Brett J. Schneider

Partner

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Brett is the Chair of our Labor and Employment Practice Group. He represents public sector clients in collective bargaining negotiations, labor impasse hearings, unfair labor practice proceedings and labor arbitrations. He recently has successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the Cities of Aventura, Bal Harbour, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Homestead, Juno Beach, Key Biscayne and Lauderhill. Brett also recently has handled impasse proceedings for the Cities of Deerfield Beach and Hallandale Beach. He has achieved significant labor arbitration victories for the Cities of Hallandale Beach, Key Biscayne and Lauderhill.

He has successfully represented both private and public sector clients in all phases of employment litigation, up to and including trial, on matters arising under Federal, State and local employment laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act (FMLA). Brett successfully represented a large South Florida-based real estate company in a class action wage and hour case brought by its sales force.

Brett represents employers before Federal, State and local administrative agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEDC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Florida Public Employee’s Relations Commission (PERC).  In addition, Brett regularly consults with and advises private and public sector employers on a wide array of human resources issues, including personnel policies and procedures, discipline and discharge matters, drug and alcohol testing, employee privacy rights and education and training programs for managers and supervisors, and he has worked closely with employers to ensure that their practices do not run afoul of Federal, state or local law.

Prior to joining the Firm, Brett practiced labor and employment law at large national law firms in Washington DC, New York and South Florida.

Published Works

  • “Bills Would Reform Government Pension Plan,” South Florida Daily Business Review, March 29, 2011
  • “How Employers Can Keep Themselves From Being You-Tubed,” Workforce Management, May 11, 2009
  • “Acting Affirmative Against Harassment,” New York Law Journal Corporate Counsel, February 4, 2002
  • “Employee Privacy 2001 A Review for Employers,” Lawyer Pilot’s Bar Association Journal, Fall, 2001

Professional Associations

  • President Elect, Human Resource Association of Broward County, 2013
  • Legislative Affairs Director, Human Resource Association of Broward County, 2010 - 2011
  • Member, Human Resource Association of Broward County, 2008-present
  • Board of Directors, The Cooperative Feeding Program, 2010 – Present
  • University of Maryland South Florida Alumni Association, 2010 – Present
  • Anti-Defamation League, Glass Leadership Institute, 2008
  • Leadership Broward Foundation, Class XXIV, 2005-2006
  • South Florida Touchdown Club Foundation, 2005-2006
    Board Secretary

Reported Cases

  • Amunraptah v. City of Deerfield Beach, 93 So. 3d 1040 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012)
  • East Coast Karate Studios, Inc. v. LifeStyle Martial Arts, LLC, 65 So. 3d 1127 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)
  • World Rentals and Sales, LLC v. Volvo Construction Equipment Rentals, Inc., 517 F.3d 1240 (11th Cir. 2008)
  • Goldberg v. Chong, 2007 WL 2028792 (S.D. Fla. Jul. 11, 2007)
  • Kaptan v. Danchig, 796 N.Y.S.2d 706 (N.Y. 2nd Dept., 2005)

Awards and Recognitions

  • "Florida Rising Star," Florida SuperLawyers, 2011-present
  • “Top Up and Comer,” South Florida Legal Guide, 2009

Presentations

  • “Mandatory vs. Permissive Subjects of Collective Bargaining Negotiations,” Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association 36th Annual Training Conference, February 9, 2010
  • “Labor Relations Update,” Miami-Dade County City Manager’s Association Luncheon, November 20, 2009
  • “The Specifics of Ricci v. DiStefano,” International Public Management Association for Human Resources, South Florida Regional Meeting, August 25, 2009
  • “Recent Legal Developments Affecting Florida Public Employers,” International Public Management Association for Human Resources, South Florida Regional Meting, April 28, 2009
  • “What is New with Labor Law,” Miramar / Pembroke Pines HR Consortium, April 16, 2009
  • “Conducting Investigations from A to Z,” Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association 35th Annual Training Conference, February 3, 2009
  • “Bargaining in Times of Fiscal Crisis – How to Pull a Rabbit out of an Empty Hat,” Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association 34th Annual Training Conference, February 5, 2008

Press Mentions