John Lord headshot.

John S. Lord, Jr.

Partner

John (Jack) Lord Jr. prevents and defends labor and employment claims against employers.

Jack is a partner and litigation lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP, and is immediate past co-chair (as of June 1, 2023) of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Area. He focuses his practice on employment litigation and arbitration cases, and tries matters ranging from breach of contract, disability, and national-origin discrimination claims to pregnancy and FMLA claims. He works with private and public employers in matters involving labor and employment law compliance. Jack regularly defends employers in class and collective action lawsuits. He has defended numerous entities that operate “public accommodations” against claims under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. His clients operate in a wide range of industries, including many in the health care arena.

Jack negotiates labor contracts and defends employers in union arbitrations. His administrative work includes defending claims before OSHA, the NLRB, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. He also litigates and advises on trade secret, noncompete, and other restrictive covenants as a member of Foley’s Trade Secret Noncompete Litigation Practice Area.

Jack is co-chair of Foley’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Allies Affinity Group, and is a member of the National LGBTQ Bar Association.

Awards and Recognition

  • Peer review rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest performance rating in the Martindale- Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Employment Law – Management (2020-2024)
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment (2021-2024)
  • Lawdragon’s “Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyer” (2022)
  • Florida Super Lawyers® (2006-2019)
  • One of South Florida Business Journal’s Business of Pride “Outstanding Voices,” which recognizes outstanding LGBTQ individuals who make a difference in advancing equality in the business world (2019)
  • Legal Aid Society’s Guardian ad Litem Award of Excellence (2013)
  • Orlando Business Journal’s “40 under 40” (2005)
  • Foley & Lardner’s Lynford Lardner Community Service Award for volunteer work and civic involvement (1997)

Affiliations

  • The Florida Bar – Labor & Employment Law Section
  • American Bar Association – Labor & Employment Law Section
  • Miami Dade Bar Association
  • Society for Human Resource Management
  • National LGBTQ Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Guardian ad Litem for abused and neglected children in Miami-Dade County
  • Past board president, Orlando Shakespeare Theater
  • Past member, board of trustees, Legal Aid Society
  • Past president, board of directors, Hope and Help Center, an AIDS resource network
  • Past president, nominating board, City of Orlando
13 May 2024 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

Navigating the Rock & the Hard Place: Conflicting Federal and State Mandates for LGBTQ Employees

If employers have LGBTQ employees in certain states, they are now bumping up against the “rock” of federal laws, like Title VII and Title IX, and the “hard place” of conflicting state authority.
16 October 2023 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

EEOC Issues Proposed Enforcement Guidance on Harassment and Addresses LGBTQ and Racial Employment Issues

18 September 2023 In the News

Jack Lord Discusses Exit of Workers from States Passing Anti-LGBTQ Laws

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Jack Lord is quoted in the SHRM article, “Many Workers Leaving States That Pass Anti-LGBTQ Laws,” commenting on state legislation impacting LGBTQ+ workers.
17 August 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
17 April 2023 In the News

Jack Lord Discusses What to Expect as SCOTUS Mulls Religious Burden Test

Foley & Lardner LLP Partner Jack Lord is quoted in the Law360 article, “What To Expect As Justices Mull Religious Burden Test.”
15 March 2023 In the News

Jack Lord Discusses Murky Legal Landscape on Pronoun Misuse

Foley & Lardner LLP Partner Jack Lord is quoted in the Law360 article, “Employers Face More Claims, Hazy Law On Pronoun Misuse,” discussing the rise in workplace clashes in which employees claim a faith-based objection to using a transgender co-worker’s pronouns or name.