Practice Area 01 / 04
Employment & Workplace ADR
Wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, wage disputes, and non-compete agreements. The workplace is where most people encounter dispute resolution — matters demand both legal precision and human calibration.
Why Employment ADR
Workplace disputes resolved with care and expertise.
Employment disputes are personal — they affect livelihoods, reputations, and careers. Leslie brings three decades of experience in labor and employment law, having represented both employees and employers across a wide range of workplace matters.
She has litigated wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and wage-and-hour cases in federal and state courts — and appeared regularly before the EEOC, DOL, and state human rights agencies. That substantive grounding informs every mediation and arbitration she conducts.
Most employment disputes settle — when the process is handled well. Leslie's approach helps parties test their positions in a confidential setting, surface the real barriers to resolution, and construct settlements that preserve dignity and fairness on both sides.
Employment Matters Handled
A focused practice across eight core categories.
Title VII Claims
Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Includes hostile work environment, disparate treatment, and pattern-or-practice claims.
ADA Accommodations
Reasonable accommodation disputes, disability discrimination, interactive process failures, and undue-hardship defenses under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
FMLA Disputes
Family and Medical Leave Act claims — interference, retaliation, certification disputes, and intermittent leave matters.
Retaliation
Whistleblower protection, anti-retaliation claims under Title VII, ADA, FMLA, and other employment statutes.
Wage & Hour
FLSA collective actions, misclassification (exempt vs. non-exempt), overtime disputes, unpaid wages, and tip-pooling claims.
Non-Compete Disputes
Restrictive covenant enforcement, trade-secret claims, non-solicitation agreements, and employee mobility disputes.
Wrongful Termination
Constructive discharge, breach of implied contract, public policy violations, and at-will employment disputes.
Severance Negotiation
Executive separation agreements, release of claims, non-disparagement clauses, and negotiated exits.
Leslie's Approach
"Employment law is where legal rules meet human realities. Good mediation helps parties see both — and construct outcomes that work in the real world, not just on paper."
— Leslie W. Langbein
Leslie is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by The Florida Bar — a credential held by fewer than 2% of Florida attorneys. She has served as Chair of the Florida Bar's Labor & Employment Law Section and remains an active member of the Section's Executive Council.
Her experience spans both sides of the table: she has represented employees, employers, municipalities, and universities. That breadth of perspective — combined with nearly three decades as a neutral — informs every matter she handles.
How It Works
From intake to resolution — typically within weeks.
Confidential Intake
Initial call to understand the matter, the parties, and the preferred process (mediation, arbitration, or early neutral evaluation).
Pre-Session Preparation
Position statements or briefs submitted by each side. Leslie reviews all materials and identifies key issues before the session.
Mediation or Arbitration Session
Structured conversation (mediation) or evidentiary hearing (arbitration) — tailored to the complexity and needs of the matter.
Resolution & Memorialization
Settlement agreement drafted and signed (mediation) or written award issued (arbitration) — same day whenever possible.