Jones Foster’s Michael J. Gore Elected Vice Chair of Palm Beach County Fair Housing/Equal Employment Board

Jones Foster, a private and commercial law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, is pleased to announce that Litigation Shareholder Michael J. Gore, LL.M., has been elected vice chair of the Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity’s Fair Housing/Equal Employment Board by fellow board members to serve a one-year term.

As vice chair, Mike will perform duties as the chair may assign in addition to calling board meetings and setting the agenda, presiding at board meetings, and signing subpoenas in the chairperson’s absence.

The Fair Housing/Equal Employment Board meets on a regular basis and as necessary to conduct administrative hearings in compliance with Sunshine Law. The Board is tasked with referring or accepting the referral of complaints and to cause, through the OEO, investigations of tension, prejudice, and/or discrimination in relation to all housing, public accommodation, and employment matters involving race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or gender identity or expression. Additional duties include proposing reasonable rules and regulations as necessary to enforce policies; holding hearings, adjudicating alleged complaints, and recommending methods for eliminating any injustices; administering oaths, subpoenaing witnesses, and compelling production of evidence pertaining to a hearing or as requested by the OEO; and to issue remedial orders prohibiting violations and providing relief from the effects of any violations.

The mission of Palm Beach County’s Office of Equal Opportunity is to promote a discrimination-free quality of life for Palm Beach County residents through educating and advocating a policy of nondiscrimination and enforcing local, state, and federal civil rights laws, according to its website.

Mike concentrates his practice in the areas of employment, construction, and securities law. He represents clients in a wide variety of industry sectors as well as municipalities, providing counsel in employment law and practices, corporate investigations, contract review, and drafting, and drafting employment policies and handbooks. In the area of construction law, he represents developers, builders, contractors, homeowners, business owners, and design professionals in matters involving construction delays, contract disputes, claims of construction defects, and construction liens.

Additionally, Mike advises clients on issues involving complex and ever-changing securities laws and regulations for traditional securities as well as emerging technologies such as cryptocurrencies. He earned his LL.M. in Securities & Financial Regulation from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Mike is actively involved in several community and industry organizations. He is currently the Campaign Cabinet Legal Lead for the United Way of Palm Beach County; a member of the Associated General Contractors of America East Coast Chapter; and a member of The Florida Bar’s Labor and Employment Section and Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section.