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

Best Lawyers

June 19, 2020 10:00 AM

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

Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

Terrence O'Donnell

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Recognized since 2020

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Energy Law

Government Relations Practice

Terrence O'Donnell

Terrence O'Donnell leads Dickinson Wright’s firmwide government relations team. His focus is public policy advocacy at the Ohio statehouse, administrative law, and regulatory compliance. Terrence represents dozens of companies, trade groups, and nonprofits before the State General Assembly and executive agencies. He also collaborates with lawyers in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office to lobby the United States Congress. Terrence brings eighteen years of experience to his practice....

 
Terrence O'Donnell
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number

David DeVillers

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2024

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

David DeVillers

David DeVillers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. David, 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 David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David DeVillers

Matthew J.P. Coffman

Coffman Legal LLC

Recognized since 2023

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Individuals

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Specific Focus

Labor and Employment

Matthew J.P. Coffman

Employment Attorney Matthew J.P. Coffman is thankful for his recognition as one of the Best Lawyers in America. When Matthew opened his employment law firm Coffman Legal, LLC in 2012, he was armed with a passion for helping employees and a desire to zealously pursue and vindicate the rights of his clients. A decade later, Matthew has established an employment law firm with several experienced employment attorneys who have successfully obtained millions of dollars of unpaid wages, overtime, lo...

 
Matthew J.P. Coffman
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number

Andrew J. Art

Taft

Recognized since 2024

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Trusts and Estates

Andrew J. Art

Andrew J. Art is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Andrew J., 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 Andrew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrew J. Art

David Ferris

Taft

Recognized since 2019

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Transportation Law

David Ferris

David Ferris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Transportation Law. David, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Ferris

Lisa M. Kathumbi

Littler

Recognized since 2020

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Specific Focus

COVID-19

Lisa M. Kathumbi

Lisa Kathumbi represents and advises companies, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, in a broad range of labor and employment matters arising under state and federal law and in denial of benefits claims arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). An experienced employment law litigator with a national practice, Lisa has represented companies and executives in more than twenty jurisdictions in labor and employment matters involving allegations of discr...

Lisa M. Kathumbi

J. Thomas Nocar

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

Recognized since 2026

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Construction Law

J. Thomas Nocar

J. Thomas “Tom” Nocar is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Area in the Columbus office. Tom dedicates his practice to construction law and construction businesses. Before becoming a construction lawyer, Tom spent 26 years managing construction projects. This experience provides him with a unique set of skills to offer his clients—broad technical knowledge of the commercial construction industry and a practical approach to dispute avoidance and resolution. Tom...

 
J. Thomas Nocar
  Website    Email    Address    Phone Number

Sarah M. Benoit

Taft

Recognized since 2024

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Sarah M. Benoit

Sarah M. Benoit is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Sarah M., 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 Sarah M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah M. Benoit

Peter W. Hahn

Taft

Recognized since 2017

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Construction Law

Litigation - Construction

Peter W. Hahn

Peter W. Hahn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Peter W., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peter W. Hahn

John J. Joseph

Joseph & Joseph & Hanna Co., LPA

Recognized since 1993

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Litigation - Real Estate

Real Estate Law

John J. Joseph

Position: Managing Attorney/Principal Born: Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada Admitted to bar,1981, Ohio. (Also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar) Education: The Ohio State University B.S., summa cum laude, 1978 J.D., cum laude, 1981. Best Lawyers in America from 1993 to present. Also named one of Ohio's Super Lawyers Listed in Columbus Monthly (Nov 2003) article Top lawyers The city's best & brightest Recipient, Judge Joseph M. Harter Memorial Award. Bar Memberships: Columbus Bar Association: C...

 
John J. Joseph
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WATCH: A Landmark Win for LGBTQ Rights

Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

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