Labor & Employment

The costs of defending a business against an employment discrimination claim are high — especially if the matter leads to prolonged litigation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 80,000 discrimination suits were filed in 2001. EEOC verdicts that year totaled more than $51 million dollars.

Most business executives and owners understand the importance of effective, experienced, and proactive legal counsel to advise them on issues before, and after, a lawsuit has been filed. Many of them have called on us.

Our firm provides responsive advice and experienced representation to business owners, executives, and employers throughout the state of Florida. Because a number of our clients have offices in multiple states, we provide state-by-state analyses of applicable employment laws and the legislative histories of any state or federal bill. In addition to resolving disputes and handling litigation, our attorneys also help clients develop and implement programs and best practices designed to help them avoid problems in the future.

Our labor and employment lawyers can assist you with proactive guidance, compliance requirements, and claims involving the following:

  • Hiring and firing; job interview practices

  • Employee manual and personnel policy development

  • Health insurance and employee benefits

  • Employment contracts

  • Privacy and employee monitoring issues

  • Title VII claims, including sexual harassment and a hostile work environment

  • Wage and hour disputes

  • Wrongful termination/whistleblower

  • Discrimination based on gender, age, disability, national origin, race, sexual orientation or religion

Legislation related to these issues includes Affirmative Action, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Civil Rights Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Immigration Reform Act, Occupations Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act (OWBPA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Biographies here have represented employers that range in size from small, local businesses to major corporations with operations around the world. We have represented these clients in litigation in the state, federal, and appellate courts of Florida and defended them before various administrative boards, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the local administrative offices of the Broward County Human Relations Commission.