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Barron F. Dickinson

Barron F. Dickinson

Senior Counsel

t: 904.345.3292
e: barron.dickinson@adblegal.com

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About Barron

Barron represents public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law across a wide range of industries, including law enforcement, public safety, healthcare, agriculture, higher education, construction, retail, real estate, transportation, hospitality, and industrial sectors. His practice primarily focuses on representing employers in all phases of labor and employment litigation, as well as in non-litigation matters, including advice, counseling, training, and recommendations regarding the effective management of an employer’s workforce and operations.

He regularly appears on behalf of clients in state and federal court and before federal, state, and local administrative agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Florida Commission on Human Relations, Florida Public Employee Relations Commission, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Administrative Law Judges and Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Florida Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, Florida Commission on Ethics, and Jacksonville Human Rights Commission.

Barron is also an accomplished speaker and has given presentations to the Florida Public Employer Relations Association, the Florida Public Human Resources Association, the Florida Sheriffs’ Association, and the Northeast Florida Builders Association.

Barron was born and raised in Tequesta, Florida, and is the son of former PGA Tour and LPGA Tour professionals, Gardner and Judy Dickinson.

Practice Areas

Traditional Labor Relations Representation & Counseling

Represents and provides counseling to employers regarding traditional labor relations matters arising under state and federal law including unfair labor practices, bargaining unit representation petitions, union organizing campaigns, union elections, collective bargaining negotiations, special magistrate hearings, impasse hearings, disciplinary/termination hearings and actions, grievances, and arbitrations.

Employment Litigation

Successfully defended employers before federal, state, and local courts and administrative agencies regarding equal employment opportunity charges and claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, unpaid/overtime wages, wrongful termination, breach of contract, defamation, tortious interference, whistleblower retaliation, fraud, negligence, denial of leave/benefits, violations of constitutional rights, veterans’ preference, equal pay, mandamus, etc., brought under Title VI, Title VII, ADA, FLSA, ADEA, FWA, FCRA, Rehab. Act, §§ 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, FMLA, OSHA, USERRA, ERISA, EPA, U.S./Florida Constitution, Florida’s Workers’ Comp. Act, RAPL, Public Records Act, etc.

Represents employers in reemployment assistance benefits (unemployment) claims and appeals before administrative agencies.

Appellate Litigation

Extensive appellate advocacy and litigation experience handling appeals and original proceedings before state and federal appeals courts in and outside of Florida.

Obtained favorable decisions before Florida’s First, Second, and Fifth District Courts of Appeal and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Internal Workplace Investigations & Audits

Conducts workplace investigations on behalf of public and private-sector employers in both unionized and non-unionized settings regarding suspected violations of policies, procedures, and rules and allegations of misconduct, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment.

Performs compliance audits of employers’ handbooks, policies, and procedures for compliance with federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

Governmental Agency Inquiries & Audits

Represents and provides counseling to employers regarding investigations and audits conducted by federal, state, and local government agencies, including but limited to, inquiries relating to Forms I-9, wage and hour, equal employment opportunities and laws, and workplace safety.

Employment Counseling & Training

Conducts managerial and non-supervisory employee training sessions on behalf of employers covering a diverse range of topics.

Counsels employers regarding virtually every aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including but not limited to, hiring, compensation, fringe benefits, performance evaluations, promotional opportunities, discipline, terminations, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Assists employers of all sizes across multiple industries and jurisdictions with the development and improvement of policies, procedures, and standards that comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Works closely with employers to identify, develop, and implement risk mitigation strategies and best practices.

Contract Drafting & Litigation

Extensive experience in drafting contractual agreements for public and private sector employers involving issues pertaining to single/joint employment, performance improvement plans, last chance, separation, severance, independent contractors, subcontracting, staffing, provision and performance of services and goods, and restrictive covenants such as non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disparagement, trade secrets, and confidentiality.

Represents employers in federal and state court in litigation relating to breach of contract, enforcement of contractual obligations and restrictive covenants, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, wage garnishment, and reimbursement of professional and educational expenses.

Immigration Litigation & Counseling

Counsels employers regarding compliance with federal and state immigration laws and regulations, including the INA, IRCA, MSPA, WPA, and the H-2A program.

Represents agricultural employers/associations in appeals of adverse agency actions before federal administrative agencies, including denials of temporary labor certification applications, alleged violations of the H-2A’s governing regulations, assessments of civil monetary penalties, and H-2A program debarment.

Educational Institution Counseling & Litigation Represents and provides counseling to district school boards and institutions of higher education with respect to compliance, litigation, and non-litigation matters arising under federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to, issues relating to faculty and tenure, student privacy, trespass, academic freedom, free speech, due process, recordkeeping, Title IX, outside activities, equal protection, taxation, reductions in force, operational reorganization, subcontracting, disciplinary actions, and terminations.

Previous Experience

Prior to joining ADB, Barron spent six and half years with Allen Norton & Blue representing the management interests of state, national, and international employers in the public and private sectors regarding a diverse range of labor and employment law matters. While obtaining his law degree from FSU’s College of Law, Barron spent over two years clerking for Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley and was trusted with assisting with personal injury litigation cases involving complex and unique issues ranging from cyber-defamation to adulterated pharmaceutical manufacturing/products liability. During his clerkship, Barron was mentored by Dr. Pablo Perhacs, JD Ph.D who imparted to Barron his expertise as both a scientist and lawyer in matters pertaining to molecular biology, biophysics, and biotechnology.

Before practicing law, Barron also gained valuable experience while interning with the PGA Tour in its Tournament Business Affairs department and the WGC-Cadillac Championship. 

Honors & Distinctions

  • Selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2022 and 2023 in the area of Labor & Employment law.
  • Order of the Coif (Top 10% of graduating law school class)
  • First Place – ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Law Student Writing Competition (2016)
  • Finalist – ABA Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest (2016)
  • Selected Scholar of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar (2015)

Memberships

  • Labor & Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar
  • National Association for College & University Attorneys
  • Jacksonville Bar Association

Admissions

  • The Florida Bar
  • The District of Columbia Bar
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Publications

  • Cracking the Medicare Secondary Payer Act Enigma Code, 53 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. 3 (2017).
  • Non-Lawyer Ownership of Law Firms in Florida: Issues with Corporate Governance, 15 Fla. St. Bus. L. Rev. 99 (2017).
  • Case Notes, The Checkoff, The Florida Bar Labor & Employment Law Section, Vol. LVII, No. 1 (Aug. 2017).
  • NLRB Issues New Rule Regarding the Definition of Joint Employers, Daily Business Review (Apr. 22, 2020).
  • Addressing Pandemic-Related Cyberattacks and the Legal Implications for Employers, Daily Business Review, Vol. 95, No. 251 (Jun. 17, 2021).
  • Cyberattacks Surge During the Pandemic and So Does the Potential for Liability, The Checkoff, The Florida Bar Labor & Employment Law Section, Vol. LXI, No. 1 (Sept. 2021).
  • Fla. Legislature’s Passage of Stop W.O.K.E. Act Expands Potential Civil Liability for Employers, Daily Business Review (Mar. 23, 2022).
  • Reintroduced Legislation Expected to Reignite National Debate on Project Labor and Union Security Agreements in Right-to-Work States, Employment Practices Liability Consultant Journal (Apr. 4, 2023).

Speaking Engagements

  • Legal Aspects of Higher Education, Gulf Coast State College Leadership Institute Seminar (Mar. 8, 2019).
  • Cybersecurity, Cyberattacks, & The Legal Implications For Employers, ANB Webinar (Jul. 8, 2021).
  • Recent Trends in Public Sector Collective Bargaining, Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association, 47th Annual Conference (Feb. 9, 2022).
  • Recent Trends in Public Sector Labor Relations, Florida Public Human Resources Association Webinar (Jan. 11, 2023).
  • Navigating the Current Landscape of Collective Bargaining Negotiations in Florida, Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association, 48th Annual Conference (Feb. 8, 2023).
  • Employer Guidance for Navigating the Sea Change in Florida Immigration Laws, Northeast Florida Builders Association, Immigration Law Luncheon (Aug. 23, 2023).

Education

  • Florida State University College of Law, J.D., Magna Cum Laude
  • Florida State University, B.A., Finance/English Literature

Community Involvement

  • Jewish Community Alliance
  • JBA YLS Charity Golf Tournament Committee

Outside of the Office

Outside of the office, Barron enjoys playing golf, traveling, attending FSU sporting events, spending time with family and friends, and caddying for his mom, Judy, in professional golf tournaments and outings, including the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Golf Championship and the Legends of the LPGA. He resides in Jacksonville with his wife Erika, son Brady, and Goldendoodle Brie.