JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (May 5, 2008) - After opening an office last week in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s leading workplace law firms, announced today it has also opened an office in Jacksonville, Florida. Jackson Lewis now has 36 offices throughout the United States. Richard N. Margulies and Benjamin D. Sharkey will join Jackson Lewis as partners of the new office. Both came from the law firm of Akerman Senterfitt.
Patrick L. Vaccaro, firm-wide managing partner of Jackson Lewis said, “Richard and Ben will help Jackson Lewis better service our growing Florida practice. Opening an office in Jacksonville gives yet another business community local access to our nationwide network of employment law specialists, and enhances our ability to serve our clients throughout Florida.”
Mr. Margulies is an AV rated attorney and has spent his entire professional law career exclusively representing management clients in labor and employment-related matters. This includes the representation of employers in federal and state courts and agencies against claims of individual and class action discrimination, wrongful discharge claims and pension and benefit claims. Mr. Margulies is among the 2008 Best Lawyers in America for Labor and Employment Law. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia and a juris doctorate from Stetson University.
Joining Mr. Margulies as partner is Benjamin Sharkey who specializes in labor relations and employment litigation. Mr. Sharkey has extensive experience counseling employers on state and federal labor and employment laws, including wage and hour, disciplinary action and documentation, termination, sexual harassment, discrimination and non-compete agreements. Prior to Akerman Senterfitt, Mr. Sharkey was a law clerk at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and a clerk for the Middle District of North Carolina’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Sharkey is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Bucknell University and has a juris doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law. He is a member of the Jacksonville’s Chester Bedell Inn of Court.
“Of course Ben and I were very familiar with Jackson Lewis and marveled at the expansion of their national footprint, especially in the last two years. Their national network of offices gives us a real chance of expanding our client base outside of the Jacksonville region. Also, we can better serve our current clients by utilizing Jackson Lewis experts in every conceivable discipline within the labor and employment field. Add to all of this our ability to help Jackson Lewis broaden its reach in Florida, and you have a terrific joining of forces that is a win-win situation,” said Margulies.
About Jackson Lewis LLPFounded in 1958, Jackson Lewis LLP is dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law. With offices in 36 cities and more than 470 attorneys, Jackson Lewis has developed a concentrated expertise in over 17 specialized practice areas of the law. Additional information about Jackson Lewis LLP can be found at www.jacksonlewis.com.
For more information, please contact:Lara Minch-Klass, Jackson Lewis T: (212) 545-4031 E: klassl@jacksonlewis.com Kara Dullea, the bounce agency T: (864) 351-2736 E: kara.dullea@thebounceagency.com