Jackson Lewis Opens Office in Tampa

TAMPA, FL (February 11, 2013) –Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing workplace law firms, is pleased to announce the opening of an office in Tampa, Florida.  The firm’s fourth Florida location will be led by Managing Partner Barnett Q. Brooks, who previously served as Managing Shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Tampa office.  Jay Lechner, formerly with Greenberg Traurig, has joined the office as Partner.  Monica J. Williams and Amanda Ballard, both formerly with Ogletree Deakins, have joined as Of Counsel and Associate, respectively.

“Barnett is an excellent choice to lead us in our efforts to plant the flag in Tampa, and we plan to grow our office there around his many years of experience and leadership,” said Firm Chairman Vincent Cino.  “It was important to choose the right attorneys for this expansion, and our new Tampa team has the legal aptitude and client-centric focus necessary for success.  Our new Tampa location will enhance our ability to provide quality advice and counseling to our clients within Florida and the South Eastern United States.”

“Jackson Lewis has an outstanding reputation in Florida and nationwide,” commented Barnett Brooks.  “I am pleased to join a firm that is known for providing superior client service and look forward to joining forces with Jackson Lewis’ team of knowledgeable, responsive workplace law practitioners.”

Since completing law school, Mr. Brooks has served in a number of human resource and employment law positions.  He has been an AAA Arbitrator for over 10 years, serving as a court-appointed mediator in over 75 cases.  Mr. Brooks has investigated and favorably resolved over 2,000 discrimination charges on behalf of his business clients at the EEOC and state or local Fair Employment Practice Agencies in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Mr. Brooks has been selected for inclusion in 2013 Florida Super Lawyers and was recognized by Chambers USA in 2010.  He is admitted to practice in the states of Maryland and Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  Mr. Brooks received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Morgan State University in History and Social Science and earned his J.D. from the University of Baltimore in 1975. 

Jay P. Lechner is a labor and employment lawyer with over 11 years of experience representing employers in all aspects of workplace law, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour violations, retaliation and whistleblower claims, as well as restrictive covenants, unfair business practices, and related state tort and contract issues. In addition to his litigation practice, he assists employers in complying with federal and state employment laws, as well as in implementing preventive measures to reduce the risk of litigation, including counseling on personnel policies and procedures.  Before attending law school, Mr. Lechner spent several years in management and served as a volunteer firefighter.

Mr. Lechner is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He received his B.A. from the University of Florida and his J.D. with honors from the University of Florida's Levin College of Law.

Monica J. Williams’s practice includes defending and advising management in employment-related disputes including allegations of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful discharge, negligent hiring and other employment torts.  She also frequently defends clients in actions brought under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and provides advice and counsel to clients regarding structural accessibility issues.  She represents clients in federal and state courts and before local, state and federal government agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Ms. Williams has been recognized by Florida Super Lawyers as a Rising Star since 2010.  She is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.

Ms. Williams received her B.S. in Business Administration from the Florida A&M University's School of Business and Industry and her J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. 

Amanda Ballard defends and advises public- and private-sector employers in a wide-range of employment-related disputes, including discrimination, retaliation, harassment and wrongful discharge, as well as the ever-changing areas of workplace social media issues and electronic discovery.  Ms. Ballard has obtained summary judgment rulings and discovery sanctions on behalf of her clients in federal court and has received numerous no-cause determinations from the EEOC and the Florida Commission on Human Relations.  She was selected for inclusion in 2013 Florida Super Lawyers as  Rising Star.

Ms. Ballard is admitted to practice in the state of Florida, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.  She graduated with a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University in 2003 and earned her J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2006. 

The Tampa office of Jackson Lewis can be reached by contacting (813) 288-4644.

About Jackson Lewis

Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis, dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law, is one of the fastest growing workplace law firms in the U.S., with 750 attorneys practicing in 52 locations nationwide. We have a wide-range of specialized practice areas, including: Affirmative Action and OFCCP Planning and Counseling; Disability, Leave and Health Management; Employee Benefits Counseling and Litigation; Immigration; Labor, including Preventive Practices; General Employment Litigation, including Class Actions, Complex Litigation and e-Discovery; Non-Competes and Protection Against Unfair Competition; Wage and Hour Compliance; Workplace Safety and Health and Corporate Diversity Counseling. In addition, Jackson Lewis provides advice nationally in other workplace law areas, including: Reductions in Force, WARN Act; Corporate Governance and Internal Investigations; Drug Testing and Substance Abuse Management; International Employment Issues; Management Education; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Public Sector Representation; Government Relations; Collegiate and Professional Sports; and Privacy, Social Media and Information Management.

For the 11th consecutive year, Jackson Lewis has been recognized for delivering client service excellence to the world’s largest corporations, once again earning a spot on the BTI Client Service A-Team. Jackson Lewis has also been recognized by in-house counsel in a comprehensive survey by BTI Consulting Group as both a “Powerhouse” and “Standout” in employment litigation. In addition, Jackson Lewis is ranked in the First Tier nationally in the category of Labor and Employment Litigation, as well as in both Employment Law and Labor Law on behalf of Management in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms,” and is recognized by Chambers and Legal 500. As an “AmLaw 100” firm, Jackson Lewis has one of the most active employment litigation practices in the United States, with a current caseload of over 6,500 litigations and approximately 415 class actions. And finally, Jackson Lewis is a charter member of L & E Global Employers’ Counsel Worldwide, an alliance currently of 14 workplace law firms in 14 countries.

Additional information about the firm can be found at www.jacksonlewis.com.

POSTED BY LAWDRAGON NEWS