Eric A. Gordon

Eric Gordon chairs Akerman’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, a national team that represents employers in compliance, dispute prevention and employment litigation across the United States. He represents Fortune 500 companies in the hospitality, healthcare, retail and telecommunications sectors. His litigation experience includes federal and state jury trials, class actions and arbitrations, as well as the defense of claims before administrative agencies.

Eric also advises employers on day-to-day compliance and ways to avoid litigation. His preventive work includes in-house training on hiring and firing, sexual harassment, diversity, the Family and Medical Leave Act, discrimination, and wage and hour compliance. For human resources professionals in the hospitality sector, he created and moderates the Akerman HR Hospitality Roundtable, a biannual forum focused on employment and labor issues.

Employment Discrimination and Breach of Contract:

Secured a significant appellate win in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, affirming summary judgment for a national telecommunications company in the Northern District of Texas. The case involved multiple employment and contract claims by a former senior executive, including discrimination, failure to accommodate, fraud, and breach of contract. The Fifth Circuit granted oral argument and, following briefing and argument, fully affirmed the district court’s ruling, eliminating all liability exposure and reinforcing key defenses in high-stakes employment litigation.

Employment Discrimination:

Represented a national telecommunications company in a complex employment discrimination case involving alleged violations of the ADA, Title VII, and ADEA, as well as breach of contract and fraud claims. The plaintiff claimed discrimination based on sex, age, and disability, and breach of contractual agreements. Just before a scheduled jury trial, secured a summary judgment in favor of our client, with the court dismissing all claims and finding the termination was based on legitimate, non-discriminatory business reasons.

Employment Discrimination and Retaliation:

Obtained summary judgment for a national telecommunications company in a case brought by a former employee who resigned after extended mental health leave. The plaintiff alleged race discrimination, failure-to-accommodate disability discrimination, disparate treatment disability discrimination, and retaliation under the Florida Civil Rights Act. The court dismissed claims barred by the statute of limitations and found no evidence that the working conditions were intolerable enough to justify resignation. 

Employment Discrimination:

Represented regional healthcare provider in case arising from alleged violations of the ADA and FMLA. Employee failed to return to work following expiration of her FMLA leave prior to the birth of her daughter. Following a bench trial, the judge entered a Final Judgment in favor of the healthcare provider.

• J.D., St. Thomas University School of Law, 1995, St. Thomas Law Review, Notes and Comments Editor, 1994-1995
• B.A., University of Florida, 1991

Bars

• Florida

Courts

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

• College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Elected Fellow
• Florida Trend, 2026, Listed in Florida Amongst the 500 Most Influential Business Leaders
• Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010-2026, Listed in Florida for Employment & Labor and Business Litigation
• Best Lawyers, 2018-2027, Listed in Florida for Employment Law — Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Best Lawyers, 2023, Listed as “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation — Labor and Employment in West Palm Beach, Florida
• The Legal 500, 2024-2026, Recommended for Labor and Employment Disputes; 2024, Labor and Employment - Immigration
• Lawdragon, 2020-2025, Listed as a “Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyer”
• Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine, 2022, 2024, Listed in Palm Beach County as “Top Lawyer” for Labor and Employment 
• Benchmark Litigation, 2021-2022, Listed in Florida as a “Labor & Employment Star”
• Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient for Best in HR, 2019 
• Lexology Client Choice Award, 2018, Recognized for Labor and Employment
• South Florida Business Journal, 2014, Recognized as a “Top Power Leader in Law”
• South Florida CEO Magazine 2007, Selected as an “Up and Comer”

• Academy of Florida Management Attorneys (AFMA), Member
• Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County, Membership Chair, 2004-2005; Legislative Chair, 2005-2006; Board of Directors, 2006-2013; President, 2012; Past President, 2013
• American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Committee, Technology in the Practice and Workplace Committee, Member
• Florida Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Committee, Member
• Palm Beach County Bar Association, Member
• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Southern Florida Chapter, Board Member
• South Palm Beach County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Committee, Chair, 2004-Present; Board of Directors, 2008-Present; President-Elect, 2016-2017; President, 2017-2018
• Economic Council of Palm Beach County, Board of Directors, Member, 2012-2016
• Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, Board of Directors, Member, 2012-2014
• Society for Human Resource Management, Member, 2004-present
• Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, Trustee Member, 2003-2012; Leadership Boca, 2003
• Wheels for Kids, Co., Founder; Board of Directors, Past Member
• The Children’s Museum of Boca Raton, Past Board Member
• Anti-Defamation League, Glass Leadership Institute, Graduate, 2007

• HR Defense Blog, Contributor
• Akerman Labor & Employment Law Summit, Moderator, “In-House Counsel Panel,” May 2, 2024
• Bloomberg Law News, Quoted, “TikTok Layoff Videos Pose Quandary for Bosses on How to Respond,” April 26, 2024
• Palm Beach County SHRM Dinner Meeting, Speaker, “Point-Counterpoint: Legal Pro’s Face Off on Current HR Issues,” October 17, 2023
• Akerman Labor & Employment Law Summit, Moderator, “In-House Counsel Panel,” May 4, 2023
• HR Magazine, Quoted, “The Evolution of HR and Safety,” June 2, 2023
• PBC SHRM 2022 Annual Conference, Panelist, “Hot Topics and Ethical Issues in the Employment Law Arena,” May 26, 2022
• Akerman Labor & Employment Law Summit, Moderator, “In-House Counsel Panel,” April 20, 2022
• PBC SHRM Dinner Meeting, Speaker, “Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace,” October 19, 2021
• PBC SHRM Annual Conference, Speaker, “Legislative Update and Hot Topics in Employment Law,” May 13, 2021 
• Akerman Labor & Employment Law Virtual Summit, Moderator, “In-House Counsel Panel,” April 22, 2021 
• PBC SHRM, Speaker, “Hot Topics for 2021: Biden Administration Changes and COVID-19 Vaccination,” January 26, 2021 
• HRPBC Dinner Event, Speaker, “Hot Topics In Employment Law,” October 15, 2019
• HRPBC Workshop, Speaker, “Workplace Harassment and Legalized Marijuana - Today’s New Normal,” November 20, 2018
• HRPBC Conference & Expo, Speaker, “Times Up on Pay Inequality: Closing the Wage Gap in Corporate America,” May 17, 2018
• First Annual Labor & Employment Law Summit, Moderator, “In-House Counsel Panel,” February 1, 2017
• Kolter Hospitality, Presenter, “The Newest Salary Regulations - Are You Ready?” July 28, 2016
• South Florida Business Journal, Presenter, “Overtime: Calculating the Cost for Your Business,” July 26, 2016
• South Palm Beach County Bar Association (SPBCBA) Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the South Palm Beach County Chapter of FAWL (Florida Association of Women Lawyers Joint Event, Speaker, “Having it All: Strategies for Success,” May 25, 2016
• Akerman Seminar, Presenter, “Employment Discrimination and the New Face of Diversity in 2016,” January 2016
• Akerman Seminar, Presenter, “Hot Employment Topics Impacting the Hospitality Industry,” December 2015
• Akerman Twentieth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, “The eWorkplace: Balancing Employer & Employee Rights,” September 2015
• Florida Institute of CPAs, Presenter, “Medical Marijuana and Other Top ‘Hits’ of 2014,” December 2014
• Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County, Presenter, “Medical Marijuana and Other Top ‘Hits’ of 2014,” November 2014
• Akerman Seminar, Presenter, “The Effect of Changing Marijuana Laws on Employment Policies and Practices,” September 2014
• The Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Employment Law Committee Seminar, Presenter, “Florida Whistleblower Act, Defendant’s Perspective,” May 2014
• Akerman Nineteenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations: Case Studies,” April 2014
• The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the Labor and Employment Law Section’s Navigating the World of ADR Seminar, Presenter, “Proving and Defending Against Damage Claims in Arbitration,” March 2014
• “The Business Counselor,” AM Radio 1230 WBZT Show, Special Guest, “What Small Businesses Need to Know About Labor and Employment Law,” May 2007