Attorney Richard Smithis a Partner in NeJame Law’s Civil Litigation Division. Born and raised in Central Florida, Richard has been a licensed attorney for over 25 years. Graduating in 1994 from FSU College of Law in Tallahassee, he obtained his Juris Doctorate (law degree) with high honors. He then moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he began practicing with a downtown law firm primarily handling and litigating employment lawsuits, criminal defense matters, and appeals in both areas of the law.In 1999 he moved with his family to Orlando, which has been his home ever since. Richard represents and serves clients throughout Central Florida and the State in a wide array of civil matters. Some of the specialized areas includeemployment disputes, commercial and employment contract disagreements, ADA accessibility matters, workplacediscriminationand retaliation disputes, wage and hour concerns including unpaid overtime and minimum wage claims, non-compete agreement enforcement and defense (whether relating to employment or independent contractor situations), anddefamation litigation. He represents companies as well as individuals and has developed an expertise in representing either side. Having represented both sides, allows Richard the unique opportunity to gain the requisite perspective in many cases that is needed for obtaining favorable outcomes for his clients.In addition to handling state cases throughout Florida,Richard Smithis admitted to all three of the federal civil districts, the Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida. lSince 2012 Rick has consistently maintained an AV rating, the highest rating granted to attorneys under the Martindale-Hubble system. This is the highest recognition given for both legal skills and ethics beyond the courtroom.In addition to Richards superior courtroom skills, he handles various transactional work for his business and commercial clients including drafting or analyzing various commercial and employment contracts, creating custom employment handbooks and policy manuals, conducting or assisting in internal employment investigations as to sexual harassment and discrimination, handling wage and hour audits, drafting and reviewing severance agreements, creating and analyzing employment or independent contractor agreements and more.In addition to being a courtroom litigator and Orlando business attorney,Rick Smithwas certified in 2010 by the Florida Supreme Court, as a circuit court civil mediator, conducting private party and court ordered mediations. He is also certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a county court civil mediator, as well as being approved and authorized to conduct mediations in federal civil cases throughout the Middle District of Florida. Since mediation is court ordered in all civil cases, he finds that, in addition to his experience in the courtroom, these special mediator skills have truly helped him in achieving successful and positive results for his clients. Although he loves the courtroom and is an aggressive advocate for his clients, the vast majority of civil cases are resolved through settlement or mediation. The mediation skills he has developed often lead to a swifter and less expensive form of justice and resolution for his clients. Always ready to litigate in the courtroom on behalf of his clients, the dual litigation and mediation skills, often postures Richard to achieve the best results possible on behalf of his clients.Richard brings his vast experience, expertise, and knowledge which has been developed over the past two and a half decades to work every day on behalf of his clients and their families. A dedication to his client’s best interest, a strong work ethic, and the ability to masterfully pivot as and when needed on a client’s case, are hallmarks of Richard’s representation. Richard can be reached at attorney@NeJameLaw.com or through our office at 407 500 0000.