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.

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Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2025

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Real Estate Law

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Stephanie T., 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 Stephanie T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephanie T. Greene Duffy

Kevin O'Donnell Stanek

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2026

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Government Relations Practice

Kevin O'Donnell Stanek

Kevin Stanek brings nearly a decade of experience working in the executive and legislative branches of Ohio state government, including as Gov. John R. Kasich's assistant director of policy for asset management and assistant chief counsel. Kevin’s hands-on government experience supports him in providing practical solutions and comprehensive plans of action for clients. Kevin represents governmental clients on policy matters and other legal issues before the Ohio General Assembly, execut...

Kevin O'Donnell Stanek

Gregory B. Foliano

Arnold Todaro Welch & Foliano

Recognized since 2007

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Specific Focus

Birth Trauma

Gregory B. Foliano

Greg Foliano has been defending professionals for his entire career. He has represented physicians, nurses, hospitals, lawyers and nursing homes throughout Ohio. Greg's career began in 1990 with a law firm dedicated exclusively to the defense of professional malpractice lawsuits. He tried his first case to verdict within months after receiving his law license and had his first solo case tried to verdict within a year of practice. Since that time, Greg has continued to try lawsuits throughout ...

 
Gregory B. Foliano
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Gerald J. Todaro

Arnold Todaro Welch & Foliano

Recognized since 1993

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants

Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Specific Focus

Professional Malpractice

Gerald J. Todaro

Jerry has been successfully trying cases since he received his law licence. His career with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office in 1974 as an Assistant Prosecutor, where he tried over 75 cases in a three-year period. In less than two years, he was lead counsel in a death penalty case and obtained a conviction under Ohio's new death penalty statute. He entered private practice in 1977 after taking courses in gross anatomy and clinical pathology at The Ohio State University School of ...

 
Gerald J. Todaro
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Chris L. Connelly

Taft

Recognized since 2024

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Government Relations Practice

Public Finance Law

Chris L. Connelly

Chris L. Connelly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice and Public Finance Law. Chris L., 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 Chris L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris L. Connelly

Benjamin L. Luftman

Luftman, Heck & Associates LLP

Recognized since 2016

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

DUI / DWI Defense

Benjamin L. Luftman

An experienced and accomplished legal advocate, Benjamin L. Luftman is a founding partner at Luftman, Heck & Associates and has practiced law for thirteen years. His sole practice areas are in criminal law and traffic violations , having represented clients in cases ranging from serious felony charges , such as sexual battery and assault charges , to minor drug possession charges and other misdemeanors, with a particular concentration in the area of Ohio OVI law . In every case he takes o...

Benjamin L. Luftman

Lloyd Pierre-Louis

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Recognized since 2021

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Administrative / Regulatory Law

Cannabis Law

Government Relations Practice

Lloyd Pierre-Louis

Lloyd Pierre-Louis is a member of Dickinson Wright’s Cannabis Practice Group. His practice focuses on government affairs and administrative law, and particularly the legal cannabis and hemp industries. He represents clients providing the industry with equity and debt capital, equipment, devices, and other services. He also assists entities and individuals through every aspect of licensure, business operation, regulatory compliance, employment, and transactions with related businesses. L...

 
Lloyd Pierre-Louis
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Laing P. Akers

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2024

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Real Estate Law

Laing P. Akers

Laing P. Akers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Laing P., 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 Laing P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laing P. Akers

Philip J. Fulton

Philip J. Fulton Law Office

Recognized since 1995

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants

Specific Focus

Social Security Disability

Philip J. Fulton

Philip J. Fulton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Philip J., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

 
Philip J. Fulton
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Denise M. Mirman

Friedman & Mirman Co. LPA

Recognized since 2012

Columbus, OH

Practice Areas

Family Law

Denise M. Mirman

Denise Mirman is the managing shareholder of Friedman & Mirman Co. LPA, a nine-lawyer firm that practices family law exclusively. She has been included in Super Lawyers every year since inception and is on several top lists in Columbus and Ohio. She has also been listed in Best Lawyers in America in Family Law for several years,a distinction limited to just 1% of the practicing attorneys in the country as voted upon by other lawyers, and she is the Best Lawyers in America 2015 Lawyer of t...

Denise M. Mirman

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WATCH: A Landmark Win for LGBTQ Rights

Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

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