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Michael E. Bonner

Associate


Fort Lauderdale

t:954.847.4726

f:954.525.8739

Email

Service Focus

  • Employment Discrimination and Harassment
  • Employee Defection and Trade Secrets
  • Counseling and Advice
  • Litigation and Trials

Industry Focus

  • Retail
  • Sports
  • Cannabis

Languages

  • Spanish
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Overview
Credentials
Insights

Overview

Michael Bonner is an attorney in the Fort Lauderdale office. Michael’s practice focuses on defending employers against a wide-range of claims, including complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. He also advises and represents clients in matters relating to enforcement of restrictive covenants, contractual disputes, and wage and hour litigation. In addition, Michael counsels clients to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, with an emphasis on devising forward-thinking solutions to complex business and employment issues to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation.

In the past few years alone, Michael has obtained successful outcomes for clients in highly-contested matters, including:

  • Secured dismissal with prejudice of claims alleging race, color, and disability discrimination and retaliation under the Florida Civil Rights Act within 24 hours following the plaintiff’s deposition resulting from admissions he obtained during the deposition.
  • Won at arbitration following a final hearing that involved claims of disability discrimination and retaliation.
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice on behalf of a large retail company and its Chief Executive Officer against a plaintiff’s overtime and retaliation claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Successfully defended a university client in a matter before the Florida Commission on Human Relations and a subsequent administrative appeal involving claims of race, color, and age discrimination in addition to retaliation.
  • Crafted legal arguments and advocated in open court to defeat various claims at the pleadings stage before needing to engage in discovery.

Michael’s experience also includes serving as second chair in multiple trials, including a three-day bench trial concerning enforcement of a non-compete agreement. He has successfully argued summary judgment motions and has obtained summary judgment in favor of employers against claims of discrimination and retaliation. Michael has also counseled schools, universities, and businesses concerning the constantly evolving area of collegiate and high school athlete compensation, authoring multiple articles and insights relating to name, image, and likeness issues.

Beyond his practice, Michael is an avid sports fan, engages in various outdoor activities, and coaches youth sports.

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 2014, with Business Law Certificate with Honors, Florida State University College of Law
  • B.S., 2011, cum laude, Florida State University

Bar Admissions

  • Florida

Court Admissions

  • 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 District of Colorado

Insights

  • News

    04/01/25

    Republished Insight: Caught in a Raging Storm: 5 Steps Schools Should Take as Name, Image and Likeness Disputes Continue to Cause Problems for Universities

    Michael E. Bonner, Rob Dickson, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

  • Insights

    02/05/25

    Caught in a Raging Storm: 5 Steps Your School Should Take as NIL Disputes Continue to Cause Problems for Universities

    Michael E. Bonner, Rob Dickson, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

  • Event

    11/14/24

    A Look Forward: Preparing Your Management Team for a Compliant 2025: Fort Lauderdale

    John Doty, Sarah Leon, Connie Yang, Kenneth A. Knox, Charles S. Caulkins, Megan L. Janes, Michael E. Bonner, Lindsay Massillon

    Read more 

  • Publication

    10/23/24

    Fisher Phillips Partners Discuss 5 Things Universities and Collectives Should Do to Reduce NIL Disputes and Legal Risks

    Michael E. Bonner, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

  • Insights

    10/01/24

    Starting QB Leaves Undefeated Team Over NIL Dispute: 5 Things Universities and Collectives Should Do to Reduce Disputes and Legal Risk

    Michael E. Bonner, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

  • Event

    06/27/24

    A True Game Changer: What Schools Need to Know as FHSAA Approves NIL Pay for Florida High School Athletes

    Jennifer B. Carroll, Brett P. Owens, Michael E. Bonner

    Read more 

  • Insights

    06/11/24

    A True Game Changer: 5 Things for Employers and Schools to Do as Florida Approves NIL Pay for High School Athletes

    Michael E. Bonner, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

  • Insights

    05/15/24

    NIL Stores are Next Step in Student-Athlete Revolution: 3 Things Higher Ed and Athletic Departments Need to Do

    Michael E. Bonner, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

  • Event

    05/01/24

    Mid-Year Pulse Check: Is Your Workplace Thriving or Simply Surviving: Fort Lauderdale

    Charles S. Caulkins, Jennifer B. Carroll, John Doty, Megan L. Janes, Michael E. Bonner

    Read more 

  • Publication

    11/06/23

    Attorneys Pen Article Detailing the Collective Association and Provide Tips for Universities

    Michael E. Bonner, Brett P. Owens

    Read more 

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