Mishell Parreno Taylor (J.D. ’03
Oct. 1, 2025 - Mishell Parreno Taylor (J.D. ’03), a University of Houston Law Center alumna, was recently elected as a fellow to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Class of 2025. This honor recognizes Parreno Taylor’s outstanding work and leadership in over 20 years of experience in employment law.
“It is a personal and professional career honor to have been selected to join this group of practitioners who are part of academia, judiciary, and private practice across the country,” Parreno Taylor shared.
The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers is composed of lawyers nationwide who promote achievement and advancement by setting standards of professionalism and civility through their experience. Parreno Taylor’s years at Akerman and her devotion to her practice exemplify these ideals.
Parreno Taylor is a partner at Akerman, L.L.P., a top law firm in the U.S., and has represented the corporation on a wide range of employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, and wage and hour issues.
“My national labor and employment law practice helps me serve as a resource to clients across geography and industry,” Parreno Taylor said. “Workplace issues cut across all facets of an organization and, through partnership with over 750 Akerman colleagues, I provide practical workforce solutions to clients, factoring in all aspects of business compliance and regulatory considerations.”
Her notable career includes obtaining early dismissal of the Private Attorney General Act; class and employee rights claims for a global restaurant brand; winning an appellate case in the Ninth Circuit for a major U.S. airline; successfully litigating a race and retaliation lawsuit for a global defense contractor; and securing an all-defense award for a large educational institution in a wrongful demotion case involving C-Suite executives. She has also served as the key negotiator in high-stakes workplace negotiations and conducts or oversees sensitive employee investigations, such as claims of harassment and inappropriate conduct.
Her passion for employment law began at UHLC. “The late Professor Irene Rosenberg’s Constitutional Law course sparked my interest in equal protection and the 14th Amendment,” Parreno Taylor said. “That interest led me to take Employment Law with the late Professor Turner. The intersection of equal protection and the legal dynamics of
employer-employee relationships drew me to labor and employment law and continues to fuel my passion for the field.”
Parreno Taylor, who completed both her undergraduate degree in Political Science and her J.D. at the University of Houston, credited UH Law for preparing her for the demands of national practice. “Not only did I receive an excellent legal education that solidly prepared me to sit for the Texas and California bars,” she said, “UHLC exposed me to real-world opportunities that helped me seamlessly transition to my legal career.”
Parreno Taylor is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law topics, with recent engagements with the California Lawyers Association Webinar Series, the Akerman Labor & Employment Summit, and the 2024 Triad Conference. Her honors and distinctions include membership in the Golden Key National Honor Society, the 2020 University of Houston Law Center Alumni Association Private Practice Achievement Award and being named a Top 50 Influential Leader in San Diego by “The Daily Transcript” and a 2024 Diversity Champion Honoree in the Houston Business Journal. She also had the honor of serving as the Latina Commission Chair for the National Hispanic Bar Association.
“I am incredibly proud to be a UHLC [alumnus]” Parreno Taylor said. “[I am] grateful for Dean Baynes and the other members of the faculty and staff who make the Law Center the global powerhouse that it is through its academic excellence and recognition of the importance of community and strong alumni relationships.”
What do you find most rewarding about your field?
MPT: Navigating complex employment litigation and compliance matters for global employers across the country and in some of the most complex jurisdictions including the highly regulated state of California.
What inspired you to come to UHLC?
MPT: UHLC was and continues to be a top-tier academic institution in the international hub of Houston. This, coupled with the value the Law Center brought based on cost, access to the legal market, and proximity to my family, made the University of Houston an easy choice for my legal studies.
What advice do you have for current UHLC students, especially those studying employment law?
MPT: It is an important and incredible time to enter the legal profession and particularly the field of employment law. Workforce transformation through digital technologies and automation, and the evolving legal framework of workforce regulation at the state and federal levels, makes a career in employment law a wonderful opportunity to be on the cutting edge of the future of work.
How has the UHLC alumni network contributed to your career?
MPT: The UHLC alumni network has helped me engage with some of the most brilliant minds with the kindest hearts, many of whom I call dear friends, clients and colleagues. A legal career is about excellent advocacy skills, [but is] also about relationships. Some of my most trusted relationships were developed while at UHLC. Because of this wonderful network, it is a pleasure to serve on the UHLC Alumni Board and continue to support the law center’s mission, students, faculty and alumni.
