Rio Gonazlez is counsel in the firm's Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice, where he partners with employers to deliver strategic, business-focused solutions for the complex challenges associated with managing a global and multi-state workforce.
Rio advises multinational employers across the full spectrum of labor and employment issues, including sophisticated workforce initiatives, at times spanning more than 75 jurisdictions. Rio’s practice includes counseling publicly traded and private US and multinational companies on global cost-reduction strategies, workplace investigations, and enterprise-wide human capital planning. Rio has particular experience advising clients across a range of industries, including healthcare and biotechnology companies, media outlets, PEOs and EORs, Silicon Valley technology giants, and global hospitality brands.
Additionally, Rio assists international companies on labor and employment matters concerning cross-border mergers and acquisitions. This includes assistance with initial due diligence through post-acquisition employee integration and restructuring. Globally, this also includes advising on consultations with unions and works councils, workforce policy harmonization, and complex employee transfer scenarios.
Rio also defends employers in a wide range of domestic labor and employment disputes before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Specifically, Rio has defended employers to conclusion in disputes arising under Title VII, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Rio also has significant experience litigating misappropriation of trade secret claims and breaches of restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.
Rio maintains an active pro-bono practice, assisting immigration non-profits in their efforts to secure immigration relief for vulnerable non-citizens.
