Employment Law - Management Litigation - Labor and Employment
Christopher S. "Chris" Duke
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
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 represents management and municipalities in matters relating to the ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, and Title VII, and prosecutes and defends both jury and bench trials. Chris also represents clients in fraud, tortious interference, business defamation, and breach of contract, and is seasoned in the enforcement and interpretation of noncompetition agreements and the protection of trade secrets.
Chris maintains a robust thought leadership profile, frequently conducting lectures to employer and trade groups on aspects of employment law and compliance. He has been continually ranked for his labor and employment acumen by The Best Lawyers in America, among other publications.
Overview
West Palm Beach, Florida
- University of Florida, J.D., graduated 1991
- Davidson College, BA, graduated 1988
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- AFRICARE - Member
- Friend of MacArthur Beach State Park - Member
- Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County - Member
- Palm Beach County Bar Association - Member
- Society for Human Resource Management - Member
- St. Baldrick's Foundation - Active Supporter and Fundraiser
- The Florida Bar - Litigation Section, Member; Employment Law Section, Member
- Young Friends of the Kravis Center - Member
- Young Friends of the Palm Beach Zoo - Member
West Palm Beach, Florida
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- AFRICARE - Member
- Friend of MacArthur Beach State Park - Member
- Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County - Member
- Palm Beach County Bar Association - Member
- Society for Human Resource Management - Member
- St. Baldrick's Foundation - Active Supporter and Fundraiser
- The Florida Bar - Litigation Section, Member; Employment Law Section, Member
- Young Friends of the Kravis Center - Member
- Young Friends of the Palm Beach Zoo - Member
- University of Florida, J.D., graduated 1991
- Davidson College, BA, graduated 1988
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Labor and Employment, West Palm Beach (2021)
- Litigation - Labor and Employment, West Palm Beach (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Employment Law - Management
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
- COVID-19
Awards:
- Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2006, 2010-2011, Listed for Labor & Employment
- South Florida Legal Guide 2007-2009, Listed as one of South Florida's "Top Up and Comers"
- South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyer 2010-2015, Listed for Labor and Employment, Complex Commercial Litigation, and Corporate and Business Litigation
- Super Lawyers Magazine 2012-2016, Listed in Florida for Employment & Labor and Business Litigation
News & Media
Additional Information
- Published Work and Lectures
- HR Defense Blog, Contributor
- Akerman's Guide to Doing Business in Florida: A Legal Guide for Out-of-State and Foreign Businesses, Author, "Labor & Employment," 2016
- Akerman Twentieth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Non-Compete and Trade Secret Provisions: Protecting Your Company and Assets," September 2015
- Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society Annual Meeting, Speaker, "The Top Five Pitfalls for Medical Employers in 2015," July 2015
- Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society Annual Meeting, Speaker, "The ABC’s of Employee Handbooks, Policies, and Forms," July 2014
- Akerman Nineteenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Terminations and Severance Agreements," April 2014
- Akerman Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Understanding and Avoiding Whistleblower and Retaliation Claims," November 2013
- Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society Annual Meeting, Speaker, "Cyber Security in the Information Age - Protecting Your Practice's Confidential Information in the Electronic Age," July 2013
- Akerman Eighteenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Non-Compete Agreements: Drafting and Enforcing to Protect Your Company's Valuable Assets," April 2013
- Bloomberg BNA Daily Labor Report, Author, Workplace Investigations: Now More Important Than Ever," November 2012
- Akerman Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Conducting Workplace Investigations," May 2012 and October 2012
- Akerman Seventeenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Understanding and Avoiding Sexual Harassment Liability," April 2012
- Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society Annual Conference, Featured Speaker, "How to Conduct an Effective Workplace Investigation," July 2011
- Akerman Sixteenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "Overlapping Issues with ADA, FMLA, and Workers' Compensation Leave Laws," April 2011
- Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society Annual Conference, Featured Speaker, "The Art of Employee Separation," July 2010
- Akerman Fifteenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, "How to Conduct an Effective Workplace Investigation," May 2010
- Continuing Education Seminar, Speaker, "The Art of Employee Separation: How To Reduce Company Liability for Terminations, RIFs and Layoffs," February 2010
- The Florida Bar Journal, Contributing Author, "Employment Law for Law Firms: Do the Shoemaker's Children Need New Shoes, Part 2," Volume 83, No. 9, October 2009
- The Florida Bar Journal, Contributing Author, "Employment Law for Law Firms: Do the Shoemaker's Children Need New Shoes, Part 1," Volume 83, No. 7, July/August 2009
- Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society Annual Conference, Featured Speaker, "Employment Law for the Medical Professional," June 2009
- Florida Medical Group Management Association Annual Conference, Featured Speaker, "Employment Law for the Medical Professional," May 2008
- South Florida Medical Group Management Association, Featured Speaker, "The ABC's of Employee Handbooks," August 2006
- HR Florida Annual Conference, Pre-Conference Workshop, Featured Speaker, Non-Traditional Protected Classes, "Can I Fire Fred for Wearing a Dress?," October 2004
- Sterling Education Services, Speaker, "Conducting an Effective Internal Investigation," May 2003
- Palm Beach County Medical Society, Presenter, "Employment Law Update," April 2003
- Lorman Education Services, Speaker, "Key Points of Time: Hiring and Firing," April 2001
- Representative Experience
- Extensive experience in federal and state courts and various arbitration forums, concentrating in the areas of general commercial and employment litigation.
- Employment law practice includes representing management and municipalities in matters relating to the ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, and Title VII before local, state, and federal agencies and in state and federal courts.
- Commercial litigation practice includes representing clients in state and federal courts in the areas of fraud, tortious interference, business defamation, and breach of contract. Extensive experience in the enforcement of noncompetition agreements and protection of trade secrets.
- Counseling and training of employers and employees on all aspects of employment law.
- Supervising and conducting internal investigations for management and responding to charges filed with federal and state administrative agencies.
- Conducting legal audits of client workplaces to evaluate and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local law.
- Counseling high-level executives on contractual issues such as severance, termination, and employment law compliance.
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