Clarence Belnavis is the regional managing partner of Fisher Phillips’ Seattle office. He is a trial attorney focusing on employment litigation, including disability, racial and gender discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and wrongful discharge. Clarence also represents employers in wage and hour claims, employment class actions, and traditional labor matters.
In addition to his litigation practice, Clarence proactively advises clients with respect to labor and employment matters, including disability and return to work issues, employee handbooks, termination procedures and litigation avoidance.
Clarence also provides client trainings and educational presentations to industry groups and organizations regarding current and developing employment law issues.
He has been listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2006 and The Best Lawyers in America since 2009. He is frequently recognized in Oregon Super Lawyers for his work in labor and employment law.
In 2011, Clarence was honored as a “Convocation on Equality Champion” in recognition of the diversity work that he has been engaged in during his career.
Adrian D. Thompson serves as co-partner-in-charge of the Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Cleveland office, a group of 65 local attorneys, and is a member of the firm’s executive and participation committees. In addition, he has served as Taft’s Chief Diversity Officer since 2015, directing the firm’s strategy regarding diversity and inclusion initiatives across Taft’s offices and in the communities the firm serves.
Adrian earned his J.D. from the The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1986. He is an active member of Taft’s Public Law, Education – Litigation, Employment Law, School Public Finance, and Labor and Employment Litigation practice groups. His practice focuses on private sector client issues, including equal employment opportunity litigation, wage-hour matters, employment of the disabled, federal housing, and other labor matters. He also represents school districts in contract negotiations, grievance arbitration, litigation, education of the disabled, and employment discrimination matters.
Mr. Thompson has been recognized as one of the “500 Most Influential Leaders in Cleveland” by Cleveland Magazine from 2021 through 2024. In 2023, he was named a “Living Legacy” Award Honoree by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. He was also honored as a 2022 “Notable in Law” by Crain's Cleveland Business and recognized as a 2022 “Trailblazer” honoree by the Norman S. Minor Bar Association.
Adrian served as the 2022–2023 president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and is president emeritus of the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He is also a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio Task Force on Commercial Dockets and serves on the Advisory Group for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Laverne Largie Tucker, Esq., is barred in the states of Maryland, District of Columbia, New York and Florida. Her practice areas include general civil litigation, personal injury and health care law. She also has experience in workers' compensation, premises liability and administrative law.
She's the "past" Chair of the National Bar Association's Health Law Section since July 2016; which was recently awarded Section of the Year in July 2018 and July 2019. She has been an esteemed member of the National Black Lawyers Top 100 (Maryland), since 2015. She was previously employed as In-House Counsel for Liberty Mutual Group; wherein she represented Liberty Mutual and its policyholders in civil litigation matters from 2011 - 2015. She obtained an LL.M degree in Health Care Law from Loyola University of Chicago in 2012, while working full-time as a litigator. In March of 2013, she became certified in Health Care Compliance (CHC) by the Health Care Compliance Association. She was a contributing author to "The Criminalization of Medical Malpractice from Past to Present and the Implications on Patient Safety and Voluntary Error Reporting", Chapter 41 in the Patient Safety Handbook, 2d edition, Jones and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA (published September 2012).
Ms. Tucker has served on the American Bar Association's Health Law Section Post-Acute Care Continuum Task force as the Student Liaison since October 2013. She also served as a Liaison on the American Health Lawyer's Association's Diversity & Inclusion Council from October 2013 - 2017. She was a member and the Past Chair of the Florida Bar Members Benefits Committee from 2009 - 2010. Ms. Largie Tucker was recognized as an Honorary Alumnus from Nova Southeastern University School of Law in 2002 for her efforts in giving back to the community. Ms. Tucker was also awarded a National Association of Public Interest Law Fellowship from 2000 - 2002, when she worked at Legal Aid Services of Broward County, Inc., on a project designed to eliminate legal barriers to employment and education for the poor.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
AWARDS AND HONORS
Lawyers of Distinction (May 2019); National Bar Association's Section of the Year Award for the Health Law Section Chair 2018 & 2019; National Bar Association's President's Award - July 2018; The Global Directory of Who's Who (January 2017); National Association of Public Interest Law Fellowship, 2000 - 2002; Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center Honorary Alumnus, 2002; Contributing author to "The Criminalization of Medical Malpractice from Past to Present and the Implications on Patient Safety and Voluntary Error Reporting" Chapter 41 in the Patient Safety Handbook, 2nd edition Jones and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA (published September 2012).
PRACTICE AREAS
BAR ADMISSIONS
EDUCATION
Michelle H. Shefton is an Associate in the firm’s Philadelphia office. Ms. Shefton focuses her practice on defending healthcare providers and medical professionals against professional and general liability matters. She also represents clients in matters related to allegations of sexual misconduct and physical abuse.
Prior to joining Burns White, Ms. Shefton served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted economic crimes, handled large economic investigations, reviewed contracts and bank documents, and prepared motions. In addition, she served our country as a member of the United States Army where she received the Army Commendation Medal for Extraordinary Achievement or Meritorious Service, the Army Achievement Medal for Distinguished, Meritorious Service, or Achievement, and the Good Conduct Medal for Exemplary Conduct, Efficiency and Fidelity. Ms. Shefton was also Paralegal Specialist and a Tax Center Specialist for the United States Army.
Ms. Shefton received his Juris Doctor from the Charlotte School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Shefton is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Areas of Law
Education
Bar and Court Admissions
Memberships
Honors and Awards