Akerman is pleased to announce that Partner Brian Nugent has been appointed to lead the firm’s Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) and Staffing Law Sector Team. In this role, Brian will guide a national, cross-practice group dedicated to serving the complex legal and regulatory needs of PEOs, staffing companies, and other dual employers.
Comprehensive Legal Counsel for PEO and Staffing Clients
Brian has built a national reputation for advising PEOs, temporary staffing firms, and Employer of Record (EOR) companies. He leads a team that provides comprehensive counsel on regulatory, transactional, and compliance matters affecting the sector. His practice spans entity formation, co-employment and joint employment risk, state licensing, client and vendor contracting, employee handbooks, benefit plan compliance, employment litigation and regulatory defense, workers’ compensation, and EPLI issues. He also represents buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions, closing more than 30 deals in the space in the past six years.
Leadership Perspective
“We are thrilled to have Brian step into this leadership role,” said Scott Meyers, Akerman’s Chairman and CEO. “His deep knowledge, extensive client relationships, and track record of helping PEOs and staffing companies scale to meet growing demand make him uniquely qualified to lead our PEO and Staffing Law Sector Team as we continue to expand our presence in this dynamic sector.”
First-Hand Sector Knowledge
Brian previously served as Chief Legal Officer for two national employment services companies, Advantec Solutions, a national PEO, and Outsource International d/b/a Tandem, where he helped launch and operate a PEO subsidiary. He also served as the outsourced general counsel for People 2.0, a global EOR and staffing company, from its formation in 2001 through 2021, and remains a trusted advisor to the company.
“The PEO and staffing sectors are at a pivotal moment of transformation and opportunity,” said Brian. “I am honored to lead a team that combines comprehensive experience and insight with practical legal solutions, helping our clients stay ahead in a complex, rapidly evolving landscape.”
Trusted by Leading PEO and Staffing Companies Nationwide
Brian’s client roster includes some of the most respected names in the business, from large national providers operating in all 50 states, including Paychex, ProService, and Amplify HR, to regional organizations such as Clear Employer Services, Choice HR, Congruity HR, and Optimum HR. He also represents staffing and EOR clients, including People 2.0, MedHQ, Allevity HR, The Applied Companies, Hybrid Payroll, and Signature Healthcare, as well as a major vendor to the PEO industry, Slavic 401k. His team currently serves as outsourced compliance counsel for six PEOs nationwide.
An active voice in the industry, Brian serves on the Legal Advisory Committee of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) and regularly presents at its national events. He has also been a speaker at American Staffing Association (ASA) conferences and remains engaged with the association.
About Akerman LLP
Founded in 1920, Akerman is recognized as one of the country’s premier law firms, with more than 700 lawyers throughout the United States.