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April Boyer
April Boyer

April Boyer

Partner, Chair of Women in the Profession Committee
Miami
+1.305.539.3380
Email April Boyer @ april.boyer@klgates.com
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April Boyer is a partner in the firm's Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice. She focuses her practice on employment law and complex commercial litigation where she serves as lead trial counsel for companies involved in disputes in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and before administrative agencies. She handles all aspects of litigation including preliminary and permanent injunction hearings, evidentiary hearings, bench trials, arbitrations, and jury trials. As described in more detail in the Achievements section, April has been recognized by her peers for her accomplishments, including being listed in Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Labor Law-Management and Employment Litigation. She also is an AV-rated lawyer — the highest available rating given by Martindale Hubbell for legal ability and professional ethics.

In the area of complex commercial litigation, April helps companies resolve their business disputes with competitors, customers, vendors, and others with whom they conduct business. Much of her experience relates to disputes between competitors, including misappropriation of trade secret claims, breaches of nonsolicitation and nondisclosure provisions contained in business contracts (such as letters of intent, purchase agreements, and joint venture agreements), and tortious interference with contracts and business relationships. She also prosecutes and defends other business dispute claims including breach of contract claims, violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, consumer fraud, slander/defamation, and other civil disputes. 

In the area of employment law, April defends employers faced with employment law disputes such as wage and hour claims, discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation lawsuits, whistleblower actions, and ERISA fiduciary duty claims. She also has significant experience litigating misappropriation of trade secrets claims and breaches of restrictive covenants (e.g., noncompete, nonsolicit, and nondisclosure agreements). As lead counsel, April has handled a myriad of restrictive covenant/trade secret injunction proceedings. While most of these cases resolve at the injunction phase, she served as lead counsel for the plaintiff/competitor in a jury trial where the plaintiff was awarded compensatory and punitive damages for breach of its restrictive covenants and tortious interference by competitor with those contracts. 

In addition to resolving employment disputes when they occur, April counsels her clients on employment issues before they become disputes. In the area of restrictive covenants and trade secrets, she drafts and interprets the enforceability of contracts containing these provisions. April trains and counsels employers on making day-to-day employment decisions to ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations. She also assists employers in conducting internal audits to ensure legal compliance, represents employers when being audited by state and federal regulatory agencies, and advises companies and their Officers and Directors in company investigations (including ethics concerns and harassment/discrimination claims) and in corporate governance disputes. April also drafts and prepares handbooks and related policies for employers, conducts trainings on those policies, and counsels and trains company personnel on ethics and code of conduct compliance, diversity training, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining K&L Gates, April was in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2001, with a practice in the areas of employment law, complex commercial litigation, civil rights discrimination, and white-collar criminal law. In 2001, April relocated to Miami, Florida and joined K&L Gates.

April speaks regularly on employment law issues, including providing presentations to the Dade County Bar Association (Bench & Bar Conference), internal and external K&L Gates CLE courses, the Greater Miami Chapter of the Society for Human Resources and serving as a faculty member for the Basic Labor and Employment Florida Bar CLE Committee. April also provides interviews for various national and local media outlets, including NBC’s The Today Show, the Miami Herald, the Daily Business Review, public radio, and The Morning Show on WSFL-TV (SFL).

  • Listed in the Best Lawyers in America® for Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2015-2024, and Employment Litigation in Miami, 2020
  • Listed, Diversity Leadership Dream Team, Citywealth
  • Course Excellence Award, Cohort 35 Florida International University MSHRM Program 
  • AV® Preeminent- Rated lawyer, Martindale Hubbell
  • Named to the Florida Super Lawyers list, 2006-2007, 2009-2019
  • Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2013-2022
  • Legal Elite - Labor & Employment, Florida Trend magazine, 2007-2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017
  • Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award, National Association of Women Lawyers, 2013
  • Listed, Top 50 Entrepreneur in South Florida, Business Leader, 2012
  • Honoree, 40 Under 40, South Florida Business Journal, 2011
  • Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2010 and 2012
  • Finalist, Key Partners Award, Legal Labor and Employment Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2006
  • Finalist, Key Partners Award, Employee Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2009
  • Honoree, 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2009
  • Finalist, Key Partners Award, Legal Labor and Employment Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2006
  • Legal Elite - Up and Comer, Florida Trend magazine, 2005-2006
  • Honoree, Heavy Hitter: Human Resources, South Florida Business Journal, 2005
  • Board Member of the South Florida Manufacturing Association (SFMA), 2020-present
  • Adjunct Professor for Employment Law for the Florida International University, Master of Science in Human Resource Management Program, 2019 -present
  • National Association for Women Lawyers (NAWL)
    • Board Member, July 2020-present 
      • Assistant Secretary, August 2023 – Present 
      • Chair, Strategic Programming Committee, Present
    • Executive Committee Member
    • Member, 2007–present
    • Planning Committee for NAWL Annual Meeting
      • Co-Chair, Program Subcommittee, 2016
      • Co-Chair, Program Book Subcommittee, 2015
      • Co-Chair, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2013
      • Committee Member, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2011, 2012, 2014
    • Planning Committee for NAWL Regional General Counsel Institute
      • Committee Member, Marketing Subcommittee, 2016
      • Committee Member, Program Subcommittee, 2016
    • Planning Committee for NAWL Mid-Year Meeting
      • Co-Chair, Mid-Year Planning Meeting, 2018
      • Co-Chair, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2014
      • Co-Chair, Marketing Subcommittee, 2013
      • Committee Member, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2011
      • Committee Member, Logistics Subcommittee, 2011
    • Planning Committee for NAWL Miami Night of Giving Charity Event
      • Committee Chair, 2010
      • Committee Member, 2009
    • Planning Committee for NAWL Austin Program
      • Committee Member, Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2016
    • NAWL Challenge Club, member 2015-present
  • Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade
    • Board of Directors, 2011-2020
    • Co-Chair “Raise the Bar” Charity Event, 2006-present
    • Co-Chair, Nominations Committee, 2013-2016
    • Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Governance Committee, 2015-2016
    • Committee Member, Development Committee, 2013-present
    • Committee Member, Governance Committee, 2016-present
  • Women of Distinction Award Selection Committee, Federal Judge Award Selection Committee, 2019
  • Litigation Counsel of America
  • Member, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar Member
  • Member, Florida Association for Women Lawyers Miami-Dade Chapter
  • President, Florida Tower Condominium Association, 2004-2008
  • Member, Dade County Bar Association’s Black History Month Award Selection Committee, 2017
  • “International Women’s Day 2024: A Conversation with Rochelle Weinstein and Ana Veciana-Suarez,” Moderator, K&L Gates Women in the Profession Series, Miami, 21 March 2024
  • "What Legal Challenges Will You Be Facing in Managing Your Workforce in 2024?” Moderator, Association of Corporate Counsel, Dallas-Fort Worth, 7 March 2024
  • “2024 International Women’s Day: Firmwide Fireside Chat with Mattel,” Moderator, K&L Gates Webinar, 6 March 2024
  • “Empowering Female Trial Lawyers: Unique Challenges and the Way Forward,” Panelist, Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, 21 February 2024
  • “Hot Issues in Employment Law & Compliance,” Panelist, National Association of Women Lawyers Virtual Event, 15 November 2023
  • "USMCA: Commercial Sanctions for Violation to Labor Rights,” Panelist, New York State Bar Association International Section 2023 Mexico Global Conference, Mexico City, 13 October 2023
  • “Noncompetes and Other Restrictive Covenants,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 12th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, 24 August 2022
  • “Diversity & Inclusion in Law Today: Ethical Considerations,” Panelist, The Bench & Bar Conference, Miami, 18 February 2022
  • “COVID-19 Legal Update”, Speaker, K&L Gates “Under the Wire” CLE Seminar, 3 February 2022
  • “2022 COVID Update: Mandates, Quarantine, Remote Work & More,” Speaker, Human Resource Association of Broward County, 26 January 2022
  • “Florida Businesses Required to Report Independent Contractor Hires Effective 1 October 2021,” Speaker, MyLawCLE, 4 October 2021
  • “COVID-19 Best Practices for Bar Associations: Contracts and Liabilities,” Speaker, The Chicago Bar Association, 1 October 2021
  • “Best Workplace Practices for COVID-19,” Speaker, South Florida Manufactures Association, 20 August 2021
  • “Working from Home,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 11th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, 3 August 2021
  • “What Employers Should Know about a Pandemic,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 10th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, 4 August 2020
  • “WHF/WHF Partner Series Lunch and Learn: Stapler, Post-its, Clorox Wipes, Facemasks: Ready to Go Back to Work During a Pandemic,” Women in Housing & Finance, Inc., 21 July 2020
  • “COVID-19 Cross- Border Virtual GC Roundtables,” Speaker, K&L Gates, 12 May 2020 (Manufacturing), 8 May 2020 (Technology), 6 May 2020 (Multi-Sector), 29 April 2020 (Employment, Health & Safety), 28 April 2020 (Employment, Health & Safety), 24 April 2020 (Manufacturing), 23 April 2020 (Manufacturing), 22 April 2020 (Employment, Health & Safety), 15 April 2020 (General), 14 April 2020 (General)
  • “Sharing Perspectives on the Next ‘Normal,’” Speaker, K&L Gates and Pearson Partners International Webinar, 7 May 2020
  • “Women’s Litigation Skills Workshop,” Faculty Member, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Miami, 6-7 February 2020
  • “Coronavirus Concerns in the Workplace,” K&L Gates Webinar, 6 February 2020
  • “The Final Countdown: What to Do with 100 or Less Days until Trial,” Speaker, K&L Gates Webinar, Miami, 11 December 2019
  • “Qui Tam/Whistleblower Issues,” Speaker, South Florida’s Premier Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, 15 August 2019
  • “Employment Issues Facing South Florida Manufacturers in 2019,” Speaker, K&L Gates and South Florida Manufacturers Association Webinar, 6 March 2019
  • “Labor & Employment Law,” Panelist, The Bench & Bar Conference Inns of the Court, Miami, 1 March 2019
  • “A Women’s Place is in the Courtroom,” Panelist, Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Miami, 20 February 2019
  • “Labor & Employment Law Update,” Panelist, The Bench & Bar Conference, Miami, 1 March 2018
  • “Employee Handbooks,” Speaker, The Seminar Group 8th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Miami, 15 August 2018
  • “Sex Harassment & Discrimination 2018: Is Your Company Prepared?,” National Association of Women Lawyers, 2018 Mid-Year Conference, Miami, March 2018
  • “Female Lawyers Can Talk Too: Strategies for Getting into the Courtroom,” Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Trail Skills Program, Miami, February 2018
  • “Labor and Employment: Non-Compete Law,” Panelist, Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Summit, Miami, February 2017 
  • “Labor and Employment and Workplace Safety: 2016 Year in Review and 2017 Outlook,” K&L Gates Webinar, January 2017
  • “Zika Virus Webinar,” K&L Gates Webinar, October 2016
  • “Seal Your Success: Master Trends in Labor and Employment Law: The Year in Review,” Presenter, National Association Women Lawyers 12th Annual General Counsel Institute, New York, November 2016
  • “Learning the Ropes: EU and Middle East Employment Law,” K&L Gates Webinar, March 2016
  • “Linking In: How to Enhance Your Legal Marketing, Trial, and Other Practitioner Skills Through Social Media,” Moderator, National Association Women Lawyers 2016 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, New York, July 2016
  • “Common Wage & Hour Issues in the Hospitality Industry,” K&L Gates Webinar, June 2016
  • Employment Law Webinar Series: Managing Discrimination Risks in a Global Context, K&L Gates Webinar, March 2016
  • “Current Developments in Labor & Employment,” Dade County Bar Association Bench & Bar Conference, February 2013
  • “Americans with Disability (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 & Family Medical Leave Act,” The Florida Bar’s Basic Labor and Employment CLE, March 2009
  • “Employment Law Update: What’s New and What’s News in 2008,” Society for Human Resource Management, September 2008

Presentations
April speaks regularly on employment law issues, including providing presentations to the Dade County Bar Association (Bench & Bar Conference), internal and external K&L Gates CLE courses, the Greater Miami Chapter of the Society for Human Resources, and serving as a faculty member for the Basic Labor and Employment Florida Bar CLE Committee.  April also provides interviews for various national and local media outlets, including NBC’s The Today Show, the Miami Herald, the Daily Business Review, public radio, and The Morning Show on WSFL-TV (SFL). 

Published Decisions

  • Cellco Partnership v. Kimbler, 68 So. 3d 914 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011)
  • Treco International S.A., et al.,v. Kromka, et al., 706 F. Supp. 2d 1283 (2010)
  • American Maritime Officers Union v. Merriken, 981 So.2d 544 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)
  • Fiore v. White, et al., 531 U.S. 225 (2000) (per curiam)
  • Fiore v. White, et al., 528 U.S. 23 (1999)
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
Additional News & Event Pages

Television/Radio/Webcast

  • Interview, Pete Biz Radio on WBRN, 21 June 2017
  • Interview, WSRadio.com, 2 May 2012
  • Interview, The Morning Show on WSFL-TV (SFL), 2010
  • Interview, “Finding Romance at the Office,” The Today Show, 5 July 2007
  • Interview, “New Overtime Laws,” Live 85 - 850 AM, 23 August 2004

Print/Online Publications

  • Quoted, "Navigating the perils of reopening the office," South Florida Business Journal, 7 July 2020
  • Quoted, “Florida Lawyers Face Off Over Bid to Afford 3 Months' Continuance for Parental Leave in Litigation,” Daily Business Review, 27 August 2019
  • Quoted, “Political talk in workplaces getting heated,” The Plain Dealer, August 2016
  • Quoted, “How to survive political discussion in the workplace,” Miami Herald, August 2016
  • Quoted, “Rehiring the Fired: The IRS Does It; Should You?,” Society For Human Resource Management, 12 May 2016
  • Quoted, “South Florida Is Still Nation’s Hottest Spot - For FLSA Suits,” Law360, 8 April 2016
  • Quoted, “Same-Sex Marriages to Spur Business for Fla. Lawyers,” Daily Report, 7 January 2015
  • Quoted, “Right and Wrong Ways to Terminate,” Society for Human Resource Management, 12 September 2013
  • Quoted, “A snapshot of diversity in the local business community,” South Florida Business Journal, 9 November 2012
  • Quoted, “Employers may now face baby boomers’ discrimination claims,” South Florida Business Journal, 2 September 2011
  • Quoted, “Key Legal Considerations in Connection with the Movement of Talent from Proprietary Trading Desks to Start-Up or Existing Hedge Fund Managers: The Bank Perspective (Part Two of Three),” The Hedge Fund Law Report, 14 January 2011
  • Quoted, “How Employers Face the Challenges of Litigation Associated with Dismissals, Restructuring, and Layoffs,” Employee Terminations Law Bulletin, November 2010
  • Quoted, “Pushing Diversity in the Legal Profession,” Society of Human Resource Management, 23 February 2010
  • Quoted, “Blackberrys may be overtime suit waiting to happen,” Broward Daily Business Review, 7 May 2008
  • Quoted, “Overtime suits may ripen with blackberry; Attorneys predict a new wave of litigation as BlackBerry use booms,” The National Law Journal, 28 April 2008
  • Quoted, “Hello, I love you. Now, take a memo,” Virginia-Pilot, 2 March 2008
  • Quoted, “In office, professionalism trumps romance,” Sun-Sentinel Business, 14 February 2008
  • Quoted, “Accepting the Inevitable,” Human Resources Executive Online, 14 February 2008
  • Quoted, “With new bill, odds are good for workplace protections for gays,” South Florida Business Journal, 17 September 2007
  • Quoted, “Employed doctors: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS,” Medical Economics, 3 August 2007
  • Quoted, “PERSONNEL FILES: Documentation is key,” Medical Economics, 20 April 2007
  • Quoted, “Harassment: When you’re the victim,” Medical Economics, 19 January 2007
  • Quoted, “TOUGHER STANCE: SOUTH FLORIDA ATTORNEYS SEE INCREASE IN BUSINESS,” Broward Daily Business Review, 14 June 2005
  • Quoted, “WHEN CUPID’S ARROWS FALL AT WORK,” Miami Herald, 9 February 2004
  • Quoted, “Defusing the Discontent,” HR Magazine, December 2003
  • Quoted, “South Florida braces for new overtime law,” South Florida Business Journal, 30 June 2003
  • Quoted, “Pregnant Pause: What do job interviews and pregnancy have in common?” ePregnancy, May 2003
  • Quoted, “FMLA: What do you do when leave is elective?”, HR Briefing, 1 May 2003
  • Quoted, “New Overtime Rules Planned,” Sun-Sentinel, 28 March 2003
  • Quoted, “Miami Firm Must Pay Back Wages,” Sun-Sentinel, 18 March 2003
  • Quoted, “ADA: Supreme Court Ruling Gives Employers Third Victory,” HR Wire, 17 June 2002
  • Quoted, “When Employees Sue Customers…”, HR Wire, 8 August 2002
  • Quoted, “Encinta y Empleada,“ Univision.com, 26 October 2001
  • Quoted, “Rules Have Changed for Many Employers After September 11th,” Miami Herald, 24 October 2001
  • Quoted, “Reevaluate Work Rules, Miami Herald, 16 October 2001
  • Quoted, “Workplace Security,” Daily Business Review, 28 September 2001
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