Gary R. Wheeler

Gary has represented employers exclusively in both the private and public sectors since graduating from law school in 1997. His experience includes successfully defending employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Gary is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, as well as the Florida state bar.

Gary is a frequent lecturer at seminars for employers. He provides in-house training on workplace issues to supervisory and management employees.

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Labor Law – Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2013-2022, 2024-2025)

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent^® Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence   

• Florida Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
• Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council, Den Leader

Gary is married to Tiffany Wheeler and has three children. Gary enjoys tennis, reading, and spending time with his family.

More About Gary

My first job

My first job, or at least one of my first jobs, was working in the powerhouse of a paper mill. The first time I worked the graveyard shift, I drove home and slept for 8 hours in my jeans and steel-toed boots.

What I would be if I wasn't a lawyer

A teacher.

What I love about my area of practice

I love learning about the work that our clients do and how they do it.

Sports team I root for most

Davidson Wildcats Basketball.

• "Little Known Employment Laws," Jacksonville Annual Labor and Employment Law Workshop, March 2019.
• "Discipline, Discharge, and Separation Agreements," Jacksonville Annual Labor and Employment Law Workshop, March 2019.
• “Hey Buddy, You Got the Time? FLSA Litigation Tips from Both Sides of the Aisle.” Co-Presented with Luis Cabassa to The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, the Labor & Employment Law Section, and the American Bar Association Committee on Disability Rights, April 2017.
• “FLSA Overview,” Presentation for Florida Public Human Resources Association's Annual Conference in Naples, Florida, July, 2016.
• “Finally, the Finalized Changes to the FLSA White-Collar Exemptions,” Presentation for the American Payroll Association, Jacksonville Chapter on May 26, 2016.
• “EEOC Lawsuits. Wellness Programs: Finding the Right Combination of Carrots and Sticks,” Presentation for the Jacksonville Association of Health Underwriters' Protecting the Consumers event on January 27, 2016.
• “Compensable Work Time under the FLSA,” Presentation (supervisory training) for the Jacksonville Chapter of Society for Human Resource Management, August 2014.
• “ADA and FMLA Updates and Interplay,” Presentation for Sterling Educational Services in Gainesville, Florida, December, 2013.
• "Guiding an Employer through the FMLA Leave Process," presented to The Florida Bar, Labor & Employment Law Section, December 2013.
• “An Ounce of Prevention: Employment Law 101 and Positive Employee Relations,” Presentation at the Georgia Credit Union Association's Annual Convention, May 2012.
• "Following Your Foe's Tweets: Discovery of Social Networking and Other Voluntary Internet Disclosures," presented to The Florida Bar, October 2009
• Investigative Research: Techniques to Discover Information on Potential Jurors, Presentation at the Florida Bar Annual Convention, June 2008.
• Jacksonville Best Places to Work - Jacksonville Business Journal, July 2014