Attorney Profiles
Since 1978, the Florida law firm of Richeson & Coke, P.A. has been assisting public entities and private businesses alike in all types of labor and employment law issues, including preventative consulting, defense against allegations of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, wage and hour disputes, and OSHA hearings. Our firm's experienced attorneys include:
J. David Richeson
J. DAVID RICHESON is a partner at Richeson & Coke, P.A., practicing in the area of labor and employment law. He is also a Florida Certified Mediator and Florida Board Certified in labor and employment law. With over 40 years of experience in the field of law, Mr. Richeson has obtained an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell's peer review for his legal ability and high ethical standards.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Richeson obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from the University of Texas in 1966. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Texas School of Law in 1969 and was admitted to practice law by the State Bar of Texas that same year. From 1969 to 1972, Mr. Richeson worked as a Legislative Assistant to J. J. Pickle, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 10th District of Texas.
In 1974, Mr. Richeson moved his practice to Florida and was admitted to the Florida State Bar, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. He began representing employers in labor and employment matters in 1978, and gained admission to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits in 1979. He continued on to gain admission to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981.
Mr. Richeson is a member of the State Bar of Texas, as well as the Florida Bar where he served as a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section and as Chairman of the EEOC Liaison Committee of that Section from 1978 to 1979. He was also a member of the Florida Bar's Executive Board from 1989 to 1993. He is currently a member of the St. Lucie County Bar Association, as well as the Labor and Employment Law Section and the Developing Labor Law Committee of the American Bar Association. In addition, he is a co-author of "Employment in Florida," an annual supplement published by Lexis Law Publishing.
Elizabeth Coke
ELIZABETH COKE is a partner at Richeson & Coke, P.A., practicing in the area of labor and employment law. Ms. Coke obtained her B.A. from Loyola University in 1990 and her J.D. from Mercer University School of Law in 1994. In 1995, she was admitted to practice law before the Florida State Bar, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Ms. Coke is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the St. Lucie County Bar Association, and the Florida Bar's Labor and Employment Law Section. Ms. Coke has obtained a BV-Distinguished from Martindale-Hubbell's peer review for her legal ability and high ethical standards.
Outside of her legal practice, Ms. Coke is active in the community. She is former chairperson and member of the board of Directors of the Daniel M. Foundation, which assists children with emotional and behavioral health needs and their families. Ms. Coke also served as Chair and is a member of the board of Directors of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of St. Lucie County.
David Miklas
DAVID MIKLAS is a Partner/Shareholder with the law firm of Richeson & Coke, P.A., West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. Mr. Miklas' practice is limited to labor relations and employment law representing management (employers), including Employment Discrimination, Wage-Hour (minimum wage/overtime) Law, NLRB Practice, Collective Bargaining, Arbitration, OSHA, ERISA, Agricultural Labor Law and Public Employment Law. He is an active member of the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, and their Labor Law Sections, and currently serves on the Florida Bar Labor & Employment Law Section's Wage and Hour Administration Liaison subcommittee.
Mr. Miklas is listed in the 2009 Florida Rising Stars list for Florida Super Lawyers (listing no more than the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state).
Mr. Miklas co-authored LexisNexis Expert Commentaries: J. David Richeson & David Miklas of Richeson & Coke P.A., on the New Florida Law Requiring Employers Provide Leave for Domestic Violence Fla. Stat. §741.313, (September 2007), and is a contributing editor (1999-2011) for Employment in Florida: A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations and Practices, 2nd Ed., and The Developing Labor Law, 4th Ed. Mr. Miklas has been admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Miklas graduated from the University of Florida College Of Law.
Leslie Jennings Beuttell
LESLIE JENNINGS BEUTTELL is an associate at Richeson & Coke, P.A., practicing in the area of labor and employment law. A native of Vero Beach, Florida, Mrs. Beuttell obtained her B.A. from the Florida State University in 2004 and her J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law in 2007. She was admitted to practice law before the Florida State Bar in 2008. She is currently a member of the St. Lucie County Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Division of the Indian River Bar Association. Mrs. Beuttell is a contributing editor (2009-2011) for Employment in Florida: A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations and Practices, 2nd Ed., and (2010-2011) for The Developing Labor Law, 4th Ed. Before becoming an associate at Richeson & Coke, P.A., Mrs. Beuttell interned as a court appointed Ad Litem for Florida's abused and neglected children and interned with the 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office in Vero Beach.
