DONNELLY & GROSS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Attorney / Employment and Labor Lawyers
- Support Staff
Conor joined the firm in 2021. He has worked with clients in all phases of the litigation process from pre-suit investigations, filing of motions to dismiss, taking and defending depositions, to trial itself, including more than 30 jury trials. Conor served as lead counsel in 25 of these jury trials and in almost every case, his clients prevailed in whole or in significant part. Having represented people at every stage of the process, Conor has the compassion, strategic thinking and experience to provide zealous representation no matter how high the stakes.
At Donnelly + Gross, Conor handles employment matters, counseling and defending the interests of businesses, professionals and executives. In the public sector, he protects the interests of first responders and government employee unions, 501(c)3 benevolent organizations and pension funds.
Conor has a demonstrated commitment to pro bono and community service. He served for three years as an Assistant Public Defender in Gainesville. Prior to his legal career, he served as a Teaching Fellow withUrban Prep Academies on the South Side of Chicago, a Corps Member with City Year AmeriCorps in Seattle, and as a counselor with Seeds of Peace International Camp.
Conor is a graduate of University of Florida Levin College of Law where he was selected as a teaching assistant for Legal Writing and Trial Practice. Conor received three book awards for his excellent advocacy skills in Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Appellate Law and Policy. He also externed for Chief Justice Jorge Labarga of the Florida Supreme Court, and coauthored Mental Health Courts and Sentencing Disparities, 62 Villanova L.R. 685 (2017).
Jeremiah joined the firm in 2021 after serving 21 years in fire and rescue, as a firefighter/EMT, fire supervisor (lieutenant), elected representative of his peers, and labor negotiator. Jeremiah brings to Donnelly + Gross significant knowledge and experience in health care, licensing, leadership, advocacy, contract negotiation, unfair labor practices, arbitration, mediation, special magistrate proceedings, local politics and elections, and of course, literally saving lives and protecting people and property.
In 2016, he was a contributing editor to a book by research analyst Beth Ann Fiedler, Ph.D., Managing Medical Devices within a Regulatory Framework. From Fall 2016 through Spring 2020, while working as a full-time fire lieutenant/EMT, Jeremiah attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law. He made the Dean's List every semester, graduated magna cum laude, fifth in his class and received eight book awards by setting the curve in those courses.
Through his decades of public service, Jeremiah has demonstrated his commitment to protecting the community and people he serves, and he is committed to continuing to do this good work as an attorney with Donnelly + Gross.
Jeremiah has deep family roots in Gainesville. He lives and works in Volusia County with his wife and four sons.
Jim, a Partner who joined the firm in 2009, has an uncanny ability to resolve complicated financial issues through negotiation, to the relief of his clients and amazement of the other attorneys involved. Jim is a litigation attorney who is devoted to helping his clients solve labor and employment law issues. He is a real lifesaver. Truly. Before joining Donnelly + Gross, Jim enjoyed a 28-year career in fire-rescue services where he quickly became a well-recognized leader among his peers. As he rose in the ranks, he was repeatedly elected as his colleagues' representative on labor and employment law matters and was elected as Vice President of the Eleventh District for the Florida Professional Firefighters. Ultimately, Jim managed Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District as Deputy Chief, the position from which he retired. He remains highly involved in his community, as he serves as a Commissioner for the City of Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency.
His first career in fire-rescue as a labor negotiator and fire district manager gave Jim extensive experience in financial analysis, contract negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods including arbitration and mediation.
Jim has experience in representing clients before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, special magistrates, arbitrators, and mediators. He counsels and defends the interests of businesses, professionals, and highly compensated executives on employment law issues. In the public sector, he protects the interest of first responders and government employee unions, 501(c)3 benevolent organizations, and pension funds.
Jung is a Partner who joined the firm in 2006. She has practiced labor and employment law for 15 years, on behalf of both businesses and first responder unions and pension funds, throughout Florida.
Much of her time is devoted to counseling clients on how to avoid workplace crises, comply with all applicable laws and prevent litigation. She regularly advises clients on workplace matters including employee handbooks and policies, employment contracts, harassment, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), confidentiality agreements, non-competition agreements, severance agreements and other federal and state laws and regulations affecting employment.
When necessary, she has successfully protected her clients' interests through litigation. She has represented clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts, administrative agencies, local government boards, special magistrates, arbitrators, and mediators. She protects small businesses, national corporations, professionals, and highly paid executives on employment law issues. In the public sector, she protects first responders and other government employee unions, 501(c)3 benevolent organizations and pension funds.
Jung's experience is not limited to her role as an advocate. She has also served as Staff Attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Law Clerk for the Honorable Gary R. Jones, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She has seen the judicial decision-making process in action, and this experience has given her a unique perspective that benefits her practice.
Laura is the Managing Partner. The firm has grown considerably under her leadership and is consistently recognized as one of the state's elite labor and employment law firms. Donnelly + Gross is Top Tier Ranked in 2020 "Best Law Firms" Guide by US News-Best Lawyers® with Four Tier 1 Rankings for the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area in Employment Law, Labor Law, and Litigation-Labor & Employment.
She focuses on the prevention and resolution of labor and employment disputes through risk management advice and litigation management. She makes it a priority to understand the unique aspects of each workplace. She focuses intently on gathering the important facts in each case in order to find the solution that is "just right." An arbitrator herself, she plays an integral role in the team's attention to detail, in-depth analysis, and development of strategies for litigation, negotiation, and settlement.
She has represented clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts, administrative agencies, local government boards, special magistrates, arbitrators, and mediators. She protects small businesses, national corporations, professionals, and highly paid executives on employment law issues. In the public sector, she protects first responders and other government employee unions, 501(c)3 benevolent organizations and pension funds.
Laura is a Fellow in the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, which is the highest distinction in the field. Since 2007, she has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America by US News-Best Lawyers®. She holds an "AV pre-eminent" rating, the highest rating for competence and ethics, from Martindale Hubbell. She is also recognized as a Florida SuperLawyer and one of Florida Trend's Legal Elite. She has served as a member and the Chair of the local Grievance Committee and as a member of the Courthouse Design Committee.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Principal
- Firm Leader
- Gross Principal
Paul is the Firm Leader. In early 2022, Paul was named "Litigator of the Week" by The American Lawyer for his First Amendment victory against the University of Florida. The firm has grown considerably under his leadership and is consistently recognized as one of the state's elite labor and employment law firms. Donnelly + Gross is Top Tier Ranked in 2021 "Best Law Firms" Guide by US News-Best Lawyers® with Four Tier 1 Rankings for the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area in Employment Law, Labor Law, and Litigation-Labor & Employment.
Every day, he thinks, reads, writes and argues on behalf of his clients so they can focus on other aspects of their business. He counsels clients on how to avoid and resolve legal problems in the workplace. He has extensive experience representing clients in virtually every aspect of labor and employment law. He is a seasoned advocate in litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), with decades of experience appearing before federal and state trial and appellate courts, administrative agencies, local government boards, special magistrates, arbitrators, and mediators.
He protects small businesses, national corporations, professionals, and highly paid executives on employment law issues. In the public sector, he protects first responders and other government employee unions, 501(c)3 benevolent organizations and pension funds. He is also an arbitrator and has served as Adjunct Professor teaching Trial Practice skills to third year law students at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Paul is a Fellow in the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, which is the highest distinction in the field. Since 2007, he has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America by US News-Best Lawyers®. He holds an "AV pre-eminent" rating, the highest rating for competence and ethics, from Martindale Hubbell. He is also recognized as a Florida SuperLawyer and one of Florida Trend's Legal Elite. He has served as a member and the Governor-appointed Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Eighth Judicial Circuit and as a member and Chair of The Florida Bar's local Grievance Committee.