GAIL WORKS WITH MANAGEMENT CLIENTS TO MEET EMPLOYMENT NEEDS, IDENTIFY RISKS, AND RESOLVE ISSUES
Gail has over three decades of experience advising private and public sector employers on an extensive range of labor and employment matters. She focuses on helping employers identify and anticipate risks, resolve workplace issues, and take preventative measures before disputes arise. Her practice covers topics, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour, restrictive covenants, whistleblower protection, family and medical leave, labor relations, reductions in force and plant closings, and workplace safety.
She also counsels clients through employment-related issues arising in corporate transactions, including business sales, mergers, and acquisitions. Gail regularly advises employers about hiring, promotions, accommodations, counseling, discipline, and terminations, and conducts workplace investigations. She drafts and revises employee handbooks and workplace policies, as well as employment, restrictive covenant, confidentiality, severance, and settlement agreements.
When disputes arise, Gail represents management in administrative, litigation, and alternative dispute resolutions proceedings, including mediation and arbitration.
Gail frequently speaks and conducts educational trainings on labor and employment issues. Her management training programs and seminars break down complex workplace challenges into clear, practical, and highly engaging sessions.
MATTERS
- Won numerous federal court summary judgments and dismissals, as well as no cause agency determinations regarding wage and hour, discrimination, and harassment claims for corporate clients, including an affirmance by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and denial of certiorari by the United States Supreme Court
- Provided sole representation at administrative final hearing resulting in affirmance of no cause determination regarding race, age, and sex discrimination claims against a large telecommunications company, including pre-trial preparation, oral arguments, examination of witnesses, and drafting post-hearing brief
- Argued before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a private not-for-profit university to successfully overturn an NLRB decision regarding waivers of class and collective actions in arbitration agreements
- Successfully prevented large company from obtaining injunction based on tortious interference and over-reaching restrictive covenant against local healthcare employer
- Negotiated several favorable settlements of wage and hour collective actions and single-plaintiff employment law cases, resulting in substantial cost savings in legal fees and liability
COMMUNITY
- Academy of Florida Management Attorneys (AFMA), Board of Directors, Past President
- Leadership Sarasota County, Alumni Leadership Committee, Chair
- Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Sarasota County, Class of 2018
- Sarasota County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section, Past Chair
- The Florida Bar, Labor and Employment Law Section
- State Bar of Georgia, Section of Labor and Employment
- Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association
-
Judge Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court, Atlanta, GA, Alumnus Member
ACCOLADES
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent
- Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law – Management
- Florida Super Lawyers
- SRQ Elite Top Attorneys