Tristan Morales is an accomplished labor and employment partner and class action litigator. His cutting-edge work for major airlines spans the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), among a range of other statutory and contractual matters. As a leader of O’Melveny’s DE&I and Affirmative Action Task Force, Tristan also has extensive experience advising employers on challenges to corporate diversity programs. 

Tristan was named a “Rising Star” in transportation law by Law360 in 2021. His well-recognized experience in the airline industry includes federal court litigation, including more than a half-dozen recent class actions under USERRA and a host of novel high-stakes matters under the RLA. He has first-chaired labor arbitrations before RLA System Boards of Adjustment, and advised airlines on airline transactions, including as to “scope” provisions in airline labor CBAs. His class action experience also includes matters under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as well as consumer class action litigation.

Tristan is also trusted counsel on matters arising under Section 1981 and Title VII, including with emerging challenges to corporate diversity programs for employees and suppliers. A past Pathfinder of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), he currently serves on the board of directors for the Washington Urban Debate League.