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Cheryl Wilke

Managing Partner - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Partner Cheryl Wilke splits her time between Lewis Brisbois' Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles offices. She is Vice Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice and a member of the Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practice. Cheryl specializes in Employment Law as well as Government Contractor Compliance and Business Litigation for mid-market and national businesses. In addition, she has a wide range of experience in federal and state courts in all types of commercial litigation. 

Cheryl works as a business partner with her clients to achieve their goals for employee compliance, risk management, and litigation strategies as well as defending professional liability claims. Her employment litigation experience has included several cases where an executive has been accused of a pattern of sexual harassment while in the scope of the employee’s position. Cheryl is certified by the EEOC to conduct investigations and provide employer training. 

Cheryl has defended Directors’ and Officers’ claims resulting from both internal and external claims as well as defended professionals in the financial, legal, insurance, and engineering fields. She focuses on cases in which employees, including executives, are accused of committing crimes such as corporate espionage, theft, misappropriation, and embezzlement in addition to claims of malpractice asserted against professionals. Cheryl has also represented clients in D&O and Professional Liability claims brought by investors and members of the public asserting improper financial disclosures and investor relation statements. In addition, Cheryl has represented insurance brokers in Professional Liability claims.

Prior to joining Lewis Brisbois, Cheryl served as Corporate Counsel and Chief Litigation Officer for a publicly traded REIT. In this role, she directed the defense of claims made or asserted against the company’s D&O policy. Prior to that, Cheryl was with a national firm for 22 years as the partner in charge of the Ft. Lauderdale office and Business Development officer for the firm.

Published Opinions

  • Downie v. BF Weston, Inc. and BurgerFi International, Case No. 0:16-cv-60348; So. Dist. of Florida. Defense Verdict. 2017
  • Myers v. Toojay's Management Group, 640 F.2d 1278 (11th Cir. 2011)
  • Murray v. Mariner Healthcare, Inc., 994 So.2d 1051 (Fla. 2008)

Publications

  • CLM Publications August 2023 – “Workers’ Compensation and the Remote Workforce.”
  • NAIDA – Legal Analysis Report – Summer 2022 – “The New Realities of Commissioned Employees under the FLSA”
  • Complying with Employment Regulations: “Understanding and Implementing Key Regulatory Changes for Salary Test in Wage and Hour Claims,” Chapter 5, Aspatore Publishing 2016-2017
  • Key Issues for 2012 Supreme Court Cases: “New Frontiers for Employers,” Chapter 10, Aspatore Publishing 2012
  • Recent Developments in Whistleblower Laws: “Understanding Adverse Employment Actions in Title VII and Bankruptcy Discrimination Cases,” Chapter 3, ThomsonReuters 2010

Pro Bono & Philanthropy

  • Vice Chair Board of Direction – Florida Atlantic University Foundation
  • Board of Directors, Executive Committee – Friends of WLRN

Professional Presentations

  • “The New Work at Home Reality” CLE/CEU Presentation, June 2, 2023
  • “Understanding Wage and Hour Laws for Servers and Tipped Employees,” West Florida Hospitality Association, 2019
  • “Labor and Employment Law for Auto Dealerships,” National Automobile Dealers Association, Las Vegas, NV, 2017

Admissions

  • State Bar Admissions
    • California
    • District of Columbia
    • Florida
  • United States District Courts
    • United States District Court for the Central District of California
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Admissions

CA

FL

USDC for Central District of California

USDC for Middle Districts of Florida

USDC for Southern Districts of Florida

Associations

  • Executive Committee, Foundation Board, Florida Atlantic University
  • Board of Directors, WLRN, Public Radio, Miami
  • Member of Inns of Court, Palm Beach County

Awards & Honors

  • 2023 Florida Trend Managing Partner of the Year
  • 100 Outstanding Women Leaders, Boy's and Girl's Club, 2018
  • 50 Most Influential Women Business Leaders, South Florida Business Journal, 2016
  • Client Choice Award from National Association of Corporate Counsel, 2014
  • Most Effective Lawyer, Labor and Employment, Daily Business Review, 2010

Education

Stetson University College of Law

Juris Doctor, 1991

Florida Atlantic University

Bachelor of Science, 1988

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