The Jackson Lewis law firm established its office in Jacksonville in 2008. It has grown from two attorneys to 10 in offices at 501 Riverside Ave.
Each of the firm’s 55 offices in the U.S. and Puerto Rico has a specific practice, and in Jacksonville, it’s labor and employment law.
“We specialize in wage and hour and noncompetes. The firm’s top expert in noncompetes, Colin Thakkar, is in our office,” said Managing Principal Richard Margulies.
The local office has been adding to its attorney staff with diversity in mind.
Associate attorney Jennifer Shoaf Richardson joined the firm three years ago and is one of three women lawyers in the office.
“A lot of our clients are in health care, hospitality, retail and finance — the gender-equal industries. For us, it’s a strategic business advantage. It helps to have a diverse team on the matter,” said Richardson, who is president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and immediate past president of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.
Margulies said when the firm decides to add a Bar member, a diverse pool of qualified attorneys is considered.
“We deal with businesses that are, by and large, inclusive and that embrace diversity initiatives. We do it not just because it’s good business, but because it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Gender equality is part of the firm’s career advancement policy as well. Richardson said about one-third of the equity partners are women.
“We do really well where it counts,” she said.
“Within the past 10 years, we’ve made a push to be ahead of the curve. That’s not only in response to requests from our clients, but also requests from our attorneys,” Margulies said.
Almost all the attorneys in the office are parents, so balancing long hours and travel with family life is a factor the firm takes into account. Every three years, all of the firm’s more than 900 attorneys, and their spouses and children, gather in Southern California for a three-day retreat.
“It started as a picnic and now we take over two resort properties in San Diego,” Margulies said.