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Contact:
Phone: 215-665-3107
Fax: 215-665-3165
Email: joseph.centeno@obermayer.com
 Download V-card
Office:
Philadelphia, PA
One Penn Center, 19th Floor
1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1895
Practice Areas:
Commercial Litigation
Labor Relations and Employment Law
Regulatory, Administrative and Gaming
Education Law Practice GroupEducation:
Amherst College (BA)
Boston College Law School (JD)
Professional/Civic Activities:
Asian American Bar Association
of the Delaware Valley,
Executive Committee
National Asian Pacific American Bar
Association, Regional Governor
Philadelphia Bar Association,
Judicial Selection and
Retention Committee;
Investigative Division for the
Commission on Judicial
Selection and Retention
Philadelphia Bar Association,
Board of Governors (2005-2006)
American Bar Association
Chairperson to Young
Lawyer's Subcommittee to
the Employment and
Labor Relations Committee
(Litigation Section)
National Association of Railroad
Trial Counsel
Amherst College Alumni
Association
Homeless Advocacy Project
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 Joseph J. Centeno is an equity partner with Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. He is a member of the Labor Relations and Employment Law Department and the Litigation Department. Mr. Centeno is the firm's Pro Bono Partner, a member of the Long Range Planning Committee, the Chairman and Founder of the Firm's Diversity Committee and Co-Chair of the Education Law Practice Group. Mr. Centeno’s national practice includes complex commercial litigation, labor relations, executive employment agreements and employment litigation. He has extensive jury trial experience and has been lead counsel in litigation relating to contracts, torts, non-compete agreements, and employment and labor disputes. He also has broad experience in defending claims before state and federal courts and agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mr. Centeno also has strong experience in labor contract negotiations, campaigns, arbitrations and charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
Mr. Centeno represents public and private employers in matters relating to labor negotiations and arbitrations, and he counsels employers on virtually all employment and labor related laws and regulations.
Recent representative engagements include the following:
In the January/February 2006 publication of Diversity & the Bar, Mr. Centeno was recognized, through a survey of in-house counsel, as one of the "The Best of the Best" labor and employment lawyers in the United States. In the 2007 and 2009 Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, Mr. Centeno was recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. In 2006, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association also recognized Mr. Centeno as one of its "Best Lawyers Under 40." He has earned an AV ® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicating very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards.
Mr. Centeno’s lawyering has been specially recognized by several General Counsels:
“Joe is an outstanding lawyer and leader who has earned my trust over the many years I’ve known him.”
Don Liu
General Counsel
Xerox
“Joe is among the most ethical, responsive and knowledgeable lawyers with whom I have worked.”
Yuri Rozenfeld
former General Counsel I-trax, Inc.
“Joe has the unique ability to understand business issues, develop creative strategies and deliver excellent results.”
Michael Korniczky
General Counsel
Graham Packaging Company
Mr. Centeno served as a Commissioner on the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (2003-2008), the commission that enforces the anti-discrimination regulations in Philadelphia. Mr. Centeno served as Chairman for the hearing in the case of Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission v. Geno's Steaks, a case with national and international media interest and legal significance.
Mr. Centeno has been successful in appeals before the United States Supreme Court on an employer's obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. Mr. Centeno also has been successful before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on issues relating to trade secret protections in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Centeno is active in local and national bar associations, and he has had an active leadership role within the following organizations and committees:
- President, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- President-Elect and National Vice President of Finance and Development, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- Board of Governors, Philadelphia Bar Association
- President, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania
- Senior Hearing Officer, Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board
- Coordinating Committee, National Employment Lawyers Council
- Board of Directors, Homeless Advocacy Project
- Board of Directors, Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
- National Association of College and University Attorneys
- Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Minority Bar Committee
- Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Judicial Independence Committee
- Philadelphia Bar Association's Investigative Division for the Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention Committee
Mr. Centeno received his Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Amherst College, where he was elected to serve as president of his class. Mr. Centeno received his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. After law school, Mr. Centeno clerked for the Superior Court of Massachusetts. Mr. Centeno is a Fellow of the Temple University School of Law's Academy of Advocacy. Mr. Centeno is a frequent speaker and author; he has spoken for many organizations, including the American Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Council, Lorman Education Services and the Society for Human Resources Management.
Mr. Centeno is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
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