Janet Wise | CV Resume
JANET E. WISE, BCS
Board Certified Attorney
Sass Law Firm
601 West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33603
813.251.5599
ADMISSIONS
- The Florida Bar, 1992
- Florida Supreme Court, 1992
- Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1992
- State Bar of Georgia, 1992
- Supreme Court of Georgia, 1992
- Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia, 1992
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1993
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1994
- United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, 1992
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law – The Florida Bar, since 2001
- Advisory Council Member – Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2018-present
- Committee Member – Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2016-2022
- Chair – Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2020-2021
- Vice Chair – Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2019-2020
- Committee Member – Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2002-2018
- Committee Member – Governance Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2015-2016
- Co-Chair – Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2008-2015
- President – Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2007-2008
- President-Elect – Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2006-2007
- Director – Sanctions Committee, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2004-2006
- Member – Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar
- Member – National Employment Lawyers Association
- Member – Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association
EDUCATION
- Juris Doctor – Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, 1992
- Bachelor of Arts – Newberry College, cum laude, Newberry, South Carolina, 1989
CAREER EXPERIENCE
- Attorney – Sass Law Firm, practicing labor and employment law, advocating for employee rights, and representing individuals in workplace disputes involving discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, whistleblower protection, wage and hour issues, employment contracts and severance agreements, including non-compete provisions and arbitration agreements, 2006-present
- Attorney – Burr & Smith, LLP, practicing labor and employment law representing exclusively individuals, focusing on class and collective action employment law under the employment discrimination laws and Fair Labor Standards Act, 2004-2006
- Attorney– Kyres Law Firm, practicing labor and employment law, representing almost exclusively individuals, 2002-2004
- Attorney – Kelly & McKee, P.A., practicing labor and employment law, representing exclusively individuals, with a significant portion of the practice focused on traditional labor law matters and union representation, 1994-2002
- Attorney – Law Office of Mary Ann B. Oakley and Dana E. McDonald, P.C., practicing labor and employment law representing primarily individuals, in addition to workers’ compensation law representing Georgia’s Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, and wills, trusts and estate law, 1992-1994
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law – The Florida Bar, since 2001
- Florida Super Lawyers®, Labor & Employment: Employee – Thomson Reuters, 2014-present
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers – Lawdragon, 2020-present
- Professional Involvement – Lawyer Legion, 2020
- Who’s Who in American Law – Marquis Who’s Who®, 2017-present
- Top Attorney – Superb 10.0 rating, Avvo, 2006-present
- Lead Counsel Verified in Employment Law – Thomson Reuters, 2020-present
- Legal 2021 in Labor and Employment – USA – Finance Monthly, 2021
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Marquis Who’s Who®, 2019
PUBLICATIONS
- Does the Opposition Clause Have Only Selective Application? The Use of the Manager Rule by Defendants to Limit Retaliation Claims, Survey of Eleventh Circuit Case Law – Empower | Educate | Excel, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2019
- Ethics Tips for NELA Lawyers – Labor Day Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, September 2016
- Avoiding Sanctions – Celebrating 30 Years of Employee Rights Advocacy, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2015
- “Objection as to Form” – Obstructionist Conduct or an Exercise in Restraint? – Midwinter Meeting, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association, March 2015
- Issues to Consider When Providing Internship Programs – Establishing a Winning Internship Program for the Company and Student: Legal Issues, Tampa Bay Technology Forum: Grow Tampa Bay Tech and the University of Tampa, August 2013
- Obtaining Attorneys’ Fees Practically & Ethically – The Summit for Workers’ Rights, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2013
- Top Five Ethical Dilemmas Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers Face – Soaking Up the Sun: Employment Law Exposure in Florida, Annual Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, September 2012
- Professionalism and Avoidance of Sanctions – Tips for Litigating Plaintiffs’ Employment Cases, State Bar of Georgia, October 2011
- Maternal Wall Bias and Related Claims – Litigation Perspectives from Start to Finish, Winter Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, February 2010
- NELA’s Ethics Survival Kit: The Rules, Opinions & Decisions All NELA Members Should Have at Their Fingertips – 20th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2009
- Preparing or Coaching the Witness: Where is the Ethical Line? – Connect | Explore | Energize, 18th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2007
- Who Can We Talk To? Ex Parte Communications and Ethical Concerns – Advocating the Rights of Employees in the 21st Century, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, April 2007
- Motions for Sanctions in Federal and State Court – Employment Law at its Best!, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar, September 2006
- Survey of Rule 11 Case Law from 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and D.C. Circuits – Bridging the Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2006
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Ethics of Interviewing Defendants’ Employees and Candor to the Court – Community | Learning | Excellence, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Virtual), July 2020
- Does the Opposition Clause Have Only Selective Application? The Use of the Manager Rule by Defendants to Limit Retaliation Claims – Empower | Educate | Excel, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (New Orleans, Louisiana), June 2019
- Ethics Topics – Labor Day Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (St. Pete Beach, Florida), September 2016
- Ethics Tips from the Experts – Celebrating 30 Years of Employee Rights Advocacy, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Atlanta, Georgia), June 2015
- “Objection as to Form” – Obstructionist Conduct or an Exercise in Restraint? – Midwinter Meeting, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association (Naples, Florida), March 2015
- USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 15th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), January 2015
- USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 14th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), January 2014
- Internship Roundtable – Establishing a Winning Internship Program for the Company and Student: Legal Issues, Tampa Bay Technology Forum: Grow Tampa Bay Tech and the University of Tampa (Tampa, Florida), August 2013
- Obtaining Attorneys’ Fees Practically & Ethically – The Summit for Workers’ Rights, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Denver, Colorado), June 2013
- USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 13th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), February 2013
- Top Five Ethical Dilemmas Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers Face – Soaking Up the Sun: Employment Law Exposure in Florida, Annual Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (St. Pete Beach, Florida), September 2012
- USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 12th Annual Labor and Employment Law Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), February 2012
- Professionalism and Avoidance of Sanctions – Tips for Litigating Plaintiffs’ Employment Cases, State Bar of Georgia (Atlanta, Georgia), October 2011
- Maternal Wall Bias and Related Claims – Litigation Perspectives from Start to Finish, Winter Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (Lake Buena Vista, Florida), February 2010
- NELA’s Ethics Survival Kit: The Rules, Opinions & Decisions All NELA Members Should Have at Their Fingertips – 20th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Rancho Mirage, California), June 2009
- Welcome – Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (St. Petersburg, Florida), September 2008
- The Life Cycle of the Attorney Client Relationship: Practice Tips from NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Committee – 19th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Atlanta, Georgia), June 2008
- The Care and Feeding of Witnesses: Fact Pattern – Preparing or Coaching Witnesses: Where Is The Ethical Line? – Connect | Explore | Energize, 18th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (San Juan, Puerto Rico), June 2007
- Who Can We Talk To? Ex Parte Communications and Ethical Concerns – Advocating the Rights of Employees in the 21st Century, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (Stuart, Florida), April 2007
- Motions for Sanctions in Federal Court – Employment Law at Its Best!, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Plantation, Florida), September 2006
- The Ethical Conundrum: Sanctions Against Plaintiffs and Their Attorneys – Bridging the Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace, 17th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (San Francisco, California), June 2006
