 Attorneys | |
DEBRA E. SCHWARTZAdmitted to bar: 1982, Georgia Education: State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A. with honors, Phi Beta
Kappa, 1979) Debra Schwartz has been practicing in the area of employment law since her graduation from Emory Law School and admission to the Georgia Bar in 1982. Debra has a passion for representing employees exercising their rights under the federal anti-discrimination statutes, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the U.S. Constitution. However, she has also successfully defended claims of discrimination both before the EEOC and in federal and state courts, and has provided training for employers about appropriate workplace behavior. Over the years, Debra has served as a cooperating attorney for both the ACLU and LAMBDA. Debra has extensive trial experience in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and has argued numerous cases before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She has even petitioned the United States Supreme Court. Debra is no stranger to taking on unpopular claims and causes. She represented attorney Robin Shahar in her fight against discrimination by then State Attorney General Mike Bowers. Debra successfully pursued a claim of whistle-blower retaliation brought by 3 individuals against the City of Atlanta, and even had the City held in contempt by a federal judge when it refused to reinstate the prevailing Plaintiffs and pay them the monies owed to them. Debra represented Somalian workers employed cleaning airplanes at the Atlanta Airport who were terminated due to their inability to pass an English-only test. On another occasion, Debra handled a case for a group of Islamic men terminated for refusing to shave their faces, as to do so was against their religion. From 1982 until 1999, Debra worked for a union-side labor law firm, and started the firm’s Plaintiffs employment practice. Debra handled all types of employment discrimination litigation on behalf of individuals. She also represented the unions and their officers from claims of discrimination. In addition, Debra represented union members in all types of industries (including musicians, printing pressmen, tradesmen, and truck drivers) in arbitrations, hearings and traditional labor matters. In 1999, Debra was a founding member of the firm, Thompson, Rollins & Schwartz, a firm that concentrated strictly in employment law and business immigration law. During her 9 years with that firm, Debra practiced only employment law, and began becoming more and more involved in drafting and reviewing employment contracts, non-compete agreements and severance agreements for both employees and employers. Debra who speaks frequently at Continuing Legal Education and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Seminars, is a long time member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), as well as a founding member of the Georgia chapter of NELA. She is on a panel of lawyers that meets regularly with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to bring concerns of Charging Parties and their attorneys to the attention of the EEOC. Debra has been recognized as one of the top attorneys in Georgia, indeed nationally, practicing labor and employment law. In 2006, she was elected as a Fellow to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Debra has been named as one of Georgia's Super Lawyers, one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Georgia and one of the Top 50 Female Attorneys in Georgia, as published in Atlanta Magazine. Georgia Trend Magazine has also identified Debra as among Georgia's "Legal Elite." Given her expertise and passion for practicing employment law, Debra is very pleased to be starting her own practice where she can concentrate 100% on employment law. Legal Memberships: State
Bar of
Georgia Practice Areas: Employment Law and Civil Rights including: Wage and Hour Law, ERISA Discrimination, Employment Contracts and Severance Agreements Other: "Georgia Super Lawyers, The Top Attorneys in Georgia," Guide
to Best Attorneys in Georgia: Law & Politics Magazine and
Atlanta Magazine, March 2000 - 2010 Law Offices of Debra E. Schwartz, LLC, 945 E. Paces Ferry Road, Suite 1770, Atlanta GA 30326
Phone: 404-842-7262 Fax: 404-842-7277, E-Mail des@GAEmploymentLawyers.com |
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