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 (2007-2012)
· 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
In The News
Dr. Notes understates debt in Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, South Florida Business Journal, Lenny Samuels, May 11, 2007
The value of non-competes, South Florida CEO, Leonard K. Samuels, September 18, 2007
Helping Madoff victims poses unusual challenges for law firms, South Florida Business Journal, Lenny Samuels, January 09, 2008
Perimeters of the non-compete, Florida Business Medical, Lenny Samuels, March 11, 2008
Stay on top of litigation, South Florida Business Journal, Leonard K. Samuels, May 15, 2009
Energy Lawsuit: Power companies duking it out in court, Daily Business Review, Lenny Samuels, October 02, 2009
Twenty-Four Attorneys Named Florida Super Lawyers By Publishers of Law & Politics Magazine, Daniel H. Aronson, Robert W. Barron, James L. Berger, Mitchell W. Berger, Howard Berlin, Anthony J. Carriuolo, John Eaton, Brian K. Gart, Jorid Guso, Melanie Ann Hines, Nick Jovanovich, Charles H. Lichtman, Sheldon S. Polish, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Sam, June 08, 2010
Thirteen Attorneys Named to Florida Trend's 2010 Florida Legal Elite List, Robert W. Barron, Douglas A. Bates, Howard J. Berlin, Jordi Guso, Rene Harrod, Melanie Ann Hines, Andrew M. Hinkes, Charles H. Lichtman, Kelly A. O'Keefe, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Samuels, Frank Scruggs, Paul Steven Singerman, July 01, 2010
Fifteen Berger Singerman Attorneys Named to 2011 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, October 28, 2010
In the News Report, 4.24.11, Ruben Fogel, David Black, Lenny Samuels, April 24, 2011
In the News Report, Week Ending 3.11.12, Paul Figg, Marian Nease, Lenny Samuels, March 12, 2012
Publications
Perimeters of The Non-Compete, Florida Medical Business, 03/11/2008
Certifying and decertifying class actions under the flsa: are employees similarly situated?, 12/01/2007
The Value of Non-Competes, CEO Issues, 09/01/2007
Protecting your most valuable asset, Smart Business Network, 01/01/2006