Our experienced and effective team diligently represents government employees and provides vigorous advocacy for workers in jurisdictions throughout the state from our Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

RONALD P. ACKERMAN

Ronald P. Ackerman has dedicated his practice to the representation of public employees. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree from Brooklyn College, Mr. Ackerman entered the Federal Service as a Special Agent, assigned to enforcing Immigration laws.  The agency was later absorbed by the Department of Homeland Security. While working as a Special Agent, Mr. Ackerman took on a leadership role in his union, the American Federation of Government Employees, representing I.N.S. employees. He held various elected union offices including Local President, and National Vice President.  He also handled labor arbitrations, union grievances, labor negotiations, and lobbying efforts.  After years of handling union matters, Mr. Ackerman earned his J.D. Degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and was thereafter admitted to the California Bar.

Mr. Ackerman has since had his own practice representing federal and other public sector employees.  Mr. Ackerman’s experience as both a federal law enforcement officer and a union representative made him uniquely qualified to represent these clients.  Today Mr. Ackerman represents federal employees across the country.  Mr. Ackerman regularly represents employees in administrative hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board.  He also litigates federal employment cases in U.S. District Courts as well as Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals. Mr. Ackerman has a number of successful, published decisions both before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  

Mr. Ackerman is an active member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the California Employment Lawyers Association. He often speaks and presents to federal employee unions and organizations about federal employee rights.

OSHEA ORCHID

Oshea Orchid is managing partner of the Los Angeles Office.  She regularly represents employees and their unions in collective bargaining, before administrative agencies, and in litigation.  After earning her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Tulane University, Ms. Orchid, worked for an international labor union representing Los Angeles County employees.  While working as a union representative Ms. Orchid attended Whittier Law School.  During law school Ms. Orchid also worked as an extern for the National Labor Relations Board Region 21 in Los Angeles and various disability rights clinics.

Ms. Orchid is a member of the California Bar.  She has represented city, county, state, and federal employees in pre-disciplinary hearings, arbitrations, mediations, labor negotiations, administrative hearings, and litigation in both state and federal court.

Ms. Orchid is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association and the Cowboy Lawyers Association. Ms. Orchid was selected as a 2020, 2021, and 2022 Super Lawyers Rising Star.

When she can get out of the office, Ms. Orchid spends her time on a small ranch in the hills north of Los Angeles.

DYLAN HACKETT

Dylan Hackett is managing partner of the San Francisco office.  Mr. Hackett represents employees and individuals in litigation. He has experience working in government as a former Deputy District Attorney for the San Mateo District Attorney’s Office.  Following his experience working as a government employee, Mr. Hackett went on to open his own firm championing the rights of injured employees and individuals.

Mr. Hackett has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.  He earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of San Francisco School of Law where he also currently teaches California Bar Exam preparation for recent law school graduates.

Mr. Hackett serves the San Francisco community working with San Francisco SAFE assisting on issues with criminal records. Mr. Hackett has experience handling litigation for employees, criminal law issues, and workers’ compensation cases.

During his free time, Mr. Hackett likes to travel, read, and take long motorcycle rides.

VASILI BRASINIKAS

Vasili Brasinikas is an associate attorney for Public Employees Legal. He handles cases on behalf of employees in litigation, administrative proceedings, and before the Public Employment Relations Board. Mr. Brasinikas is admitted to practice law in California.

Upon earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in History/Political Science and Communication from Vanguard University of Southern California in 2014, Vasili Brasinikas attended Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, GA, where he worked at the Volunteer Clinic for Veterans.

During law school, Mr. Brasinikas worked for the Georgia Public Defender Council and a private firm in the intellectual property division. He also served on the executive board for the Emory Law Moot Court Society.

Mr. Brasinikas enjoys attending film festivals and passes time in winter skiing and snowboarding.

SHELBY MINER

Shelby Miner is Of Counsel with Public Employees Legal. Her practice includes representing plaintiff employees in multiple states and jurisdictions.

Ms. Miner graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2014 with degrees in Anthropology, Communications, and Leadership. She earned her law degree from UCLA School of Law, where she received a specialization in Tax Law, and published an article regarding Use Tax and the changes that should occur in that area of law. While studying at UCLA, Ms. Miner worked for the District Attorney’s Office, the Court of Appeals, and a private firm.

Ms. Miner is admitted to practice law in California and Minnesota. She is also a member of the National Lawyers Guild, the California Employment Lawyers Association, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Bar Association.

KATE VANIER

Kate Vanier is a legal assistant for Public Employees Legal. She provides administrative and litigation support for the practice.

Previously, Ms. Vanier worked for AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania as an event planner and clerical staff member. Among other things, her work focused on supporting educational opportunities for union members through coordinating in-person and virtual conferences, seminars, and trainings.

Ms. Vanier is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College holding dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and French. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, playing video games, and, more recently, baking pies.