David Kalteux defends employers in high-stakes employment litigation and advises them on proactive strategies to reduce legal risk.
David Kalteux is a dedicated advocate for employers, focusing his practice on high-stakes employment litigation and proactive legal strategies to minimize risk and ensure compliance. Throughout his career, David has exclusively represented employers, earning a reputation as a versatile and strategic legal partner providing effective solutions on a wide range of issues.
David represents clients ranging from small family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies across a broad spectrum of employment disputes, including, but not limited to:
- Wage and hour matters, including complex class and collective actions
- Claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
- Disability accommodation and medical leave violations
- Worker misclassification (independent contractor vs. employee; exempt vs. non-exempt)
- Breach of employment contracts and restrictive covenant enforcement
- Trade secret misappropriation and related business litigation
- Disability access compliance under Title III
- Employment-related Fair Credit Reporting Act claims
A member of the firm’s Wage/Hour practice group, David defends employers in wage disputes under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state laws, including large-scale collective and class actions. His commercial litigation experience further strengthens his ability to represent employers in business-to-business disputes, particularly those involving contract breaches and the enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
Beyond litigation, David devotes a substantial part of his practice to helping clients prevent employment claims and mitigate risk through strategic counsel. He advises on issues that include:
- Employee handbook and workplace policy development
- Employment agreements, including non-competes and commission structures
- Severance negotiations and agreement drafting
- Compliance audits and HR best practices
- Wage and hour evaluations and classification reviews
- Workplace training for managers and HR personnel
- Internal investigations into allegations of misconduct or policy violations
- Day-to-day employment counsel and issue resolution
By taking a proactive approach, David helps employers minimize risk, maintain compliance, and foster a legally sound and productive workplace.
David is also a key contributor to the firm’s Restaurants industry practice group. Drawing from firsthand experience working in various restaurant roles—from dishwasher to bartender—he brings practical insight and legal acumen to employment issues specific to the hospitality industry, such as tip credit and tip pooling disputes.
In addition, David is an active member of the firm’s Healthcare industry practice group. He has successfully represented several of the nation’s largest healthcare systems and healthcare-related employers in a variety of employment litigation, providing him with a deep understanding of the sector’s legal intricacies.
David remains highly engaged in his professional community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and participates in various regional networking organizations. A lifelong Tampa Bay resident, David has built a strong network of legal and business professionals, which he leverages to benefit his clients.
Outside of his legal work, David enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children, as well as their two dogs. He’s an enthusiastic supporter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the Rays and enjoys fitness, poker, and the occasional round of golf.