FordHarrison LLP is pleased to announce that it opened the doors of its new Fort Myers office on June 20, 2014. FordHarrison is currently the only national labor and employment boutique law firm located in Fort Myers. The initial attorneys in this office will be Denise Wheeler, who will be joining as a Partner, and Jaime Maurer, who will be Counsel. Fort Myers is FordHarrison's seventh location in Florida, along with Jacksonville, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
"We are very excited to open another Florida office, cementing our presence in the state, and expanding our presence in the Southeast," said Lash Harrison, Managing Partner of FordHarrison. "The attorneys in our new Fort Myers office are experienced and very capable and will serve our clients well."
Denise, who has been rated as one of the ‘Nation's 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys' added, "I feel fortunate to continue my career at such a prestigious labor and employment firm, alongside such renowned attorneys. I look forward to bringing my expertise to lead the firm's Fort Myers office and contributing to the continued success and growth of the firm."
Denise is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar and focuses her practice on representing employers in all types of employment law issues. She has extensive experience in defending employers in lawsuits brought by employees in both state and federal courts involving discrimination laws, employment contracts, wage and hour claims, non-compete issues, wrongful termination, retaliation, whistle blower, employee benefits, union and collective bargaining issues, OSHA, minimum wage and overtime claims, and general personnel matters. Denise also counsels management in preventive measures, handbooks and policies, liability avoidance, documentation and employee discipline advice, investigations, training, and compliance with federal, state and local employment laws.
Jaime focuses her practice on representing employers in disputes and counseling with respect to any and all employment law issues. She has litigation experience in employment, business and commercial law at the federal, state and local levels. She routinely handles cases involving discrimination law, alleged breaches of employment contracts, wage and hour compliance, potential violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and other federal and state employment laws. In addition, she works with management in drafting employee handbooks, employee and independent contractor agreements, as well as various policies and procedures that serve to protect the client on a prospective basis.
"We pride ourselves on recruiting the highest-level of attorneys, and the Fort Myers office is no exception," stated Todd Aidman, Chair of the firm's Lateral Growth Committee. "We are confident that Denise and Jaime will be valuable additions to the FordHarrison family and that this new office will help us better serve both our Florida market and our clients nationwide."