Best Lawyers in Florida, United States for Litigation - Labor and Employment
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Jennifer V. Ruiz is a Partner in the firm’s Miami office and practices in the areas of General Civil Litigation, Employment and Labor, Condominium and Homeowners’ Association, Civil Rights, Directors and Officers Liability, and Professional Malpractice for the firm. She practices in state and federal courts, at both trial and appellate levels. Mrs. Ruiz Co-Chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Chairs the Committee’s affinity group: CSK WIN – Wom...
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...
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....
Colin Thakkar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Colin, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Colin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lara J. Peppard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Lara J., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lara J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Jason Pill helps businesses handle the entire spectrum of workplace issues. He advises on risk assessment, policy development, education and contract creation, and he represents clients in state and federal court when litigation becomes unavoidable. Jason’s long-term client relationships give him valuable insight into how business needs affect employment decisions. Working as an extension of clients’ HR department, he acts quickly to defect or minimize potential liabilities. Jason...
Luis Santos has a unique understanding of the administrative and legal challenges faced by clients in industries like hospitality, retail, restaurant, and grocery. His previous experience as a hospitality and grocery employee gives him a particularly unique insider’s perspective. Prior to attending law school, Luis worked for many years in hospitality management. He began as a front desk clerk and worked himself up to the position of assistant hotel manager. Luis also worked as a grocer...
Sherril M. Colombo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Sherril M., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sherril M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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...
Michelle Tatum-Bush provides advice and handles disputes for employers in Florida and with operations throughout the US. Her clients represent a wide variety of industries, including construction, brokerages, medical practices, management, insurance, and not-for-profit organizations. Michelle has particular expertise in FMLA and ADA accommodations matters. She is also passionate about helping clients throughout their litigation matters, whether the cases involve discrimination and harassment ...
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 ...
J.D. is a business litigation attorney and trial lawyer who represents companies and individuals in a wide variety of high-stakes commercial disputes across state and federal courts in Florida. His litigation practice focuses on breach of contract claims, business torts, non-compete and restrictive covenant enforcement, trade secret misappropriation and intellectual property matters, partnership and shareholder disputes, class actions, and administrative or regulatory issues. With experience ...
Joan M. Vecchioli joined Johnson Pope in 1986 upon graduating with honors from Stetson University College of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review and competed on the Moot Court Board. She received her bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of William and Mary. Since joining the firm, Joan has gained experience in the areas of commercial litigation, commercial real estate transactions, education, and labor and employment law. Currently, her practice focuses on labor and...
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...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.