MIAMI, FL., (May 16, 2008) – Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country's largest and fastest growing workplace law firms, has announced that Angel Castillo, Jr. has joined the firm as a partner in its Miami office. Formerly a partner at Ogletree Deakins, Mr. Castillo has over 25 years of practice in employment and other civil litigation and in domestic and international arbitrations. He is an AV rated attorney who has been selected by both the South Florida Legal Guide and Florida Super Lawyers as one of the top Labor and Employment lawyers in South Florida.
Mr. Castillo has significant experience representing employers in state and federal court litigation and appeals, including defending claims arising in the workplace alleging discrimination on the basis of physical and mental disabilities, age, gender, pregnancy, religious beliefs, race and natural origin. He has also litigated claims arising from alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and employment-related common law tort claims such as battery, defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
"This is a tremendous coup for Jackson Lewis. Angel adds significant depth and talent to our team of attorneys and, with Pedro Torres-Diaz of the Miami office, will enhance our ability to serve the Hispanic business community in Miami, Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking countries as well as throughout the U.S.," said Patrick L. Vaccaro, firm-wide Managing Partner of Jackson Lewis. "I have no doubt he will be a great asset to the firm."
Mr. Castillo, who originally hails from Havana, is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of French and Portuguese. As a former Chair and Founder of the International Law Committee of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association, Mr. Castillo has worked on Latin American legal issues throughout his years of practice. He has worked with and supervised local lawyers in Mexico as well as many countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America and has tried a number of cases in U.S. courts governed by the laws of various Latin American countries. Additionally, he has counseled numerous clients on employee terminations, workforce restructurings and reductions of force in jurisdictions such as Florida, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and the Philippines.
"Angel is a highly regarded litigator in Florida as well as in numerous countries in the Caribbean and the Americas, and we couldn't be happier to welcome him to the firm," said Gregory T. Alvarez, Jackson Lewis Partner and Chair of the firm's Hispanic Affinity Group (HAAG.) "One of HAAG's long-standing missions has been to introduce our legal services and expertise to employers who have a significant number of Spanish-speaking employees. Largely through the work of HAAG, we have developed the firm's ability to provide services to existing and prospective clients. Our group's ability to do this has grown tenfold with the addition of Angel to our team."
Mr. Castillo received his J.D. degree with high honors in 1978 from the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he graduated first in his class and was Executive Editor of the Law Review. He was awarded the LL.M. degree by Yale Law School in 1980.
He is admitted to practice in the State of Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh and Fifth Circuits, as well as the First Circuit, which handles appeals from the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and, by examination, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in San Juan.
Mr. Castillo is a member of the Cuban-American Bar Association, the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, and the Miami and Puerto Rico Chapters of the Federal Bar Association. He also belongs to the Puerto Rican Professional Association of South Florida, the Hispanic National Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
"I have been a long-time admirer of Jackson Lewis' reputation as leaders in the field of workplace law, and I am thrilled to join the Miami office," said Castillo. "I look forward to helping the firm grow both its local client base as well as its international reach."
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. 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