HomeMy WebLinkAboutResume - Joe Kaplan
Joe Kaplan, Esq.
Mediator
RESUME
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
. Vice President-General Counsel, abe distributing, Inc. (a substantial catalog and internet
company in North Miami and Hialeah with over 2000 employees), for nine years. Handled
vendor contract work, internet law, employment law, intellectual property and product safety
issues. Provided advice to stockholders and corporate officers. Negotiated and drafted contracts
and other documents including those involving issues of vendor disputes and corporate
governance. Litigated in Courts of Florida and other States and in Federal and State Agencies.
. Private law practice prior to 1997. Represented Unions, employees and Pension Trusts in the
public and private sectors. Pioneered in the public sector the handling of employment and
organizational affairs of Police Officers, Firefighters, Postal Workers, and County, School Board
and City general employees. Handled Florida-wide labor and employment law at every level of
the private sector, including Building Trades organizations, Hotel and Restaurant employees, and
Stage and Theatrical employees. Representation covered every aspect of labor and employment
law, including contract negotiations, labor-management disputes, and arbitration, mediation,
agency work and litigation. Created and administered the legal affairs of ERISA Trust Funds.
. Represented Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers in organizlng and litigating in Florida
and handling unfair labor practices in California.
. Litigator: Federal and State Courts, NLRB, PERC, and EEOC; and before Arbitrators, Special
Masters, Hearing Officers and Workers Compensation Judges.
EDUCATION AND COURT ADMISSIONS
. ].0., University of Miami.
. Admitted to practice law, Florida and lninois, and United States Supreme Court, U.S. Court of
Appeals, 11th Circuit, Trial Bar US District Court, Southern District of Florida.
MEDIATOR CERTIFICATION
. Supreme Court of florida Certified Circuit Civil 'vIedlator. Mediation Specialization: labor and
employment law; public and private labor-management disputes; public and private pension
work; general litigation; \vorkers compensation: and corporate governance and internal and
external disputes.
AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS, MILITARY SERVICE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
. Elected Fellow, College or Labor and Employment Lawyers.
. Cenified by The Florida Bar as a Specialist II1 Labor and Employment Law
. Received citation from Florida Mediation and Conciliation Service 1'01' meritorious service in
the field of labor-management relations.
. A Founding Orficer, Friends or 440, a workers compensation advocacy group. Was one of its
honorees.
. \lartindale-llubbell, AV Rated
. Trustee on the City 01 \liami Police Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement Tntst Fund.
. Appoimed Special 'vlaster, City of \11ami Beach.
. Adjunct Pro lessor, School 01 \lanagemem ancl Orgamzational Sciences, Florida International
University.
. Dade County Waler and Sewer Board member.
. Committee member and conference speaker at International Foundation or Employee Benefit
funds.
. Spedal Agent. U.S. Air force Olliee of Speciallnvesligations iO.S.I.).
. \1iami Beach Police Depanmem, Reserw Police Orncer.
. Security Commuter Chairman, the Palm, l Iibiscus and Star Island Association.
112 East F,rst Court, Hibiscus island, MiamI Beach, Fl. 33139
Mobile: (305) 790-3077 . Phone: (05) 531-7254' Fax (305) 53]-7740
J Kaplan@Atlanticbb.net
--