Insight

WATCH: A Landmark Win for LGBTQ Rights

Two top employment attorneys join the CEO of Best Lawyers to discuss the landmark Supreme Court ruling protecting gay and transgender employees.

Group of diverse individuals gathered around a colorful rainbow

Written by Best Lawyers

Published: June 19, 2020

On June 11, 2020, the Supreme Court delivered a historic victory for the LGBTQ community. In a 6-3 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, federal law now bars sex discrimination of LGBTQ employees.

Phillip Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers, moderates a panel of two employment law attorneys to discuss what this case means for the country.

Felicia Medina
Partner, Medina Orthwein
Oakland, CA

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Employment Law - Individuals in the 26th Edition.

Felicia is one of the top plaintiff-side attorneys in the country, having secured some of the largest class and individual settlement awards in employment discrimination cases on record. Medina Orthwein LLP, a civil rights law firm, specializes in employment discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, whistleblower retaliation claims, police and government misconduct, and challenges to conditions of confinement. Medina has led some of the country’s most significant employment cases relating to race, gender, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation, as well as wage and hour collectives.

Paula Greisen
Partner, King & Greisen
Denver, CO

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Labor and Employment Law since the 12th Edition, Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment since the 17th Edition.
The 2015 Employment Law - Individuals "Lawyer of the Year" and the 2020 Litigation - Labor and Employment "Lawyer of the Year" in Denver, CO.

Paula's practice focuses on all aspects of employment discrimination, the advancement and protection of LGTBQ rights, and government abuse of power cases. She was the lead trial lawyer representing the gay couple in the recent 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop. She also represents transgender women in the Colorado prison system who are fighting for equal protection and respect for their gender identity. Paula is on the board of directors for OneColorado—the largest and most effective advocacy organization for LGTBQ rights in Colorado and has worked with other LGTBQ advocacy groups across the country.

Headline Image: ISTOCK / NADIA BORMOTOVA

Article Tags:

Discrimination

Lgbtq

Labor & Employment Law

Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

Joseph J. Golian

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote PC

Recognized since 2013

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Insurance Law

Transportation Law

Joseph J. Golian

Joseph J. Golian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Transportation Law. Joseph J., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph J. Golian

David P. Meyer

Meyer Wilson Werning

Recognized since 2011

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Litigation - Securities

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Professional Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs

Specific Focus

Class Actions

David P. Meyer

David P. Meyer is the founder and managing principal of the Meyer Wilson Werning law firm. David is a financial fraud attorney with more than twenty-five years’ of experience in federal and state trial courts and arbitration cases, representing clients from all over the world. David has the honor of winning a record-breaking $261 million class action jury verdict against Prudential Securities on behalf of 200 retirees. David filed the class action lawsuit back in 1999 when he was 29 yea...

 
David P. Meyer
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Shawn R. Dominy

Dominy Law Firm LLC

Recognized since 2021

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense: General Practice

DUI / DWI Defense

Shawn R. Dominy

Shawn Dominy is a criminal defense attorney, and the primary focus of his practice is representing clients charged with OVI/DUI and serious vehicular crimes like Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault. Shawn is a leader in professional organizations. He is the past President of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL), the state delegate for the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), and the recipient of the NCDD Leadership Award. Shawn is a founding member of the national...

 
Shawn R. Dominy
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William A. Nolan

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2006

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Education Law

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Specific Focus

Covenants Not to Compete

William A. Nolan

Bill Nolan serves as managing partner of the firm’s Ohio office, which he opened in 2009. Bill works to bring attentiveness and clarity to bear on employment, contract and other disputes, but is most passionate about helping clients build teams, policies and processes to minimize the frequency, cost and severity of disputes. Bill's litigation and trial work includes covenant not to compete and trade secret cases in many states. He regularly represents employers in discrimination and dis...

William A. Nolan

Paul Garinger

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2025

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Insurance Law

Paul Garinger

Paul Garinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Paul, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Paul Garinger

Kevin E. Hess

Fisher Phillips LLP

Recognized since 2024

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

Kevin E. Hess

Kevin E. Hess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Kevin E., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin E. Hess

Barry H. Wolinetz

Wolinetz, Horvath & Brown LLC

Recognized since 2021

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Family Law

Barry H. Wolinetz

Barry H. Wolinetz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Barry H., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Barry H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Barry H. Wolinetz

Jonathan R. Secrest

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Recognized since 2021

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Jonathan R. Secrest

Mr. Secrest has extensive experience representing clients in civil litigation matters involving non-compete issues, product liability, business disputes, real estate, and employment law matters, among others. His experience includes representing clients at trial, before appellate courts, and before state and federal agencies. He regularly represents food manufacturers in defense of food product liability claims and counsels clients in the food industry related to state and federal regulations...

 
Jonathan R. Secrest
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Thomas M. Metzger

Littler

Recognized since 2013

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Thomas M. Metzger

Tom Metzger is a nationally recognized employment law advisor, litigator, and trainer. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has developed expertise representing employers and executives in connection with covenants-not-to-compete, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulatory and litigation matters, discrimination and retaliation claims, contract disputes, and related workplace matters. Tom represents employers and executi...

 
Thomas M. Metzger
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Eugene B. Lewis

Taft

Recognized since 2003

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Family Law

Specific Focus

Alimony

Eugene B. Lewis

Eugene B. Lewis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Eugene B., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eugene B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

 
Eugene B. Lewis
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WATCH: A Landmark Win for LGBTQ Rights

Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

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