Attorneys:
Lead Attorneys:, G. Thomas Harper and Gregg Gerlach
Associate Attorney: Sean Douthard
Staff:
Legal Assistant, Maureen Young
Bookkeeper, Ellen Purdy
G. THOMAS HARPER
He has been involved in over 200 union-organizing attempts, union elections, de-certifications, contract negotiations, and strikes. He presents seminars for clients and employer associations on all aspects of labor and employment law.Mr. Harper has practiced in Labor Relations and Employment Law for over 30 years. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Labor and Employment Law. He is also certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Circuit Civil and Appellate Mediator.
Mr. Harper represents a diverse group of companies in a broad range of employment and labor issues. He counsels clients concerning the FMLA, the ADA, the ADEA, and sexual harassment. He has litigation experience in a wide variety and number of cases, including numerous jury and non-jury trials before federal and state courts and administrative agencies.
Mr. Harper has been selected in The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward/White for the past 14 years (1995-2011). In July, 2005, Mr. Harper was listed in Florida Monthly magazine as one of the top lawyers in Florida in Labor and Employment Law. In 2012, Florida Super Lawyers Magazine named Mr. Harper as one of the top lawyers in Florida.
Mr. Harper has also served as an expert witness on employment law issues in federal court in Florida.
Mr. Harper has conducted supervisor training on such diverse topics as National Labor Relations Act Compliance, sexual harassment, the ADA, and the FMLA. He is currently on staff at the University of North Florida, Division of Continuing Education, as an Adjunct Professor teaching labor and employment compliance to business owners, managers and supervisors. Mr. Harper has successfully handled the following:
- Won jury verdicts in age discrimination trials for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; K-Mart; and Gold Kist Inc.
- Successfully enforced an arbitration agreement resulting in the dismissal of a wrongful termination lawsuit.
- Worked with a large orange juice processing facility under attack by the Teamster’s Union resulting in an overwhelming vote against union representation.
- Won summary judgment in an age discrimination case resulting from a company-wide restructuring.
- Defending a trucking company in a race discrimination lawsuit resulting in the former employee/plaintiff dismissing the lawsuit at the close of discovery.
References Furnished Upon Request
Mr. Harper’s Trial experience (PDF file 38K)
Mr. Harper’s Reported Decisions (PDF file 17K)
Mr. Harper’s Union Election Experience: (PDF 140k)
School of Law, 1973
B. A., Furman University,
1970
- Labor and Employment
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
- Employment Law Arbitrator
GREGG GERLACH
Gregg Gerlach is well-recognized as one of the premier labor and employment lawyers in Florida. Mr. Gerlach has received The Martindale-Hubble Peer Review Rating of AV Preeminent, reflecting that Mr. Gerlach’s peers have rated him as having the highest ethical standards and professional ability. In 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Florida Super Lawyer Magazine designated Gregg as one of the top Labor & Employment Lawyers in Florida. Mr. Gerlach is also Board Certified in Labor & Employment by The Florida Bar.
Mr. Gerlach has litigated labor and employment law disputes since 1991. He has successfully defended a broad range of employers in both the federal and state courts. Mr. Gerlach concentrates his practice in the trial and arbitration of discrimination and sexual harassment claims, COBRA claims, contract and tort disputes, non-competition issues, and wage and hour matters. He has successfully litigated in Florida, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Georgia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Colorado.
Mr. Gerlach advises small, Medium and Large employers on day-to-day employee discipline, discharge and compensation issues and on implementing “HR Best Practices.” Mr. Gerlach also implements and administers employee mandatory arbitration contracts and company alternative dispute resolution programs.
Prior to forming Harper Gerlach, Mr. Gerlach practiced with Bruckner & Sykes, LLP, in Houston, Texas and then with Haynsworth, Baldwin, Johnson & Greaves, LLC in Jacksonville, Florida.
Law Center, 1991
B.S., Cornell University,
School of Industrial & Labor Relations, 1984
Certified in Florida Public Sector Labor Relations by The Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association
| Co-Founder, First Coast Lawyers Forum: 2001-Present |
| Chair, 2008 to present, HR Council, Greater Northeast Florida Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors |
| Florida Bar Association: Labor/Employment Law Section; 2000-Present Trial Lawyers Section; 2003-Present |
| Jacksonville Bar Association, Chair, Client Dispute Resolution Committee 2007-2009 Judicial Relations Committee 2001-2002 Labor/Employment Law Section, 2003-Present |
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Texas Bar Association: Houston Bar Association: |
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment;
Ft. Bliss (El Paso), Texas
1985-1988
133rd Field Artillery Battalion;
Beaumont, Texas
1989-1990
Sean A. Douthard, Esq.
Sean Douthard has experience representing both management executives and professionals in areas that span all facets of employment. His primary areas of focus are on claims related to wage and hour compliance, Title VII discrimination and harassment, family and medical leave, non-competition litigation, contract disputes, benefits and compensation, employment policies and handbooks, as well as unemployment appeals. Sean has experience representing clients in unemployment compensation telephonic hearings, before the Unemployment Appeals Commission in Tallahassee, Florida.
Sean authors numerous articles for the Florida Employment Law Letter, a monthly labor and employment newsletter edited by Harper Gerlach, published by M. Lee Smith Publishers, and distributed to more than 750 employers and attorneys throughout the State of Florida. He is also the Florida contributor to 50 Laws in 50 States, an annual publication outlining significant labor and employment laws in all 50 states and Canada
While in law school, Sean was awarded with Dean’s list recognition and selected to become a member of Phi Delta Phi, a national legal honors fraternity. Prior to joining Harper Gerlach, Sean worked as a law clerk for one of North Florida’s largest personal injury law firms. Sean is a Jacksonville native and enjoys being able to assist others in the Jacksonville community. Sean is admitted to practice law in all State Courts in Florida and the U.S. Middle District Court for the State of Florida
B.S., Florida State University, 2009
| Florida Bar Association |
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Admitted to practice in all State Courts in Florida. U.S. Middle District of Florida |
Contributing Editor
Florida Employment Law Letter – Contributor
MEET OUR STAFF
Maureen Young
Legal Assistant
Ellen Purdy
Bookkeeper