Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Karen M. Morinelli has joined the firm’s Tampa office, which opened in early 2013, as Partner. Ms. Morinelli joins Jackson Lewis from Ogletree Deakins, where she counseled a variety of private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.
“Karen is a welcome addition to our new and already rapidly expanding office,” said Barnett Q. Brooks, Managing Partner of Jackson Lewis’ Tampa office. “Her previous experience in a corporate legal department and her labor and employment expertise boosts our team’s ability to provide every possible service to our clients at the highest quality. Karen’s impressive background lends a strong business perspective to her approach to counseling employers, a skill that will benefit our clients.”
Ms. Morinelli concentrates her practice in union negotiations, employer/employee relations, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and has served as Chief Negotiator for clients in both the public and private sector. She counsels clients on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, NLRA, PELRA, FCRA and local fair employment practice standards.
Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Ms. Morinelli was a former General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources where she managed a corporate legal department and a variety of employment-related issues in corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including national class action litigation.
Ms. Morinelli regularly presents seminars and training programs for clients and employer organizations on a variety of employment-related topics. She conducts internal investigations of potential workplace issues, including sexual harassment and ethics violations, as well as public sector formal investigations in accordance with state and local laws. Ms. Morinelli also advises employers with respect to drafting employment contracts, severance agreements and settlement agreements, and advises clients on all aspects of the employment process including hiring, discipline and terminations.
Ms. Morinelli is listed in the 2013 edition of Best Lawyers in America and is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. She earned her B.A. from LaSalle University and her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, where she graduated cum laude. She also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame Graduate School of Business.
