Ogletree Deakins Appoints New Leaders in Florida, California

ATLANTA – August 10, 2020 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that Karen Morinelli and Mike Sexton have been selected to serve as office managing shareholders of the firm’s offices in Tampa, Florida and Orange County, California, respectively.

Morinelli is one of 15 female office managing shareholders at Ogletree Deakins. She has been co-managing shareholder of the Tampa office with Edmund McKenna since January. McKenna is stepping down from his role and returning full-time to his employment law litigation practice. In her role as office managing shareholder, Morinelli will work closely with the firm’s Miami office to oversee recruiting, the delivery of client service, and the myriad of legal issues related toe Florida employment law.

As a former General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources, Morinelli brings a strong business perspective to both client relations and in her approach to manage client issues. Morinelli 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. Morinelli’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 ULP’s, grievance and arbitration hearings, and advising clients on preventative strategies with an organized workforce. She is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Lawyers and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for both Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management and is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mike Sexton succeeds Vince Verde as office managing shareholder in the firm’s Orange County office. Verde departs his post to focus on his leadership in the firm’s Trial Practice Group. Sexton’s practice is a mix of employment advice and counsel and employment litigation, with a focus on large employers in California. Sexton represents employers in state and federal courts in single and multi-plaintiff actions. He also defends employers against class actions and claims filed under the California Business and Professions Code Section 17200. Sexton represents employers in various administrative agency matters, including the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, California Department of Industrial Relations and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section and the California Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section. As office managing shareholder in Orange County, Sexton will work in conjunction with Ogletree’s six California offices regarding the firm’s strategic approach to practicing in the state, to handling a comprehensive range of state-specific labor and employment issues.

About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for nine consecutive years. In 2020, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management and Litigation – ERISA categories. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. www.ogletree.com