Areas Of Expertise

Workers' Compensation & Employment | Longshore & Defense Base Act | Trucking & Transportation | Appellate Practice | Alternative Dispute Resolution | Maritime & Admiralty Law

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Mr. Eckels returned home after law school, and since 1993, has devoted his practice exclusively to the defense of employers and insurance carriers in claims and appeals arising under the workers’ compensation laws of Florida and Georgia and the federal U.S. Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. He practices throughout the states of Florida and Georgia in the workers’ compensation context, while his longshore practice and Defense Base Act practice extends nationwide. His clients include employers, manufacturers, carriers, and a number of transportation and logistics companies.  He also represents employers, and in particular construction companies, facing Stop Work Orders and fines before the Division of Administrative Hearings.   

Mr. Eckels has lectured extensively on a wide range of topics in the workers’ compensation and longshore fields, and he also serves as a mediator for selected longshore claims.  He is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell, its highest rating, he was selected as one of Florida’s “Legal Elite” by Florida Trend Magazine, in 2006 and again in 2010.  He is the Chair of the Firm’s Maritime department.

Mr. Eckels is a triathlete, having completed three Ironman competitions, and has completed over 40 marathons. He is a lector at St. Mark's Luthern Church and is on the Institutional Review Committee at Baptist Hospital (2003 - current). He is an Eagle Scout.

Admissions

Florida, 1993
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1993
United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 1993
United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1999
United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 2005
Georgia, 2006

Memberships

American Bar Association
The Florida Bar

• Board Certified in Worker’s Compensation Law
• Workers' Compensation Board Certification Committee (2007-current)
• Workers' Compensation Rules Committee (2002-current)
• Workers' Compensation Section

The Georgia Bar
The Jacksonville Bar Association, Co-Chair, Workers' Compensation Section (2008-2009)
The Defense Research Institute
Long shore Claims Association
Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund, Inc, Northeast Florida, Co-Chair (2007-2008)
Barrister, E. Robert Williams Inn of Court (2007 - current)

Publications & Seminars

Instructor, Various Courses, Association of Workers' Compensation Claims Professionals Instructor, Worker’s Compensation and Related Courses, Lorman Education Services, Certified Instructor of Insurance Education, State of Florida

Education

B.A., Furman University, 1989

• President, Student Body
• Omicron Delta Kappa
• Lacrosse Team
• Winner, Alfred S. Reid Award
• Winner, Bradshaw-Feaster Medal for General Excellence
• Quaternion Club
• Co-chairperson, Collegiate Educational Service Corps

J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 1992, cum laude

• Winner, Jan Eric Cartwright Award
• Chief Justice, Stetson College of Law Honor Court