William E. Grob

Shareholder | Tampa

Bill focuses his practice exclusively on labor and employment law representing management. He has served as lead trial counsel in cases in federal and state courts, and has extensive experience as lead counsel in a variety of labor and employment matters, including numerous collective actions, involving wage/hour and overtime litigation, race discrimination, disability discrimination, leave issues and harassment. Much of Bill’s practice involves representing professional sports teams and organizations, theme parks, entertainment venues and organizations, metropolitan transit organizations, staffing companies, manufacturers, healthcare companies, restaurants, and employee leasing companies. Bill also regularly enforces and defends non-compete covenants, litigates trade secret matters, including obtaining injunctions and TROs, and handles employment issues across the country. Bill serves as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Practice Group, coordinating efforts and resources with attorneys across the country to serve clients more effectively and efficiently. Bill has also been a featured speaker at numerous employment and education law-related seminars for managers and organizations throughout Florida and the Southeast.

Bill also enjoys serving the legal and local community. In 2018, Bill was asked to serve as one of the only out of state members of the Georgia State University College of Law Board of Visitors, and continues to serve in that capacity. Since 2019, Bill has served on the Advisory Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay, serving children in need of medical care throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Bill currently serves as Legislative Chair for the Board of Suncoast HR Management Association. Bill formerly served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Polk Theatre in Lakeland, was past Legislative Director for HR Tampa, and is the former Co-Chair of the Labor & Employment Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.

Bill is also a past recipient of the CareerSource Polk Workforce Champion Award — presented for improving the quality of workforce services in Central Florida. Bill has also been recognized for multiple workshops he and his team have presented to community business leaders on topics including wage and hour and overtime litigation, race and disability discrimination, leave issues, harassment issues and more.

Before graduating from high school, Bill worked with his father in the family business involving the sales and reconditioning of athletic equipment. After college, Bill worked in human resource management and business operations for approximately five years. During law school he served as a law clerk for the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals, and he worked in the labor and employment section of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Regional Office of General Counsel in Atlanta.

More About William E. Grob

Experience

Bill has served as lead trial counsel in employment litigation cases throughout the country, including recent cases in Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and other parts of the country. He recently appeared before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in an FMLA case on behalf of a national employer. Bill is also a Special Magistrate with the Complex Business Litigation Division of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsborough County, Florida.

January 2018 – Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a national healthcare staffing agency with regard to plaintiff’s claims of wrongful termination, constructive discharge, breach of contract, and intentional interference with plaintiff’s beneficial economic damage
May 2017 – Obtained opinion from Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming district court entry of order granting summary judgment to defendant finding that plaintiff did not demonstrate a genuine issue of fact as to whether (1) he engaged in protected activity under the ADEA or whether (2) defendant’s proffered legitimate reason for termination was pretextual
March 2017 – Obtained judgment on the pleadings on behalf of a staffing agency in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida with regard to damages claims on behalf of purported class members in contentious litigation against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
October 2016 – Obtained opinion from Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirming district court entry of order granting summary judgment on behalf of a luxury adventure sports retailer and event production company finding that defendant properly applied Fluctuating Workweek Method of overtime calculation in an FLSA collective action
January 2016 – Obtained voluntary dismissal of all state court claims of national origin discrimination on behalf of large national employee leasing company in the Marion County, Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
January 2016 – Obtained voluntary dismissal of collective action complaint alleging violations of the FLSA on behalf of large national employee leasing company in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
December 2015 – Obtained order awarding full summary judgment on behalf of mid-sized corporation on claims involving FLSA Fluctuating Workweek Payment Method in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
November 2015 – Obtained summary judgment in favor of large national healthcare corporation on plaintiff’s claims of FMLA interference and retaliation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
October 2015 – Obtained Florida First District Court of Appeal order affirming Circuit Court’s order of dismissal of plaintiff’s state court claims of race discrimination on behalf of Florida restaurant
September 2015 – Obtained voluntary dismissal by plaintiffs of class action complaint alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act on behalf of large theme park corporation in the U.S. District Court
July 2015 – Obtained full defense verdict on behalf of a large healthcare corporation on claims involving alleged gender discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation under Title VII and the ADEA in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
May 2015 – Obtained order awarding full summary judgment on plaintiffs’ claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation on behalf of large national corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
March 2015 – Obtained second award of sanctions of fees and costs jointly and severally against plaintiffs and their counsel for pursuing frivolous claims in arbitration and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
December 2014 – Obtained order of dismissal of plaintiff’s claims of race discrimination on behalf of a Florida restaurant in the Florida Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court
October 2014 – Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld district court award of sanctions jointly and severally against plaintiffs and their counsel for filing frivolous claims and obtained additional sanctions in the form of double costs on appeal related to the filing of a frivolous appeal
August 2014 – Obtained summary judgment in favor of large national healthcare corporation on plaintiff’s claims of FMLA interference and retaliation and the unusual claim of FMLA equitable estoppel in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
August 2014 – Obtained permanent injunction on behalf of large healthcare corporation under the Florida Uniform Trade Secrets Act, among other causes of action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
April 2014 – Obtained order awarding full summary judgment on behalf of a large corporation on claims involving the application of the FLSA administrative exemption
October 2013 – Obtained voluntary dismissal by plaintiff of all claims of FMLA interference and retaliation on behalf of large national healthcare company after the filing of defendant’s motion for summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
September 2013 – Obtained summary judgment in favor of large national healthcare company on all of plaintiff’s claims of FMLA interference and retaliation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
September 2013 – Obtained full defense verdict on behalf of a large corporation on claims involving alleged retaliation under Oregon state law
April 2013 – Obtained arbitration order awarding summary judgment to national client for all claims on allegations of discrimination, and awarding costs and attorneys’ fees against plaintiffs and their counsel for advancing frivolous claims
January 2013 – Obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of a large corporation under the Florida Trade Secrets Act, among other causes of action
2012 – Obtained summary judgment and appellate court order affirming dismissal of sexual harassment claim against national restaurant chain
August 2012 – Obtained agreed dismissal of 3 plaintiffs alleging race discrimination against national restaurant chain
2011 – Obtained dismissal of action and order affirming decision from the Nevada Supreme Court in whistleblower action on behalf of national healthcare employer in Nevada
November 2011 – Obtained defense verdict from federal jury stemming from claims by 2 plaintiffs alleging race discrimination under 42 U.S.C. Section 1981.
October 2011 – Obtained defense verdict from a federal jury in a case alleging retaliation under Title VII, Tennessee Human Rights Act, and Tennessee’s whistle-blower act
2011 – Obtained defense judgment in overtime case involving national healthcare provider under the companionship exemption to the FLSA

Education & Admission

Professional Activities

Speeches

Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Nature or Nurture: Managing Generational Changes in the C-Suite” – Washington, D.C. – May 2, 2024
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2023: Managing the Multigenerational Workforce” – June 5, 2023
Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Many Generations Under One Roof: Managing the Multigenerational Workforce” – San Diego – May 11, 2023
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 7: Intermittent FMLA Leave in Perpetuity? Latest DOL Opinion Letter Sheds Light on Accommodations” – February 17, 2023
ACC Summer Symposium – “Generational Diversity for Leaders” – August 12, 2022
Florida Public Human Resources Association 86th Annual Conference – “Legal Update” – August 1, 2022
Florida Public Human Resources Association 86th Annual Conference – “Generational Diversity for Leaders” – July 31, 2022
Palm Beach County SHRM 2022 Conference – “Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio….Wait! Who’s Joe Dimaggio? – Managing and Retaining a Generationally Diverse Workforce” – May 26, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler: Exploring Mental Health in the Workplace” – May 20, 2022
CEO Council of Tampa Bay, Insight Session – “Key Legal Issues in a Changing Workplace Environment” – April 26, 2022
2022 SuncoastHR Annual Conference – “Employment Law Update” – April 13, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 6: Florida’s Stop WOKE Bill on Race and Identity and What It Means for Corporate Training Programs” – April 6, 2022
Association of Corporate Counsel – “Preserving Mental Health in a Changing Environment” – March 24, 2022
Sponsler, Hammer & Johnson, P.A. – “The Annual Workers’ Compensation Insurance Defense & Employment Law Seminar– Legislative Update” – March 4, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 5: Breaking Down Florida’s Employer Vaccine Mandate Restriction” – November 22, 2021
CareerSource Polk – “Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace” – November 18, 2021
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “All I Need to Know About Ethics I Learned in Kindergarten” – Amelia Island – November 13, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 4: OSHA’s New Emergency Temporary Standard” – November 6, 2021
HR Tampa Annual Conference – “Legislative Update” – October 29, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 3: What to Expect From OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard on Mandatory Vaccinations” – September 15, 2021
Workforce Professional Development Summit 2021 – “Mental Health Challenges in a Changing Workplace Environment” – September 15, 2021
Workforce Professional Development Summit 2021 – “Workplace Investigations: How Would Sherlock Holmes Deal With a Pandemic” – September 15, 2021
Workforce Professional Development Summit 2021 – “How to Build (and Sustain!) an Inclusive, Engaged, and Productive Remote Work Team” – September 14, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 2: Restrictive Covenants” – September 9, 2021
Suncoast HR Conference – “Employment Law Update” – September 8, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 1: Lessons From the Cuomo Report” – August 12, 2021
Association of Corporate Counsel Webinar (panelist) – “Remote Work, Returning to the Workplace, and Vaccines: What Employers Need to Know” – May 26, 2021
Tropical Benefits HR Impact Brunch – “COVID Concerns: The Employment Litigation Tsunami” – Tampa – May 21, 2021
Tropical Benefits HR Impact Brunch – “FMLA and ADA – As If Covid Wasn’t Enough” – Tampa – May 21, 2021
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Ethical Implications for In-House Counsel in a Remote World” – November 12, 2020
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Reopening Florida: An Update for Florida Employers” – May 15, 2020
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Game On: Gambling in the Workplace” – February 4, 2020
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “If You “Leave: Me Now: Auditing Accommodation and Leave Policies and Practices” – New Orleans – November 14-15, 2019
Managing a Workforce in 2020 – “Test Your Knowledge” – Tampa – October 2, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Zoinks! Generation Z Joins the Workplace in Numbers” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Wearing Two Hats? Navigating the Dual-Hat Dilemma” – La Quinta – November 9, 2018
Tropical Risk Management – “Employment Law Update” – St. Petersburg – August 9, 2018
Florida Public Human Resources Association – “Employment Law Update” – Fort Lauderdale – July 23, 2018
Florida Public Human Resources Association – “FLSA 101” – Fort Lauderdale – July 22, 2018
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Employment Law Challenge” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
HR Florida 2017 State Conference & Expo – “Employment Jeopardy” – Orlando – August 29, 2017
HR Florida 2017 State Conference & Expo – “Top 10 Ways to Avoid Litigation” – Orlando – August 28, 2017
Florida Public Human Resources Association – “Legal Update” – Orlando – July 31, 2017
Florida Public Human Resources Association – “Basic Levels of FLSA” – Orlando – July 30, 2017
Digital Risk – “Mock Trial” – Maitland – July 10, 2017
Corban OneSource Webinar – “Wage and Hour Traps & How to Avoid Lawsuits” – May 23, 2017
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Invisible Workforce: Managing Leave Entitlements to Get Employees Back to Work (or on Their Way)” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
HR Tampa – “What We Can Expect After The Election” – Tampa – April 19, 2017
Careersource Pinellas Business Seminar Series – “How to Become a Super Sleuth: Preparing for and Conducting Internal Investigations” – Clearwater – March 15, 2017
Career Source Polk 2016-2017 Roundtable – “Mock Trial” – Lakeland – March 8, 2017
Sponsler, Bishop – Annual Workers’ Compensation Insurance Defense & Employment Law Seminar – “Election Update: What Employers Can Expect in 2017” – Tampa – March 3, 2017
Career Source Polk 2017 State of the Workforce Summit – “Election Update: What Employers Can Expect in 2017” – Lakeland – January 26, 2017
CareerSource Pinellas – “Transgender Issues in the Spotlight in 2016” – Clearwater – November 9, 2016
HR Tampa Expo – “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Maintaining Immigration Compliance while avoiding the Discrimination Claim” – Tampa – October 19, 2016
HR Tampa Expo – “The Department of Labor’s Final Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – Tampa – October 19, 2016
South Florida IPMA-HR Quarterly Chapter Meeting – “The Department of Labor’s Final Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – West Palm Beach – September 13, 2016
West Central Florida Healthcare Human Resources Association – “Everything I Learned About Employment Law, I Learned at the Movies” – Tampa – September 9, 2016
80th Annual Conference of Florida Public Human Resources Association – “Evaluating Employee Performance without Creating Legal Liability” – Naples – July 27, 2016
80th Annual Conference of Florida Public Human Resources Association – “Legal Update” – Naples – July 25, 2016
Suncoast HR – “The Department of Labor’s Final Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – Clearwater – July 13, 2016
25th Annual Lake Sumter SHRM Conference – “Everything I Learned about Employment Law, I Learned at the Movies” – Wildwood – May 18, 2016
LassiterWare Webinar – “Legislative Update: DOL’s Proposed Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – April 27, 2016
Suncoast HR – 2016 On The Cutting Edge – “Consequences of a poorly executed employee termination” – St. Petersburg – April 21, 2016
ACC 2016 Corporate Counsel Spring Symposium – “FLSA: The New Regulations and What You Can Do Now” – Streamsong – April 15, 2016
Sponsler, Bishop, Koren & Hammer, PA — Annual Workers’ Compensation and Employment Law Seminar – “Legislative Update 2016” – Tampa – March 11, 2016
CareerSource Tampa Bay – Business Seminar Series – “Hottest Topics Affecting Employers – Freddy Kruger and the DOL” – Tampa – March 10, 2016
CareerSource Polk – Employer Roundtable Seminars – “I am Cait… Wait, WHAT? – Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask About Transgender Issues” – Lakeland – March 9, 2016
Lake Sumter SHRM Meeting – “DOL’s Proposed Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – Leesburg – February 24, 2016
2016 State of the Workforce Summit – “DOL Proposed Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – Lakeland – January 21, 2016
Nature Coast HR Society – “DOL Proposed Revisions to Overtime Regulations” – Tampa – January 14, 2016
Ogletree Deakins Corporate Counsel Exclusive – “Anti-Poaching Agreements – A Growing Trend in Unfair Competition Law” – Phoenix – November 13, 2015
Mid-Florida SHRM Supervisor Conference – “Documentation & Discipline – What’s Necessary for an Employer’s Protection” – Bartow – October 23, 2015
HR Tampa Annual Conference – “Legislative Update 2015” – Tampa – October 21, 2015
Managing A Workforce in 2016 – “C-Ya, C-Suite: Dealing with Troublesome Executives” – Tampa – October 15, 2015
Managing A Workforce in 2016 – “Everything I Needed to Know About Ethics in the Workplace I Learned at the Movies” – Tampa – October 15, 2015
MFSHRM – “Performing Effective Investigations – Who’s Protected From What?” – Lakeland – August 8, 2013
Mock Trial – “FMLA Interference Case” – St. Augustine – July 29, 2013
FPHRA Annual Conference – “How to Avoid Big Brother’s Unblinking Stare – What To Watch Out For in This Administration’s Employee Protection Agenda” – St. Augustine – July 28, 2013
Florida Public Human Resources Association’s Central Regional Conference – “Employment Law” – Lakeland – October 25, 2012
2012 FPHRA – “Top 10 Things to Consider to Keep Employers Out of Hot Water with Your Employees” – Naples – July 27 – 29, 2012
2012 SHRMA – “Discrimination and Accommodation Under Title VII and the ADA – a Whole New Playing Field for Employers” – St. Petersburg – July 26, 2012
2012 SHRMA – “On the Cutting Edge Seminar” – St. Petersburg – April 5, 2012
Orlando SHRMA – “Top 10 Ways to Keep Employers Out of Hot Water” – Orlando – March 20, 2012
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Non-Compete Enforcement” – Tampa – October 12, 2011
Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Oops! Did I Really Say That? Preparing Effective Workplace Documentation” – Tampa – October 12, 2011
75th Annual FPPA Conference (Florida Public Personnel Association) – “Case Law Update: Legal Issues Surrounding Social Networking – Employer vs. Employee” – Fort Lauderdale – July 25, 2011
75th Annual FPPA Conference (Florida Public Personnel Association) – “Get your Twittering Facebook out of Myspace: What Employers Can Do to Limit Inappropriate Conduct via the Internet” – Fort Lauderdale – July 24, 2011
National Association of African Americans in Human Resources’ Monthly Meeting – “Fair Labor Standards Act: A Workers Paradise” – Tampa – July 21, 2011
2011 Employment Law Program (ACC West Central Florida Chapter) – “FLSA Update” – Tampa – April 14, 2011
2010 FPPA Southeast Regional Conference (Florida Public Personnel Association) – “Social Networking” – Jupiter – October 27, 2010
2010 Employment Law Program for ACC West Central Florida – “The Itch That Will Not Go Away: Current Litigation Trends in FLSA Actions” – Tampa – April 22, 2010
State of the Workforce Summit 2010 – “Hiring The Right Employees While Avoiding Legal Landmines” – Lakeland – January 28, 2010
State of the Workforce Summit 2010 (Mid-Florida Chapter of SHRM) – “Legal Aspects Of A Layoff” – Lakeland – January 28, 2010