010