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Phillip B. Russell

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Workplace Safety and Health, Leaves of Absence/Reasonable Accommodation, Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets, Traditional Labor Relations, Employment Law, Litigation, Trial, Workplace Investigations and Organizational Assessments, Drug Testing
Construction Law, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Trucking and Logistics

Phillip Russell is Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Florida Bar. He is a practical labor and employment lawyer who represents businesses in a wide range of labor and employment law matters, including workplace safety and health (OSHA), traditional labor relations (staying union-free), unfair competition and trade secrets litigation, employment litigation defense, and advising and counseling employers on workplace legal compliance issues.  Phillip represents clients in the construction, staffing, technology, manufacturing, banking, and other industries.  He is also a nationally recognized speaker and author on labor and employment law issues.

Phillip’s first job was bagging groceries and stocking shelves in his family’s grocery store. As a teenager, he learned the value of hard work and business. His grandfather took him to business meetings and Phillip saw first-hand the challenges of managing a business and employees. But he also saw the true value in positive employee relations. Now, Phillip represents and protects each of his clients, large or small, as if they were his family’s grocery business – with enthusiasm, dedication, and a strong belief that lawsuits, government investigations, and unions are not good for business or employees.

In 2015, Phillip celebrated his 20th year of practicing law. He is a peer-review AV-Preeminent® Rated Attorney (by Martindale-Hubbell), rated among the top 5% of lawyers by Florida Super Lawyers (Thompson Reuters), and is listed in Best Lawyers® by U.S. News and World Report. He earned his law degree from Stetson University and has B.S. Management and M.S. Economics degrees from Georgia Tech.

Phillip is a Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech who bleeds White and Gold! He is also an avid spear gun hunter and SCUBA diver who enjoys any time on or under the Gulf of Mexico or any place he can dive. Phillip loves living Floridays in the sunshine and saltwater where he boats, fishes, and plays. He is a CrossFit athlete who enjoys adventure and obstacle course races despite the constant nagging of middle-aged muscles and joints. Phillip is a ridiculous Parrothead who is only growing older, but not up!

Workplace Safety and Health, Leaves of Absence/Reasonable Accommodation, Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets, Traditional Labor Relations, Employment Law, Litigation, Trial, Workplace Investigations and Organizational Assessments, Drug Testing
Construction Law, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Trucking and Logistics
Learn more about Phillip B. Russell

Through 20 years of practice, Phillip has developed extensive experience across a broad range of labor and employment law matters representing businesses in many industries.  He has become a trusted advisor to large and small clients that need comprehensive practical solutions to workplace legal needs.

Workplace Safety and Health (OSHA and State Agency Investigations)

Phillip has extensive experience representing construction companies and contractors and other employers in handling OSHA fatality, catastrophic, and other injury or illness investigations. Some recent cases include fatalities or catastrophic injuries involving falls, trenches, confined spaces, electrocutions, elevator shafts, heavy construction equipment rollovers, and heavy equipment failures. In most cases, OSHA or the state agency decided not to issue citations or issued citations with substantially lower penalties or citations than initially expected.

Traditional Labor Relations (Staying Union-free)

Phillip helps clients stay union-free through election campaigns, advice and counseling, and supervisor and manager training. He has helped clients win multiple hard-fought union representation campaigns and elections in the nursing home / assisted living, poultry processing, retail, and manufacturing industries.

Congressional Testimony (Oct. 12, 2011) – By special invitation, Phillip testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and The Workforce in support of the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, H.R. 3094 (introduced by Rep. John Kline, R-MN), which would roll back the NLRB’s Specialty Healthcare decision (allowing micro-unions) and its proposed rule-making on election procedures (allowing quickie elections). Mr. Russell testified that the WDFA would protect employees’ rights to vote on unionization and to obtain adequate information before voting.

Litigation – Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets (Protecting Clients’ Business Investments)

Phillip helps businesses protect investments in their people, trade secrets, and confidential information through employment agreements and litigation. He has obtained multiple injunctions enforcing non-solicitation, non-disclosure, and non-compete restrictive covenants in former key employees’ employment agreements, including obtaining an injunction for a national technology company against its top competitor and a group of former sales executives and an injunction for a national staffing company against a former employee and her new employer.

Litigation – Employment Law (Defending Businesses)

Phillip has defended hundreds of lawsuits filed by former or current employees, including federal and state court lawsuits claiming discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to pay minimum wage or overtime compensation, and violations of the FMLA or other leave laws. He has obtained summary judgment for clients in numerous cases had several cases go to bench or jury trials.

Advice and Counseling – Employment Law (Protecting Businesses)

Phillip helps clients protect their businesses through pro-active preventive maintenance advice and counseling. To help them address workplace legal and human resources issues when they arise, he provides advice and counseling through an annual flat-rate Hotline service. Phillip strongly believes in the extensive benefits of training supervisors and managers in understanding their legal roles and responsibilities. He also reviews and revises employee handbooks, policies, and agreements. To help clients best protect their businesses, he also provides audit services to check for compliance issues with policies and practices.

Education

Admittance to Practice

Professional Activities

  • HR Florida State Council (Outside Counsel)
  • Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) – West Central Florida Chapter
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and numerous SHRM Chapters, including HR Tampa, Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association (SHRA), Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management (BBSHRM), Keys SHRM, Lake Sumter SHRM, HR Association of Broward County (HRABC), and others
  • Florida Transportation Builders Association (Labor & Employment Counsel; Safety Committee Member)
  • Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), Florida West Coast Chapter (Outside Counsel)
  • IEC National, and numerous IEC Chapters nationwide, including the Florida West Coast, Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin chapters
  • American Bar Association (Labor & Employment and Litigation Sections)
  • Florida Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section’s Workplace Health and Safety Committee)
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section Co-Chair, 2008-2009)
  • Georgia Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section)
  • Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc., Board Member (Governor Appointed) (May 2016-present)

Speeches

Insights by Phillip B. Russell

Construction workers wearing orange vests and hardhats.

World Cup Heat a Reminder for Employers on Heat-Related Illness

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicked off on November 20, 2022, in a special late fall edition of the quadrennial tournament—highlighting the dangers of high-heat work environments. Typically held in June and July, the 2022 World Cup is being held in November and December this time to avoid the high summer temperatures in the Persian Gulf country—which average more than 100°F during the summer months—that can make it dangerous or difficult for players.

Hardhats hung up in line.

OSHA Seeks to Clarify the “P” in PPE, Issues NPRM on ‘Fit’ for Construction Workers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is moving forward with plans to update its standards to “clarify the requirements for the fit” of personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be provided to construction workers. On September 7, 2022, OSHA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)—a final step before publishing the proposed rule for comment.

Construction workers wearing orange vests and hardhats.

When Is ‘Too Hot’ Actually Too Hot to Work? OSHA Cites Contractor After Florida Farm Worker Fatality

On August 12, 20222, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a citation to a farm labor contractor alleging violations for exposing workers to high ambient outdoor heat following the death of a worker on a strawberry farm in Florida. The citation serves as warning for employers, particularly those in warm climates, of OSHA’s enforcement approach following the April 2022 launch of the agency’s new three-year national emphasis program (NEP) on indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards, particularly with regard to how working in the sunlight can create hazardous conditions.

Florida State Flag

Florida Issues Emergency Rules Implementing New COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Laws

On December 3, 2021, the Florida Department of Legal Affairs of the state attorney general’s office issued an emergency rule establishing the procedure for private employer vaccination mandate complaints under section 381.00317(3) and (4), Florida Statutes. The rule sets forth the complaint procedure, beginning with providing further clarification regarding key terms in the statute. The department also published a list of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) that provides further information for employers.

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