Ray Poole

Ray has a wealth of experience representing secondary and postsecondary educational institutions in all areas of labor and employment law.  He is one of only three attorneys in Florida who holds two board certifications from the Florida Bar in Labor and Employment Law and in Education Law.  He has represented universities, colleges, and school districts on a wide variety of labor and employment law matters, including tenure cases, employee discipline cases, labor arbitrations, and collective bargaining.  He previously served as the Chief of Legal Services for a school district in Florida, where he handled all employment law and labor relations matters on behalf of the school district.

Aside from his work representing educational institutions, Ray has extensive experience representing both private and public sector employers in a full range of employment law matters in state and federal courts, as well as before governmental agencies.  His work includes handling trade secrets and non-compete cases, defending employers against claims of discrimination in numerous lawsuits, defense of whistleblower cases, and handling wage and hour matters.  

• Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Labor and Employment Law
• Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Education Law
• Best Lawyers® (2013-2017)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence

• Executive Counsel of the Florida Bar's Labor and Employment Law Section, 2010-2018
• Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Section, Member
• Co-Editor, Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Section Newsletter, The Checkoff, 2003-2004

Ray is happily married to Melissa and is the proud father of two children, Blake and Hannah.

• "Workers' Compensation Retaliation," AIG Presentation, May 2005
• "Avoiding FLSA Class Actions," Jacksonville APA Luncheon, April 2005
• "Employment Law Basics," AIFBY Chamber Breakfast, April 2005
• "Public Employee Benefits Issues," Florida Municipal Attorneys' Association, July 2004
• "Public Sector Privacy Issues," Court Clerks' Association, May 2004
• "Florida Workers' Compensation Retaliation and Whistleblower Claims," Florida Bar Seminar, September 2002
• "EEO Update," Annual Conference of Circuit Judges, December 2000
• "Limiting the Use of 'Me Too' Evidence in Employment Discrimination Cases," Florida Bar Journal, June 2000