Labor & Employment Law

   Labor and employment issues are complex; a myriad of federal, state and local laws govern the employment relationship. We have many years of practical legal experience in both the private and public sectors and can assist with advice and representation, before, during, or after an issue arises. Ms. Langbein is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of Labor and Employment Law, a recognition granted to select Florida lawyers who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge and experience. She sits on the Executive Council of the Florida Bar's Labor & Employment Section and frequently speaks at seminars on topics of interest. Our firm represents both businesses and individuals in employment matters. Because of their extensive background and experience in the field, both Mr. and Ms. Langbein were appointed by the American Arbitration Association to its national labor and employment panels of arbitrators. We offer services in the following areas of employment law:

- Handbooks, Policies and Procedures

- Workplace Investigations

- Employee Training

- Employment Contracts

- Separation Agreements

- Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation

- Trade Secrets/Intellectual Property Protection

- Discrimination Matters

- Unemployment Compensation Appeals

- Wage and Hour Investigations and Other matters

- Federal, State and Administrative Litigation

- Mediation and Arbitration Services

   Choose our firm to handle your matter when you want experienced attorneys, personalized assistance, and the unique perspective we can provide as litigators and neutrals.

  Even the best judges sometimes make mistakes and judicial error may greatly affect your rights. When mistakes occur, the remedy is to file an appeal. Our firm provides appellate advice and assistance in trial and on appeal. As an experienced litigator, Mr. Langbein is familiar with trial procedure and can insure that objections are preserved for appeal. He will also review trial records and point out possible bases for appeal. Mr. Langbein has thirty years of appellate experience and has been Board Certified by the Florida Bar in this field since 1994. Board certification is a recognition granted to a few select Florida lawyers who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge and experience in the appellate practice. Over the years, Mr. Langbein has practiced before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court and the appellate courts of this state. He is a member of the Executive Council of the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar and has authored articles for it. He handles insurance appeals and commercial disputes, divorce and other family relations concerns, probate cases, real estate matters, personal injury and medical malpractice cases, and labor and employment matters. Choose our firm when you seek appellate review and want attorneys who fully understand procedure and know best how to obtain relief.

   Litigation can be a draining experience, whether you are a seasoned CEO or an individual with a legal dispute. Our philosophy is that attorneys who litigate should be tough but practical. We are experienced litigators who regularly appear in federal, state and administrative forums, and can help you assess the cost and risk of litigation. Among the types of litigation we handle are business disputes, employment matters, administrative actions including licensure proceedings, will challenges, civil rights violations, divorce and other domestic relations cases (custody and child support), suits seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, insurance disputes, and breach of contract actions. Our firm will provide you with representation in court and skilled counsel who can give legal and practical advice.

   Many companies and individuals believe they do not need a lawyer representing them in an administrative proceeding.   However, administrative proceedings are quasi-judicial in nature and their outcome can be just as profound as the results of a lawsuit.  It is extremely important that persons who find themselves involved in administrative proceedings understand the agency’s rules, practices and procedures and the avenues which are available to challenge proposed administrative action.   Our firm’s lawyers have handled local, state and federal administrative proceedings for over thirty years and know how to navigate through governmental agencies.   Our firm has represented clients in such administrative matters as

- Ad valorem taxation matters

- Unemployment compensation Hearings

- Licensure cases before regulatory boards

- EEOC, FCHR and local agency discrimination proceedings

- OSHA charges

- U.S. Department of Labor investigations

- Florida Department of Administrative Hearings proceedings

- Housing discrimination investigations

- Local government board hearings

   The break-up of a marriage and its after-effects are devastating to the spouses, their children, and other family members. If you are contemplating a divorce or going through one, you will need expert advice that takes into consideration the emotional and financial aspects of your changing marital status. We represent individuals from all walks of life in domestic relations matters involving:

- Drafting and Review of Pre- and Post-nuptial Agreements

- Petitions for Dissolution

- Representation in Child Custody Disputes

- Advice and Representation concerning Changes in Alimony

- Negotiated Marital Property Settlement Agreements

- Advice and Representation in Equitable Distribution Disputes

   When hidden assets or income are at issue, we employ highly skilled forensic accountants to help trace the inflow and outflow of funds. This insures a fair and equitable distribution of assets. Our past clients have included doctors, teachers, law enforcement officers, and other professionals.

   Increasingly, parties are turning to arbitration and mediation as alternative means to resolve legal disputes. "Alternative dispute resolution" avoids the time, costs and publicity associated with litigation. We are highly experienced in alternative dispute resolution and well-respected in the legal community as arbitrators and mediators. Mr. Langbein is a member of the American Arbitration Association's national panels of Labor, Employment and Commercial arbitrators. He is a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator licensed in the Circuit/Civil and Family areas and is an approved mediator for the District Court, Southern District of Florida. References and a list of fees are available upon inquiry. Ms. Langbein also is a member of the American Arbitration Association's national panels of Labor, Employment, and Commercial arbitrators. In addition Ms. Langbein serves on several permanent panels of labor arbitrators and has been selected by parties to serve as a private judge. Ms. Langbein is a Florida Certified Circuit/Civil mediator who concentrates her mediation practice in employment matters. She has mediated nearly one thousand cases and is an approved mediator on the lists of the Southern and Middle District Courts of the United States District Courts of Florida as well as the American Arbitration Association’s national panel of mediators.

Housing discrimination is prohibited by both federal and state law and includes, among other acts :

- Refusal to  sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin;

- Discrimination against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin;

- Making, printing, or publishing, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination;

- Representing to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available;

- For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin; and,

- Discrimination in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicap of that buyer or renter, a person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or made available; or any person associated with that buyer or renter.