Overview

Edward Diaz is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Miami office and serves as a co-leader of the firm's Labor, Employment and Benefits Practice Group.

Mr. Diaz has extensive experience defending management and corporate clients in litigation of employment discrimination claims before federal and state courts as well as government agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Mr. Diaz has served as lead counsel for clients in jury trials, arbitrations, administrative proceedings and pre-litigation resolution processes. Additionally, Mr. Diaz's practice includes representation of clients in trade secret and restrictive covenant (non-compete and non-solicitation) litigation focused on protecting company assets, including litigation of temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction matters in federal and state courts.

In addition to employment litigation, Mr. Diaz provides counsel to employers on a wide range of issues such as management training, employment audits, hiring, employee discipline, wage and hour, employment contracts, severance agreements, employment policies and handbooks, and non-competition agreements. In addition, Mr. Diaz advises on compliance with employment-related statutes and regulations. He also assists clients in conducting internal investigations, protecting company assets from employee defections, management of employee leave policies and addressing employers' potential litigation exposure. Mr. Diaz also counsels corporate lawyers and clients on employment law issues for corporate transactions.

Mr. Diaz has experience representing clients in a broad range of industries such as transportation, hospitality, healthcare, financial, higher education, professional, technology, entertainment, sports and others. His entertainment and sports law experience includes representing musicians, professional athletes and entertainers, as well as production companies in television, film and digital media.

Within the firm, Mr. Diaz has served as the Hiring Partner and the Summer Associate Program Coordinator for the Miami office. Additionally, he has served as Chair of the Miami Local Office Diversity Committee and has served on the firm's Fair Employment Practices Committee. Outside the firm, Mr. Diaz serves as pro bono counsel for Amigos for Kids, a local nonprofit organization focused on education and prevention of child abuse. Mr. Diaz was previously appointed by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court to serve on the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Award Advisory Committee.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Diaz graduated with honors from Georgetown University. While at Georgetown, Mr. Diaz was a four-year letterman on the varsity soccer team, serving as captain of the team his senior year. Mr. Diaz was awarded the Robert A. Duffey Scholar Athlete award, described as one of the most prestigious awards available to a Georgetown athlete, and given to the Top Student Athlete at the university.

Representative Experience

  • Discrimination and Retaliation: obtained a complete defense verdict for a corporate client and company president after a jury trial in a state court on the plaintiff's claim of gender and national origin discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
  • Discrimination and Retaliation: obtained a defense judgment for a global transportation and logistics client after a jury trial in federal court on the plaintiff's claim of discrimination and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Wage and Hour: obtained a jury verdict in federal court for a wholesale seafood supplier client in a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime action
  • Discrimination: obtained summary judgment in federal court in a race discrimination claim by a plaintiff against our client, one of the largest transportation/shipping companies globally; also obtained significant award of attorneys' fees and costs against plaintiff
  • Trade Secrets and Covenants Not to Compete: obtained injunctive relief against a former employee of an international marketing research company for theft of trade secrets and breach of a non-compete agreement
  • Discrimination: obtained summary judgment on a multicount complaint by two plaintiffs against a national insurance company in an action under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; also obtained significant award of attorneys' fees and costs against plaintiffs
  • Discrimination: successfully defended a large international cruise line in a disability/disabled access discrimination claim in federal court
  • Wage and Hour: obtained favorable settlement for large global hospitality companies in a wage and hour collective action where the proposed class exceeded 1,000 employees
  • Copyright/Trademark Infringement: obtained favorable settlement for global entertainer/musician in a copyright and trademark infringement action where opposing party was seeking millions in damages

Credentials

Education
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., with honors
  • Georgetown University, B.A., Government, with honors
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Court Admissions
  • All State Courts in Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Memberships
  • ABA Labor and Employment Section
  • Cuban-American Bar Association
  • Amigos for Kids, Outside Counsel 
  • Hispanic Bar Association, Palm Beach County Chapter, Past President
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Employment Law - Management, 2013-2024
  • Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2011-2020
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Tobias Simon Pro Bono Award Advisory Committee, past Appointee by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
Spoken Languages
  • English
  • Spanish

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News