April Boyer focuses her practice on employment law and complex commercial litigation where she serves as lead trial counsel for companies involved in disputes in state and federal courts, in arbitrations, and before administrative agencies. She handles all aspects of litigation including preliminary and permanent injunction hearings, evidentiary hearings, bench trials, arbitrations and jury trials. As described in more detail in the Achievements section, April has been recognized by her peers for her accomplishments, including being listed in Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Labor Law-Management and Employment Litigation. She also is an AV-rated lawyer — the highest available rating given by Martindale Hubbell for legal ability and professional ethics.
In the area of complex commercial litigation, April helps companies resolve their business disputes with competitors, customers, vendors, and others with whom they conduct business. Much of her experience relates to disputes between competitors, including misappropriation of trade secret claims, breaches of nonsolicitation and nondisclosure provisions contained in business contracts (such as letters of intent, purchase agreements, and joint venture agreements), and tortious interference with contracts and business relationships. She also prosecutes and defends other business dispute claims including breach of contract claims, violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, consumer fraud, slander/defamation, and other civil disputes.
In the area of employment law, she defends employers faced with employment law disputes such as wage and hour claims, discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation lawsuits, whistleblower actions, and ERISA fiduciary duty claims. April also has significant experience litigating misappropriation of trade secrets claims and breaches of restrictive covenants (e.g., noncompete, nonsolicit, and nondisclosure agreements). As lead counsel, April has handled a myriad of restrictive covenant/trade secret injunction proceedings. While most of these cases resolve at the injunction phase, April served as lead counsel for the plaintiff/competitor in a jury trial where the plaintiff was awarded compensatory and punitive damages for breach of its restrictive covenants and tortious interference by competitor with those contracts.
In addition to resolving employment disputes when they occur, April counsels her clients on employment issues before they become disputes. In the area of restrictive covenants and trade secrets, April drafts and interprets the enforceability of contracts containing these provisions. April trains and counsels employers on making day-to-day employment decisions to ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations. She also assists employers in conducting internal audits to ensure legal compliance, represents employers when being audited by state and federal regulatory agencies, and advises companies and their Officers and Directors in company investigations (including ethics concerns and harassment/discrimination claims) and in corporate governance disputes. April also drafts and prepares handbooks and related policies for employers, conducts trainings on those policies, and counsels and trains company personnel on ethics and code of conduct compliance, diversity training, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Prior to joining K&L Gates, April was in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2001, with a practice in the areas of employment law, complex commercial litigation, civil rights discrimination, and white-collar criminal law. In 2001, April relocated to Miami, Florida and joined K&L Gates.
April speaks regularly on employment law issues, including providing presentations to the Dade County Bar Association (Bench & Bar Conference), internal and external K&L Gates CLE courses, the Greater Miami Chapter of the Society for Human Resources and serving as a faculty member for the Basic Labor and Employment Florida Bar CLE Committee. April also provides interviews for various national and local media outlets, including NBC’s The Today Show, the Miami Herald, the Daily Business Review, public radio, and The Morning Show on WSFL-TV (SFL).
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2015-2023
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Litigation, 2020
- Listed, Diversity Leadership Dream Team, Citywealth
- Course Excellence Award, Cohort 35 Florida International University MSHRM Program
- AV® Preeminent- rated lawyer Martindale Hubbell
- Named to the Florida Super Lawyers list, 2006- 2007, 2009–2019
- Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2013–2022
- Legal Elite - Labor & Employment, Florida Trend magazine, 2007-2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017
- Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award, National Association of Women Lawyers, 2013
- Listed, Top 50 Entrepreneur in South Florida, Business Leader, 2012
- Honoree, 40 Under 40, South Florida Business Journal, 2011
- Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2010 and 2012
- Finalist, Key Partners Award, Legal Labor and Employment Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2006
- Finalist, Key Partners Award, Employee Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2009
- Honoree, 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2009
- Finalist, Key Partners Award, Legal Labor and Employment Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2006
- Legal Elite - Up and Comer, Florida Trend magazine, 2005–2006
- Honoree, Heavy Hitter: Human Resources, South Florida Business Journal, 2005
- Board Member of the South Florida Manufacturing Association (SFMA), 2020 - present
- Adjunct Professor for Employment Law for the Florida International University, Master of Science in Human Resource Management Program, 2019 - present
- National Association for Women Lawyers (NAWL)
- Board Member, July 2020 - present
- Chair, Strategic Programming Committee, Present
- Member, 2007–present
- Planning Committee for NAWL Annual Meeting
- Co-Chair, Program Subcommittee, 2016
- Co-Chair, Program Book Subcommittee, 2015
- Co-Chair, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2013
- Committee Member, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2011, 2012, 2014
- Planning Committee for NAWL Regional General Counsel Institute
- Committee Member, Marketing Subcommittee, 2016
- Committee Member, Program Subcommittee, 2016
- Planning Committee for NAWL Mid-Year Meeting
- Co-Chair, Mid-Year Planning Meeting, 2018
- Co-Chair, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2014
- Co-Chair, Marketing Subcommittee, 2013
- Committee Member, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2011
- Committee Member, Logistics Subcommittee, 2011
- Planning Committee for NAWL Miami Night of Giving Charity Event
- Committee Chair, 2010
- Committee Member, 2009
- Planning Committee for NAWL Austin Program
- Committee Member, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2016
- NAWL Challenge Club, member 2015–present
- Board Member, July 2020 - present
- Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade
- Board of Directors, 2011–-2020
- Co-Chair “Raise the Bar” Charity Event, 2006–present
- Co-Chair, Nominations Committee, 2013–2016
- Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Governance Committee, 2015–2016
- Committee Member, Development Committee, 2013–present
- Committee Member, Governance Committee, 2016–present
- Women of Distinction Award Selection Committee, Federal Judge Award Selection Committee, 2019
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Member, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar Member
- Member, Florida Association for Women Lawyers Miami-Dade Chapter
- President, Florida Tower Condominium Association, 2004-2008
- Member, Dade County Bar Association’s Black History Month Award Selection Committee, 2017
- “Noncompetes and Other Restrictive Covenants,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 12th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, August 24, 2022
- “Diversity & Inclusion in Law Today: Ethical Considerations,” Panelist, The Bench & Bar Conference, Miami, February 18, 2022
- “COVID-19 Legal Update”, Speaker, K&L Gates “Under the Wire” CLE Seminar, February 3, 2022
- “2022 COVID Update: Mandates, Quarantine, Remote Work & More,” Speaker, Human Resource Association of Broward County, January 26, 2022
- “Florida Businesses Required to Report Independent Contractor Hires Effective 1 October 2021,” Speaker, MyLawCLE, October 4, 2021
- “COVID-19 Best Practices for Bar Associations: Contracts and Liabilities,” Speaker, The Chicago Bar Association, October 1, 2021
- “Best Workplace Practices for COVID-19,” Speaker, South Florida Manufactures Association, August 20, 2021
- “Working from Home,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 11th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, August 3, 2021
- “What Employers Should Know about a Pandemic,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 10th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, August 4, 2020
- “WHF/WHF Partner Series Lunch and Learn: Stapler, Post-its, Clorox Wipes, Facemasks: Ready to Go Back to Work During a Pandemic,” Women in Housing & Finance, Inc., July 21, 2020
- “COVID-19 Cross- Border Virtual GC Roundtables,” Speaker, K&L Gates, May 12, 2020 (Manufacturing), May 8, 2020 (Technology), May 6, 2020 (Multi-Sector), April 29, 2020 (Employment, Health & Safety), April 28, 2020 (Employment, Health & Safety), April 24, 2020 (Manufacturing), April 23, 2020 (Manufacturing), April 22, 2020 (Employment, Health & Safety), April 15, 2020 (General), April 14, 2020 (General)
- “Sharing Perspectives on the Next ‘Normal,’” Speaker, K&L Gates and Pearson Partners International Webinar, May 7, 2020
- “Women’s Litigation Skills Workshop,” Faculty Member, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Miami, February 6-7, 2020
- “Coronavirus Concerns in the Workplace,” K&L Gates Webinar, February 6, 2020
- “The Final Countdown: What to Do with 100 or Less Days until Trial,” Speaker, K&L Gates Webinar, Miami, December 11, 2019
- “Qui Tam/Whistleblower Issues,” Speaker, South Florida’s Premier Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, August 15, 2019
- “Employment Issues Facing South Florida Manufacturers in 2019,” Speaker, K&L Gates and South Florida Manufacturers Association Webinar, March 6, 2019
- “Labor & Employment Law,” Panelist, The Bench & Bar Conference Inns of the Court, Miami, March 1, 2019
- “A Women’s Place is in the Courtroom,” Panelist, Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Miami, February 20, 2019
- “Labor & Employment Law Update,” Panelist, The Bench & Bar Conference, Miami, March 1, 2018
- “Employee Handbooks,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 8th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, August 15, 2018
- “Sex Harassment & Discrimination 2018: Is Your Company Prepared?,” National Association of Women Lawyers, 2018 Mid-Year Conference, Miami, March 2018
- “Female Lawyers Can Talk Too: Strategies for Getting into the Courtroom,” Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Trail Skills Program, Miami, February 2018
- “Labor and Employment: Non-Compete Law,” Panelist, Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Summit, Miami, February 2017
- “Labor and Employment and Workplace Safety: 2016 Year in Review and 2017 Outlook,” K&L Gates Webinar, January 2017
- “Zika Virus Webinar,” K&L Gates Webinar, October 2016
- “Seal Your Success: Master Trends in Labor and Employment Law: The Year in Review,” Presenter, National Association Women Lawyers 12th Annual General Counsel Institute, New York, November 2016
- “Learning the Ropes: EU and Middle East Employment Law,” K&L Gates Webinar, March 2016
- “Linking In: How to Enhance Your Legal Marketing, Trial, and Other Practitioner Skills Through Social Media,” Moderator, National Association Women Lawyers 2016 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, New York, July 2016
- “Common Wage & Hour Issues in the Hospitality Industry,” K&L Gates Webinar, June 2016
- Employment Law Webinar Series: Managing Discrimination Risks in a Global Context, K&L Gates Webinar, March 2016
- “Current Developments in Labor & Employment,” Dade County Bar Association Bench & Bar Conference, February 2013
- “Americans with Disability (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 & Family Medical Leave Act,” The Florida Bar’s Basic Labor and Employment CLE, March 2009
- “Employment Law Update: What’s New and What’s News in 2008,” Society for Human Resource Management, September 2008
Presentations
April speaks regularly on employment law issues, including providing presentations to the Dade County Bar Association (Bench & Bar Conference), internal and external K&L Gates CLE courses, the Greater Miami Chapter of the Society for Human Resources, and serving as a faculty member for the Basic Labor and Employment Florida Bar CLE Committee. April also provides interviews for various national and local media outlets, including NBC’s The Today Show, the Miami Herald, the Daily Business Review, public radio, and The Morning Show on WSFL-TV (SFL).
Published Decisions
- Cellco Partnership v. Kimbler, 68 So. 3d 914 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011)
- Treco International S.A., et al.,v. Kromka, et al., 706 F. Supp. 2d 1283 (2010)
- American Maritime Officers Union v. Merriken, 981 So.2d 544 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)
- Fiore v. White, et al., 531 U.S. 225 (2000) (per curiam)
- Fiore v. White, et al., 528 U.S. 23 (1999)
- “Help Wanted: What Employers Need to Know About Pay Transparency Requirements in Job Postings,” Employee Benefit Plan Review, January 2023
- “Help Wanted: What Employers Need to Know About Pay Transparency Requirements in Job Postings," The National Law Review, 1 November 2022
- “Employers Can Use COVID Models To Address Monkeypox,” Law360, 2 August 2022
- "Pandemic Pandemonium: Navigating Employment Considerations in the Face of COVID-19," Benefits Law Journal, Summer 2020
- Co-author, “Employment Arbitration Agreements Can Contain Class Action Waivers,” Daily Business Review, June 19, 2018
- Co-author, “Ruling on overtime exemption for dealership service advisors may have broader consequences,” Miami Herald, June 11, 2018
- Co-author, “What About Confidentiality Clauses in Sexual Harassment Settlements,” South Florida Legal Guide insert for the Miami Herald, November 20, 2017
- “Hollywood Has Shined a Spotlight on Sexual Harassment: Now What?” Daily Business Review, November 13, 2017
- Co-author, “Many Employers Will Need to Raise Salaries to Qualify for Overtime Exemption,” Daily Business Review, June 21, 2016
- “Supreme Court Charts Narrow Course for Stats in Class Certification,” Daily Business Review, March 30, 2016
- Co-author, “Independent Contractor Classification Under Scrutiny in New DOL Guidance,” Daily Business Review, August 13, 2015
- “The new approach to managing a global workforce,” Miami Herald, July 25, 2015
- Co-author, "Discrimination Protection Extends to Transgender Employees," Daily Business Review, January 30, 2015
- Co-author, “Non-Competes in Employment Contracts,” Hot Topics in Business Litigation, 2002
- Co-author, “Responding to Military Leave Requests,” Bank Employment Law Report, October 2001
Television/Radio/Webcast
- Interview, Pete Biz Radio on WBRN, June 21, 2017
- Interview, WSRadio.com, May, 2, 2012
- Interview, The Morning Show on WSFL-TV (SFL), 2010
- Interview, “Finding Romance at the Office,” The Today Show, July 5, 2007
- Interview, “New Overtime Laws,” Live 85 - 850 AM, August 23, 2004
Print/Online Publications
- Quoted, "Navigating the perils of reopening the office," South Florida Business Journal, July 7, 2020
- Quoted, “Florida Lawyers Face Off Over Bid to Afford 3 Months' Continuance for Parental Leave in Litigation,” Daily Business Review, August 27, 2019
- Quoted, “Political talk in workplaces getting heated,” The Plain Dealer, August 2016
- Quoted, “How to survive political discussion in the workplace,” Miami Herald, August 2016
- Quoted, “Rehiring the Fired: The IRS Does It; Should You?,” Society For Human Resource Management, May 12, 2016
- Quoted, “South Florida Is Still Nation’s Hottest Spot - For FLSA Suits,” Law360, April 8, 2016
- Quoted, “Same-Sex Marriages to Spur Business for Fla. Lawyers,” Daily Report, January 7, 2015
- Quoted, “Right and Wrong Ways to Terminate,” Society for Human Resource Management, September 12, 2013
- Quoted, “A snapshot of diversity in the local business community,” South Florida Business Journal, November 9, 2012
- Quoted, “Employers may now face baby boomers’ discrimination claims,” South Florida Business Journal, September 2, 2011
- Quoted, “Key Legal Considerations in Connection with the Movement of Talent from Proprietary Trading Desks to Start-Up or Existing Hedge Fund Managers: The Bank Perspective (Part Two of Three),” The Hedge Fund Law Report, January 14, 2011
- Quoted, “How Employers Face the Challenges of Litigation Associated with Dismissals, Restructuring, and Layoffs,” Employee Terminations Law Bulletin, November 2010
- Quoted, “Pushing Diversity in the Legal Profession,” Society of Human Resource Management, February 23, 2010
- Quoted, “Blackberrys may be overtime suit waiting to happen,” Broward Daily Business Review, May 7, 2008
- Quoted, “Overtime suits may ripen with blackberry; Attorneys predict a new wave of litigation as BlackBerry use booms,” The National Law Journal, April 28, 2008
- Quoted, “Hello, I love you. Now, take a memo,” Virginia-Pilot, March 2, 2008
- Quoted, “In office, professionalism trumps romance,” Sun-Sentinel Business, February 14, 2008
- Quoted, “Accepting the Inevitable,” Human Resources Executive Online, February 14, 2008
- Quoted, “With new bill, odds are good for workplace protections for gays,” South Florida Business Journal, September 17, 2007
- Quoted, “Employed doctors: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS,” Medical Economics, August 3, 2007
- Quoted, “PERSONNEL FILES: Documentation is key,” Medical Economics, April 20, 2007
- Quoted, “Harassment: When you’re the victim,” Medical Economics, January 19, 2007
- Quoted, “TOUGHER STANCE: SOUTH FLORIDA ATTORNEYS SEE INCREASE IN BUSINESS,” Broward Daily Business Review, June 14, 2005
- Quoted, “WHEN CUPID’S ARROWS FALL AT WORK,” Miami Herald, February 9, 2004
- Quoted, “Defusing the Discontent,” HR Magazine, December 2003
- Quoted, “South Florida braces for new overtime law,” South Florida Business Journal, June 30, 2003
- Quoted, “Pregnant Pause: What do job interviews and pregnancy have in common?”, ePregnancy, May 2003
- Quoted, “FMLA: What do you do when leave is elective?”, HR Briefing, May 1, 2003
- Quoted, “New Overtime Rules Planned,” Sun-Sentinel, March 28, 2003
- Quoted, “Miami Firm Must Pay Back Wages,” Sun-Sentinel, March 18, 2003
- Quoted, “ADA: Supreme Court Ruling Gives Employers Third Victory,” HR Wire, June 17, 2002
- Quoted, “When Employees Sue Customers…”, HR Wire, August 8, 2002
- Quoted, “Encinta y Empleada,“ Univision.com, October 26, 2001
- Quoted, “Rules Have Changed for Many Employers After September 11th,” Miami Herald, October 24, 2001
- Quoted, “Reevaluate Work Rules, Miami Herald, October 16, 2001
- Quoted, “Workplace Security,” Daily Business Review, September 28, 2001
