Edward Diaz

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.