DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Phelps Dunbar LLP

Labor & Employment

3 ranked lawyers

Band 2

Florida

USA 2021 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

Chambers Review

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What the team is known for

Advises clients on a range of contentious employment matters including FLSA collective actions. Frequently represents employers in trials at both state and federal level, as well as in arbitrations. Also handles labor relations work. Takes on more cases outside of Florida, with a growing national labor and employment presence. Also offers knowledge pertaining to matters at the intersection of cybersecurity, data privacy and labor and employment law.

Strengths

Sources say: "The team is well trained, smart, reliable, precise and timely. The firm is one of the very best and punches above its size."

An interviewee reports: "This group of extremely talented lawyers does an outstanding job of defending its client with the utmost professionalism."

Clients regard the firm as "beyond excellent and extremely knowledgeable," adding that "when it comes to cutting-edge issues, we turn to Phelps Dunbar to provide counsel."

Notable practitioners

Dennis McClelland is recognized for his strength in labor relations as well as labor and employment disputes.
"He is an excellent lawyer with very deep wage and hour knowledge." "He is a very well-respected and nationally renowned wage and hour lawyer."

John Phillips advises employers on a wide array of disputes, from harassment to FLSA claims.
"He is an incredible litigator, who is extremely efficient, practically minded and able to achieve great results on our cases."

Reed Russell represents employers in a broad range of employment disputes, including wage and hour and discrimination claims. He draws upon his experience as a former legal counsel at the EEO.
"Reed is my encyclopedia of employment law. He has a great ability to understand our business and the practicality of it versus the legal analysis." "He is excellent with clients and particularly strong on wage and hour matters and before the EEOC." "Reed’s strength is that he has an encyclopedic and photographic memory. He is my most trusted adviser."

Department Information

This content is provided by Phelps Dunbar LLP.

Overview

Phelps Dunbar’s Tampa labor and employment team is uniquely positioned to serve our clients. Our group has over 150 years of combined experience practicing in Tampa and the surrounding areas. We know the Tampa Bay area, we know the courts and agencies, and we know the area's attorneys. Our team can handle the full spectrum of labor and employment issues that you encounter. From complex collective actions to routine discrimination complaints, our Tampa-based team can meet your needs, and we can do so efficiently. We strive to be transparent, lean, and innovative.