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Find Lawyers in Florida, United States for Employment Law - Management
Practice Area Overview
Employment law is the practice area of lawyers who advise employers about workplace related issues.
Regulations governing the way employees are hired, managed, disciplined, and terminated are complex and constantly evolving. These laws affect companies differently depending on size, industry, and workforce makeup. Businesses must ensure that employment policies, training program, and everyday practices are in compliance – or risk crippling lawsuits. Employment law practices emphasize preventive counseling to minimize liability and potential business interruption for employers. Employment law audits are frequently utilized to expose problem areas before they become legal nightmares.
Despite the best efforts of conscientious employers to comply with the law and to treat employees fairly, lawsuits can occur. Such suits present problems both obvious – large verdicts, for example – and more insidious – such as the waste of management’s time and resources which can interfere with productive, efficient business operation. This ever-increasing scope of employment litigation intersects with virtually all types of business litigation including class actions, products liability, premises liability, traditional torts, and business contract disputes of all types. The employment litigation practice continues to expand with each new right or legal obligation enacted by federal and state legislators or recognized by the courts.
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Stephanie L. Adler-Paindiris is a principal in the Orlando, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and serves as co-leader of the firm's Litigation practice group. Admitted to the United States Supreme Court and federal courts throughout the country, Stephanie defends class and collective actions on behalf of employers and provides legal advice and counsel to help her clients navigate today’s legal and business workplace challenges. ...
Todd Aidman devotes his practice to working with companies on a broad range of labor and employment matters. He is experienced in complex and class action litigation and regularly practices in the trial and appellate levels of federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the EEOC and DOL. Todd defends companies in a broad range of employment and labor disputes, including cases involving allegations of age, race, national origin, disability, sex discrimination, sexual a...
Scott Allen is a principal in the Miami, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Since 1998, Scott’s legal career has been dedicated to counseling and defending employers in employment-related matters and counseling on behalf of management. He has been with Jackson Lewis since 2001. Scott represents a broad range of management clients in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals concerning all types of employment litigation, including claims of discrimination on the basis of a...
Jessica DeBono Anderson is a Partner in the Orlando, Florida office. Since 2008, Ms. Anderson has represented management in employment litigation before state and federal courts in Florida and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Florida Commission on Human Relations, Department of Labor and other administrative agencies. Ms. Anderson has experience litigating issues such as employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, overtime and unpaid wages, leave and ...
Nick Andrews concentrates his practice on the representation of management in matters related to labor and employment law. Nick is adept at advising clients facing complex employment law issues, including disputes related to allegations of harassment, employment discrimination, and wage and hour violations. He has appeared on behalf of employers before state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations ...
Steve Bernstein is managing partner of the firm's Tampa office. He also serves as a Chair of the firm’s Associate Development and Retention Committee. Steve maintains a traditional labor practice in which he represents employers throughout the United States in both state and federal courts, as well as before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and other state and federal agencies. In the proce...
Bridget Berry maintains a national civil trial practice, concentrating in employment and class action; financial services; real property and title insurance; and construction litigation. She counsels clients relating to business disputes, and advocates on behalf of clients in jury and non-jury, state and federal court actions, including collective and class actions, arbitrations and administrative proceedings. Bridget is admitted to practice in The Supreme Court of the United States; the U.S....
Suzanne Bogdan is the managing partner in the Fort Lauderdale office. She handles all types of employment-related matters, including claims for age, race, sex, disability, religious, and national origin discrimination arising under the various civil rights laws, as well as claims involving family leave issues, wage hour matters, and breach of contract. Suzanne's practice includes preventive counseling, training, audits, policy reviews, drafting of contracts, defense of claims in the administr...
Ed Carlstedt serves as the office managing partner for FordHarrison's Tampa office. His practice focuses on trade secret, non-compete and restrictive covenant disputes as well as representing management in employment law matters, including defending employers against harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims. Ed has extensive experience in matters involving trade secret, non-compete and restrictive covenant related issues, and has handled dozens of evidentiary hearings in federal and ...
Kelly-Ann Gibbs Cartwright practices in the area of general civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on employment discrimination, civil rights, business torts and labor law. Ms. Cartwright also has experience in the litigation of cases involving trade secrets, defamation, fraud, civil theft, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and unfair competition. Her employment and labor practice involves representation of clients before federal, state and local administrative agencies,...
Charles Caulkins is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office and a member of the firm's Management Committee. Since 1977, he has represented employers nationally in labor and employment law matters. He advises employers on the development and implementation of preventive labor relations programs, including management education and training, to avoid charges and lawsuits, protect trade secrets, and resolve disputes. He regularly counsels employers on union-related matters. He also handles emplo...
Chris Cavaliere is a principal in the Tampa, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He proactively partners with businesses throughout the country to help them navigate the daily workplace challenges of today’s business world. When preventative strategies are not enough, Chris also strategically represents businesses in employment-related disputes and litigation. Whatever the workplace issue, he ensures the best team is assembled to serve the client’s specific needs. Chris takes pr...
Alicia M. Chiu is a principal and the office litigation manager of the Orlando, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She devotes the majority of her practice to employment litigation, defending employers in federal and state courts, as well as before the EEOC and other administrative agencies. Alicia also provides clients with day-to-day advice and counseling regarding employer policies and various workplace law issues as they arise. While attending law school, Alicia served as an associate ...
Melissa A. Dearing is a Partner in the firm’s Immigration Practice Group, where she assists employers in seeking non-immigrant and immigrant status. Melissa has extensive experience with H-1Bs and the PERM-based green card process, particularly with respect to information technology professionals, engineers and pharmacists, among other professionals. She also represents foreign nationals regarding family immigration matters and assists employers with I-9 and other immigration compliance...
Patrick G. DeBlasio represents employers in all aspects of employment litigation, including claims arising under: Title VII The Age Discrimination in Employment Act The Americans with Disabilities Act Other employment laws He also has significant experience defending employers in single plaintiff and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act; conducting wage and hour audits; handling restrictive covenants; and representing employers in proceedings before the Department of Labor an...
David Michael DeMaio is the Managing Shareholder of the Miami Office of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms. He represents management in all aspects of labor and employment law and litigation. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Mr. DeMaio had been a founding member of Whelan, DeMaio & Kiszkiel, P.A. He originally came to South Florida in the 1980s as an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami, where he inve...
Edward Diaz is in the firm's Litigation Section and primarily practices in the areas of Labor and Employment law. Mr. Diaz has represented numerous employers in non-compete cases and in litigation of employment discrimination claims before federal and state courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Mr. Diaz provides counsel to employers on a wide range of issues, including management training, employment audits, drafting employment cont...
Christopher Duke serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Palm Beach County Offices. With a diverse practice in employment law and complex commercial litigation, Chris represents clients in federal and state courts, as well as in various arbitration forums and before federal, state, and local administrative bodies. His clients operate across multiple sectors, including hospitality, travel/recreation, healthcare, retail, financial services, and alternative energy. Chris routinely represen...
Susan Eisenberg has more than 25 years of experience exclusively representing management in labor and employment matters. She is a recognized trial attorney having tried employment cases on behalf of employers in both state and federal courts. Susan also provides day-to-day advice to her clients regarding employment issues, including audits to insure compliance with wage and hour laws. She is nationally known for her work in wage and hour matters. Susan provides entertaining and informative t...
Scott A. Forman represents and advises employers in all aspects of employment law. He has a truly national practice, having handled matters in literally every state in the country. His established practice in employment litigation includes single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action cases involving: Wrongful termination Breach of contract Employment discrimination Workplace harassment Retaliation Public accommodation The enforcement and defense of restrictive covenants Scott litigates...
Pedro Forment is a principal in the Miami, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is a former attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor. Pedro represents employers throughout the United States and is a frequent lecturer on employment law as well as workplace safety and health issues. He has significant class action experience in multiple jurisdictions and practices before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies throughout the United States...
Denise Gavica Perez provides cutting-edge and creative legal counsel to companies and institutions throughout the U.S. She has extensive experience managing employment-based immigration cases for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, and immigration planning and compliance programs for entities engaged in a wide range of industries, including: hospitals and healthcare institutions, construction, engineering, architecture, technology, entertainment, food service, hospitality, publishing, retail, e...
David Gobeo is the Office Managing Partner for FordHarrison's West Palm Beach office. He focuses his practice on the representation of management in a broad range of employment matters including against claims of discrimination, harassment and wage and hour violations. David routinely handles lawsuits involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and th...
Rudy Gomez focuses his practice on the representation of clients in labor and employment law issues. He is experienced in all aspects of employment law including jury trials and appeals before State and Federal Courts, pre-trial discovery and mediations; enforcement of non-competition/confidentiality agreements; responding to EEOC Charges; conducting internal investigations and audits for employment law and wage & hour (FLSA) compliance; management training in sexual and other harassment ...
Eric Gordon is the chair of Akerman’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, a national team representing employers in legal compliance, dispute prevention, and employment litigation throughout the United States. An experienced litigator, he represents Fortune 500 companies operating in the hospitality, healthcare, retail, and telecommunications sectors, with substantial experience in federal and state jury trials, class actions, arbitrations, and defending claims before administrative ag...
Bill Grob focuses his practice exclusively on labor and employment law representing management. He has served as lead trial counsel in cases in federal and state courts, and has extensive experience as lead counsel in a variety of labor and employment matters, including numerous collective actions, involving wage/hour and overtime litigation, race discrimination, disability discrimination, leave issues and harassment. Much of Bill’s practice involves enforcing and defending non-compete ...
Chris Hammon practices in the areas of labor and employment litigation, arbitration, counseling, and investigation. He represents management in all variety of employment disputes before federal and state courts and administrative agencies and before various arbitral tribunals. Mr. Hammon also provides human resources counseling advice to employers on compliance and employee management and relations issues.Mr. Hammon has experience representing employers in a wide range of industries, with par...
Marilyn J. Holifield practices in the general litigation area, with a specific emphasis on representing corporate clients. Her practice includes employment, business litigation, corporate governance, trade secrets, covenants-not-to-compete, class action and intellectual property litigation. Ms. Holifield has represented corporate clients as lead counsel in jury and nonjury trials, arbitrations and administrative proceedings. Ms. Holifield practices employment law and was named by Black Enterp...
Valerie L. Hooker is a principal in the Miami, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling. Valerie advises and represents employers in a broad range of employment law matters, including those involving discrimination and harassment, wage and hour, wrongful termination, whistleblower and retaliation claims. She also advises managers and supervisors on preventive litigation practices, ...
Christine Howard is a partner in the Tampa and Atlanta offices. She also serves as a Co-Chair of the firm's Women's Initiative and Leadership Council. Christine focuses her practice on the defense of employment discrimination and harassment complaints and wage and hour and benefits litigation. She has successfully handled many dispositive motions, hearings and trials on behalf of employers. Over the last decade, she has defended numerous collective action cases filed on behalf of classes of e...
For over 20 years, Erin has defended both private and public-sector employers before state and federal courts and agencies. Erin is a trusted advisor to a broad range of employers, including large hospitals, retail establishments, call centers, manufacturing companies, accounting firms, pharmaceutical companies, financial services businesses, software development companies, health care providers, school districts and municipalities. She assists employers in managing the employment relationshi...
Tracey Jaensch is the Regional Managing Partner of FordHarrison's seven Florida offices and serves on the firm's Health Care Practice Group Committee. Tracey has tried more than 30 jury trials representing employers. A recognized industry leader, Tracey has over 25 years’ experience advising hospitals and physician practices on a broad range of topics unique to healthcare employers. In addition to healthcare, Tracey has deep bench experience in all aspects of employment issues in the re...
Cullan Jones represents management in resolving their complex labor, employment, and related business disputes. Throughout Cullan’s career he has represented employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, with an emphasis on defending employers against class and collective action lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act flowing from the conduct of criminal background checks. He also advises employers on compliance with federal and state l...
Jeffrey B. Jones is a highly experienced trial lawyer who represents employers on matters related to labor and employment. He has handled numerous proceedings before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. He has been active in the Orlando legal community for nearly 20 years. Jeffrey's vast body of work includes more than 30 jury trials as a former prosecutor, including many high p...
Providing strategic counsel on all aspects of labor, employment, and employee benefits law, from preventative advice and compliance counsel to litigation. Leveraging legal experience and a background in public relations to deliver comprehensive, business-focused solutions. Shannon Kelly is a seasoned attorney with nearly two decades of experience providing strategic counsel to employers on labor and employment law matters. Her practice encompasses assisting clients with compliance matters inv...
Kristyne Kennedy is an accomplished civil litigation attorney with extensive experience practicing employment law, including litigation, trial experience and providing clients with legal advice and counseling. Ms. Kennedy’s practice is primarily devoted to employment litigation, with experience litigating issues such as employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, benefits, whistleblower, overtime and unpaid wages, leave and disability issues, employment contracts, workpla...
Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers Recognized in the publication, Best Lawyers In America Successfully defended cases in all areas of labor and employment law, including, but not limited to: claims of unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, equal pay violations, wage and hour violations, employment-related freedom of speech, due process and equal protection claims arising under both the federal and state constitutions Successfully defended cases involving claims of...
Jay Lechner is founder of Lechner Law in Tampa, Florida. He previously was a partner of Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Lechner Law has been recognized by US News & World Report as a 2021-23 "Best Law Firm" in Tampa for Employment Law (Mgmt T2), Labor Law (Mgmt T2) & Litigation - Labor & Employment (T3). Mr. Lechner is a Florida Bar board certified labor and employment lawyer with over 23 years of experience representing employers and select individuals in all aspects of employment law ma...
Jana M. Leichter is a partner in the firm’s Miami and West Palm Beach offices. Ms. Leichter’s practice focuses on defending employers at the administrative, trial, and appellate levels in all aspects of employment litigation, including lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation in violation of federal, state and local laws, as well as equal pay claims, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation retaliation, whistleblower, and wrongful termination. Ms. Leich...
Office Head of Constangy's Tampa, Lakeland and Port St. Lucie Offices Recognized in publications, Best Lawyers in America (1995-2017) Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2016) Recognized in Chambers USA Guide Successfully represented companies in claims involving sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, race, disability, age, religious and sex discrimination Successfully represented companies in wage hour claims Assisted companies in due diligence in mergers and acquisitions Acted as c...
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