Dennis M. McClelland

Dennis M. McClelland


Phelps Dunbar LLP

Recognized since 2008

Tampa, Florida

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Labor Law - Union

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Navigate to map location for Dennis M. McClelland Call Dennis M. McClelland at 813-472-7550
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Employment Law - Management
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Dennis McClelland is a board certified labor and employment Lawyer who has practiced exclusively in the area of labor and employment for over 23 years.

Dennis represents employers in civil court litigation, arbitrations and administrative proceedings regarding claims involving wage and hour, employment discrimination, family and medical leave, union-management relations, employee benefits, and various employment-related torts. In particular, he has extensive experience representing companies in FLSA collective actions, mass individual and multi-plaintiff FLSA actions following decertification, and Department of Labor investigations. He also provides strategic consulting to companies regarding complex wage and hour law compliance matters.

He regularly represents employers in prosecuting and defending cases involving alleged breaches of non-competition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets claims, and employment or business-related tort claims. He routinely counsels employers regarding compliance with various applicable federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, including the preparation and/or review of employment contracts, severance agreements, and employment handbooks and policies. Dennis represents a broad range of employers in the financial services, retail, hospitality, health care, transportation, construction, engineering, and manufacturing industries.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 100 South Ashley Drive, Suite 2000
    Tampa, FL 33602-5311
Education
  • University of Florida, graduated 1996
  • Florida State University, BS, graduated 1993
Bar Admissions
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
Affiliations
  • Fair Labor Standards Act Subcommittee, ABA Labor and Employment Section - Co-Chair
  • Florida Bar Association - Labor & Employment Law Section
  • The Florida Bar - Board Certified Labor & Employment Law Specialist
  • Wage and Hour Defense Institute of the Litigation Council of America - Member
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois

Phelps Dunbar LLP
Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana

178 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

21 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Employment Law - Management
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Employment Law - Management, Tampa (2023)
  • Employment Law - Management, Tampa (2021)
  • Employment Law - Management, Tampa (2019)
  • Employment Law - Management, Tampa (2017)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Union
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
  • Management
Awards:
  • Special Recognition Award (for Pro Bono Service to the Court), 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida (1997)
  • Outstanding Young Lawyer, Hillsborough County Bar Association (2005)
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America
  • Florida Trend Magazine "Legal Elite"
  • The International Who's Who of Management Labor and Employment Lawyers (2013)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property

Publications

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