Workplace Investigations

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1 (407) Workplace Investigations Workplace discrimination takes a toll on employees and employers. It drives more than two million people to leave their jobs each year and costs companies billions of dollars in legal fees and lost productivity and revenue, as well as the damages caused by negative brand attention. In 2012 alone the costs of workplace harassment and retaliation were an estimated $64 billion. THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION BENEFITS WHEN A BUSINESS FOSTERS A WORKPLACE WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL SAFE AND ARE ABLE TO PERFORM OPTIMALLY. Despite many advancements, organizations still face situations where workplace misconduct is reported, suspected or discovered. When issues arise, proper workplace investigations must be timely, comprehensive and unbiased to stand up in court. They must also comply with the law and account for any possible risk to the employer and the potential victims of wrongdoing. Hiring an external experienced legal team to handle workplace investigations ensures any workplace investigations will be conducted quickly and adhere to the letter of the law. It also helps create a safer, more productive environment for employees. FOCUS AREAS Retaliation Employee Attendance Workplace Safety Disability Organizational Policy Violations Workers Compensation Whistleblower Sexual Harassment Employee Discipline Terminations Discrimination Hostile Work Environment Severance Packages Employee Hiring Wrongful Dismissal Breach of Contract Cyber Crimes Substance Abuse

2 (407) Mediation & Arbitration MEDIATOR AND ARBITRATOR Carlos J. Burruezo, Esq. started his law practice in 1989 as a commercial litigator, and subsequently spent the next 25 years litigating employment disputes, primarily for management. For the past three years, Carlos J. Burruezo, Esq., has had the opportunity to litigate on the employee side, which has now allowed him the unique experience of evaluating employment cases from both sides of a dispute. Carlos has mediated hundreds of cases, a majority of which have been employment disputes. These mediations have involved both small and large employers, ranging from employers with as little as 5 employees to employers with more than 100,000 employees. The types of cases Carlos has mediated vary between single and multi-party discrimination, harassment, and wage-and-hour matters, as well as class-action wage-hour and Fair Credit Reporting Act cases - including, most recently, a Fair Credit Reporting Act case against a Fortune 500 company. This particular case settled in one day with an amount close to $1 million dollars in controversy. Carlos J. Burruezo, Esq

3 (407) Legal Services EMPLOYMENT LAW We handle a variety of matters, with a particular focus on labor and employment cases, including: Mediations and Arbitrations ADVICE & LITIGATION MEDIATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS Workplace Investigations Employment Law for Executives and Professionals Discrimination Cases Harassment Cases Wage and Hour Disputes Whistleblower Cases Employment Contracts Non-Compete Agreements Employment Policies Employment Law Training WORK IS OUR JOB Our diverse background and experience representing employers and employees gives us the insight and skill to deliver the representation you expect. Each of our attorneys and staff are fluent in English and Spanish. With more than 50 years of combined experience, our team is more than prepared to represent you in your employment law case. Carlos J. Burruezo, Esq. & Bertha L. Burruezo, Esq.

4 Employment Law Advice & Litigation Mediations & Arbitrations Workplace Investigations (407) Capability Statement CORE COMPETENCIES Burruezo & Burruezo is a minority-owned practice that provides advice and litigation in all workplace law matters in addition to conducting mediations, arbitrations and workplace investigations. Carlos Burruezo is a Circuit Civil Certified mediator and arbitrator and member of the American Arbitration Association. The combination of Carlos extensive knowledge of the law and thoughtful demeanor serve as a powerful tool in successfully resolving even the most complex issues in cases. Mr. Burruezo s manner, style, openness and experience has led to a 95% settlement rate. DIFFERENTIATORS Over 50 years of combined legal experience. Handle complex commercial, business, and general civil litigation matters in State and Federal courts. Conduct human resource and other work place investigations. Hands on work place training, auditing and dispute resolution. Provide pro-active, positive, and balanced solutions for employers in the many areas of work place law. PAST PERFORMANCE Golden Gate America Representation in State and Federal law claims and other employment law matters. Implementation of work place policy and procedures. OPmax Support Services Handled litigation matters, investigations and auditing. Ruth s Chris Work place investigations. Urogyn Specialist of Florida - Consulting regarding employer/employee legal issues. Catalina Marketing Inquiry into employee claims. Johnson & Johnson Extensive legal services. COMPANY DATA Having worked at several national employment and labor law firms, including Fisher Phillips, LLP, Littler Mendelson, PC, and Jackson Lewis, LLP, the Burruezo s mission is to provide Big Firm expertise in a more intimate setting. Accept Credit Cards NAICS: ; ;

5 Carlos J. Burruezo Mediator & Arbitrator 941 Lake Baldwin Lane Suite 102 Orlando, FL main: (407) direct: (407) fax: (407) CAREER Carlos, a seasoned attorney in the labor & employment field, has been practicing law for nearly 28 years. His experience includes tenures at several national employment and labor law firms, having served as a partner at Jackson Lewis, LLP, a founding and Managing Partner of the Orlando Office of Fisher Phillips, LLP, and founding and Managing Shareholder of the Orlando Office of Littler Mendelson, P.C. Carlos also has experience handling complex commercial, business and general civil litigation matters before state and federal courts. After nearly 25 years of practice, Carlos decided to join his wife, Bertha, in providing pro-active, holistic, and balanced solutions for both employers and employees in the many areas of workplace law. Carlos and Bertha s mission is to provide big firm expertise in a more intimate setting. His practice areas include: SUBSTANTIVE LEGAL AREAS Race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, disability, marital status, veteran status and sexual orientation discrimination Sexual and other harassment Retaliation & Whistleblower Wage & Hour Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 Equal Pay Act of 1973 Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993 Florida Whistleblower Law Florida Unpaid Wages Law Trials before federal, state and administrative agencies Representing clients at Mediations & Arbitrations Serving as a Mediator or Arbitrator

6 MEDIATIONS & ARBITRATIONS Carlos professional experience is complemented with his role as a Circuit Civil Certified Mediator and Arbitrator. The combination of Carlos extensive knowledge of the law and thoughtful demeanor serve as a powerful tool in successfully resolving even the most complex issues in cases. TRAINING, WORKSHOPS & AUDITS Supervisor Training Business Practices Audits Employment Policies & Procedures TRIALS Carlos has tried a number of cases involving a variety of employment laws, including: Racial discrimination (Title VII & Florida Civil Rights Act) Color discrimination (Title VII) Religion discrimination (Title VII) National origin discrimination (Title VII) Age discrimination (Age Discrimination in Employment Act) Disability discrimination (Americans With Disabilities Act) Gender discrimination (Title VII & Florida Civil Rights Acts) Sexual harassment (Title VII) Retaliation (Title VII) Family & Medical Leave (Family & Medical Leave Act) Employee Benefits (Employee Retirement & Income Security Act) PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS Member, The Florida Bar, 1990-Present Member, Orange County Bar Association, 1990-Present Board Member, Aspire Health Partners, 2013-Present Board Member, The Center For Drug-Free Living, Inc., Board Chair, The Center For Drug-Free Living, Inc., Board Chair, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, 2007 Co-Chair, Hispanic Summit of Central Florida, 2007 Board Member, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, 2007 President, Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida,

7 PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION Named, America s Leading Business Lawyers, Chambers USA, 2003-Present Named, Best Lawyers in America, 2006-Present Named, Best Lawyers Orlando Magazine, 2004-Present Named, Superlawyer, 2011-Present Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Rating EDUCATION J.D., Cornell University Law School, 1989 B.S., University of Florida, 1986 BAR ADMISSIONS Florida COURTS U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida LANGUAGES Spanish

8 Bertha L. Burruezo, Esq. Attorney & Counselor at Law, Professional Life Coach main: (407) direct: (407) fax: (407) Employment Law Advice & Litigation Mediations & Arbitrations Workplace Investigations 941 Lake Baldwin Lane Suite 102 Orlando, FL CAREER After practicing insurance-defense law for several years, Bertha began focusing her practice in the area of workplace law. Bertha served as an Associate with the Orlando Office of Fisher & Phillips, LLP, a national law firm representing management exclusively in labor, employment, immigration and benefits law and related litigation. In 2007, after gaining experience in various areas of labor and employment law, Bertha opened her own law firm and now provides representation to both employers and employees. Bertha has owned and operated her own small businesses, and understands the challenges that business people encounter. Bertha has a unique ability to creatively resolve issues in a thoughtful and collaborative way. STRATEGIC INTERVENTION BUSINESS & EXECUTIVE COACHING Bertha, a Business & Executive Coach, is a student of Tony Robbins Strategic Intervention (SI) Coaching program. Throughout her law practice, Bertha has witnessed first hand how conflict and the emotions that feed conflict can oftentimes escalate to serve only one purpose: the destruction of the other side. While destruction of the other might create temporary satisfaction, long-term solutions demand other more positive, proactive strategies. Bertha s SI business clients demand goals that are dedicated to extracting the most practical and effective forms of strategic action and communication. As such, she is able to utilize SI tools that resolve individual, organizational and cultural paradoxes that would otherwise lead to internal conflict and blocked initiative. PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS Member, The Florida Bar, 2002-Present Member, Orange County Bar Association, 2002-Present Member, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, 2012 Member, Hispanic Chamber Leads Group, Member, Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, 2012-Present Bikram Yoga Aficionado

9 SUBSTANTIVE LEGAL AREAS Race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, disability, marital status, veteran status and sexual orientation discrimination Sexual and other harassment Retaliation & Whistleblower Wage & Hour Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 Equal Pay Act of 1973 Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993 Florida Whistleblower Law Florida Unpaid Wages Law TRAINING, WORKSHOPS & AUDITS Supervisor Training Business Practices Audits Employment Policies & Procedures EDUCATION J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 2002 M.Ed., Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, 1997 B.A., FLorida State University, 1996 BAR ADMISSIONS Florida

10 COURTS U.S. Supreme Court U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida LANGUAGES Spanish