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Leonard Samuels splits his time handling employment related litigation and complex litigation. His practice focuses on matters that encompass both the knowledge of an employment lawyer and the skills of a seasoned trial lawyer.

Lenny’s litigation experience includes handling non-compete litigation throughout the United States as well as substantial multi-state matters involving theft of trade secrets, tortuous interference with business relationships and contracts. He has also represented companies and executives in a wide variety of employment matters ranging from claims involving breach of contract, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty to various types of alleged discriminatory conduct. 

Representative Experience

  • Lead trial counsel for a body armor manufacturer in a matter involving claims and counterclaims for breach of military supply agreement valued in excess of $100 million
  • Represented a timeshare company in defense of class action asserting that  employees were improperly classified as independent contractors
  • Represented company with facilities in 48 states in defense of a Fair Labor Standards Act case with 2,900 plaintiffs
  • Represented a large utility in the defense of a $130 million multi-count complaint involving tax credits and contracts
  • Represented a Florida company in pursuing claims for theft of trade secrets and tortuous interference following the resignations of 4 top executives who left to work for a competing company 
  • Represented fuel additive manufacturer in claims of false advertising and unfair competition
  • Represented former hospital executive in whistleblower action against a hospital chain that resulted in a settlement of $90 million
  • Represented a hedge fund in claims for theft of trade secrets and breach of contract against former executives
  • Represented 50% owner of internet marketing company in claims and counterclaims  involving activities of other 50% owner. Litigation of the case was in Florida and related arbitration proceeded in the Bahamas
  • Represented Finnish ship manufacturer in defense of tortuous interference and patent infringement claims
  • Lead counsel in Broward County for Gore-Lieberman recount efforts

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Member, Commercial Panel for the American Arbitration Association
  • Member, Regional Board of Directors for the Anti-Defamation League
  • Finance Co-Chair, Fair Districts of Florida
  • Member, Jewish Federation, Finance and Accounting Committee
  • Member, Board of Directors of Federal Bar Association, Broward County, Florida
  • Former Steering Committee Member, Education Excellence of Florida
  • Former Member, Board of Directors of ChildNet
  • Former Board Member and Board Chair of Family Central
  • Former Board Member, United Way of Broward County

Awards & Recognition

  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Featured in the National Law Journal in article entitled Florida’s Chad Bar
  • Florida’s Super Lawyers (2007-2011)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (since 2008)
  • Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” (2007, 2010)
  • The South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Lawyer” (2004-2012)

Articles & Presentations

Articles

  • Are Your Independent Contractors Really Employees?, Law 360 (July 2010)
  • Parameters of the Non-Compete,  Florida Medical Business (May 2008)
  • The Value of Non- Competes, South Florida CEO (September 2007)
  • Special Report: Class Action; ‘Similarly Situated Workers in Wage and Overtime What Makes a Class Action?, Daily Business Review (May 2006)
  • How to Protect You from Your Firm's Employees, South Florida Business Journal (1999)
  • Florida’s Amended Noncompetition Statute:  A Reasonable Approach, The Florida Bar Journal, July/August (1991)
  • Eighteen Years in the Judicial Catbird Seat, 11 NOVA L. REV. 1 (1986)

Presentations

  • Sterling Education Services, Interference with Contractual and Business Relationships (2011)
  • Berger Singerman Seminar, Fair Labor Standards Act (2009)
  • Southeastern Regional TAGLaw Meeting, Litigating Non-compete Agreements in Multistate Litigation (2008)
  • Broward County Women’s  Bar Association, Understanding Whistleblower Actions (2007)
  • Berger Singerman’s SportsTalk, Protecting Your Most Important Assets (2006)
  • ABA Regional Institute, Basic Equal Employment Opportunity Law and Procedures
  • Panel Member, Florida Bar Sports and Entertainment Section, Enforceability of Agreements

Prior Affiliations

  • Morgan Lewis & Bockius
  • Intern and Law Clerk for Justice James C. Adkins of the Florida Supreme Court