Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL – Three labor and employment lawyers from the law firm of Coffman, Coleman, Andrews & Grogran have joined the law firm of Fowler White Boggs Banker in its Jacksonville office. Robert G. Riegel, Jr., Jeffrey P. Watson and Melissa A. Dearing have joined the Firm as shareholders.
According to Tom Dearing, managing shareholder of Fowler White’s Jacksonville office, “The addition of this group is another significant step in the firm’s implementation of our strategic growth plan. We are truly excited about the depth and breadth Bob, Jeff and Melissa will add to our office and to our firm’s labor, employment and immigration practices. To have such a talented and experienced group of lawyers join our Jacksonville office raises the bar for our practice and our office.”
Robert G. Riegel, Jr. is a litigator with over 26 years of experience specializing in employment and labor law and litigation, including representation of employers in diverse businesses and industries, non-profit organizations and smaller enterprises. He is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in labor and employment law, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Florida’s Super Lawyers publications, and is AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Riegel received his B.A. from Stetson University and his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law cum laude.
Jeffrey P. Watson is a litigator focusing in employment and labor law and litigation, including representation of employers in diverse businesses and industries. In his practice, he has emphasized and has extensive experience in trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation in state and federal courts, representing several companies in such matters on a nationwide basis. Mr. Watson, a past president of the Federal Bar Association, Jacksonville Chapter, received his B.A. from Stetson University, an M.B.A. from Jacksonville University, and his J.D. cum laude from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University. He is AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Melissa A. Dearing practices in the area of immigration and employment law. She joins the firm’s International and Immigration Practice Group. Ms. Dearing’s immigration practice includes representation of employers and foreign nationals with regard to business immigration matters. Ms. Dearing received her B.A., With Honors, from the University of Florida, and her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law, With Honors.
Mr. Riegel commented, “We decided to join Fowler White because we saw that the needs of our clients were changing. At Fowler White, we can offer them an expanded scope of legal services as well as greater depth and reach throughout Florida and beyond. As our clients’ needs grow in the much more demanding marketplace that all businesses now face, we want to be responsive to those needs and provide them with this wider range of legal services. Fowler White presented us with an excellent opportunity to join a firm with a preeminent state wide reputation and to continue our emphasis on labor and employment law, litigation, and immigration matters.”
Fowler White Boggs Banker is one of Florida’s oldest and largest law firms with more than 210 attorneys in eight offices throughout Florida in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. Myers, Tallahassee, Orlando, Naples, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.fowlerwhite.com.
