Brad deBeaubien is a trusted counselor who helps employers make sound workforce and general business decisions before they become legal problems.
Chiefly a management-side employment lawyer, Brad advises employers on the full range of state and federal employment law issues. Clients rely on him for practical judgment that fits their operations, their culture, and their tolerance for risk. Many of these relationships have lasted for years and are built on Brad's responsiveness, candor, and close understanding of each client’s business.
Much of Brad’s work consists of advising business owners, human resources professionals, and managers on employment law issues, including those arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Florida Civil Rights Act, as well as:
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Hiring, discipline, and terminations;
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Wage and hour compliance;
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Leave and accommodation requests;
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Employee and independent contractor classification issues; and
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Noncompetition and non-solicitation restrictions.
He also drafts, negotiates, and advises on the documents that govern the employment relationship, including:
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Employment and independent contractor agreements;
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Executive employment and compensation arrangements;
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Restrictive covenant agreements;
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Severance agreements;
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Commission agreements; and
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Employee handbooks.
Brad and his team regularly conduct and oversee internal workplace investigations and represent employers in connection with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Florida Commission on Human Relations, and Department of Labor inquiries, as well as employment litigation in state and federal courts. He also routinely advises buyers and sellers on employment issues in mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions.
For a number of clients, Brad also serves as outside general counsel and a regular sounding board for ownership and senior management. When a matter needs specialized help, he assembles the right team from across Shumaker's broad capabilities, providing clients with the continuity and institutional knowledge of in-house counsel without the cost of a full-time legal department.
In addition to his law practice, Brad has for many years served as hiring partner for Shumaker’s Tampa Bay area offices. He is also legal counsel to the Tampa Bay Chamber, where he sits on the Executive Committee.
Outside of work, Brad and his wife enjoy sharing their love of music, reading, and travel with their two daughters.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Florida State University, 2008
B.A., College of William and Mary, 2002
Professional and Community Affiliations
- Tampa Bay Chamber, Legal Counsel, Executive Committee (2026 – present), Board of Directors (2023 – present)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Leadership Tampa (Class of 2024)
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, Board of Directors (2015-2018)
- Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Program, Chair (2012-2018)
- Tampa Connection (Class of 2013-2014)
Honors
- AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2026
- Florida Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, 2022-2026
- Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, 2011-2020
- Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend magazine, 2020
- Florida Legal Elite Up & Comers by Florida Trend magazine, 2019
- Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Up & Comers Award, 2009
Representative Matters
- Obtained voluntary dismissal of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) class action prior to class certification hearing
- Obtained injunction enforcing restrictive covenants against physicians who were former employees and partners of client's medical practice
- Obtained voluntary dismissal of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claim (including allegations of unpaid wages and overtime and improper tip pooling) against client restauranteur
- Obtained judgment in bankruptcy court reestablishing priority of mortgage erroneously discharged by lender, resulting in successful foreclosure in state court
- Settled $1 million-plus bankruptcy preference claim against client for $30,000.00