Annette Newman
Florida Labor and Employment Law Attorney
- Biography
The Law Office of Annette Newman, PLLC is a professional full-service law firm dedicated to providing quality legal services at an affordable price throughout the State of Florida. Attorney Newman practices primarily in employment/labor law claims, including discrimination claims based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, religion and/or disability; sexual harassment claims, unpaid wages and/or overtime, whistle blower claims, unemployment hearings and appeals, housing discrimination and public accomodation discrimination as well as other civil rights issues. Attorney Newman also handles matters dealing with all types of employment agreements, including independent contractor, non-compete, severance, non-disclosure, non-solicitation and severance agreements. Attorney Newman provides quality legal representation for both employers and employee (plaintiff’s) claims. She provides employment law consultation; training and/or legal advice for employers and small businesses at competitive rates (management and sexual-harassment training, draft company policies, employee handbooks, unemployment hearings; EEOC position statements, etc.). The firm also handles other types of civil law claims, including family law (divorces, legal separations, pre-nuptual and post-nuptual agreements; child support enforcement); small claims; business law, debtor/creditor disputes; collections; contract disputes; housing discrimination, public accommodations discrimination, and business law. Attorney Newman is also an experienced litigator who has successfully litigated thousands of claims. She represents other law firms throughout the state of Florida as local counsel, including arguing motions, settling claims through mediation and all aspects of Pretrial litigation.
Certified Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Mediator – The firm offers mediation services throughout South and Central Florida, specializing in employment law disputes.
- Practice Areas
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Gov & Administrative Law
- Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father’s Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Divorce
- Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
- Civil Rights
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Discrimination, Employment, Fair Housing, Police Misconduct, Privacy Law
- Collections
- Fees
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Florida
- Since 2010
-
- Languages
- English:
Spoken, Written
- Professional Experience
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
- Law Office of Annette Newman, PLLC
-
2019 –
Current
- Senior Legal Editor – Independent Contractor
- Thompson Reuters
-
2018 –
Current
- Write, edit, and update state-specific labor and employment resources, including checklists, standard forms and policies, and other state-specific legal content in accordance with Practical Law writing style. Answer questions and perform research on discrete state law issues that arise in the final review of these resources conducted by Practical Law.
- Managing Attorney
- Law Office of Annette Newman, LLC
-
2011 –
Current
- Provide full-range of legal services and advice to clients; Litigation experience includes appearances as local counsel for law firms throughout South Florida for various pre-trial appearances, including pre-trial conferences, case management conferences, status hearings, motion hearings, mediations, and depositions; Develop and present employment law training programs for small businesses; Develop performance appraisals and company policies for employers and small businesses; Develop employee handbooks; Advise and counsel employers and small business owners regarding federal, state and local employment law regulations; Develop non-compete, non-solicitation and severance agreements for employers and small businesses; Prepare EEOC position statements for employers and small business owners in response to EEOC charges; Experience with debt/debtor collections; divorces, pre-nuptual agreements, plaintiff’s claims; employer defense claims; breach of contract actions; foreclosure proceedings; Licensed to practice in Florida state and federal courts.
- Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator
- Law Office of Annette Newman, LLC
-
2009 –
Current
- Certified Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Investigator. Investigate federal employment law discrimination claims for various federal agencies throughout the U.S., as an Independent Contractor; Prepare affidavits and gather evidence related to formal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) claims; Interview witnesses and obtain testimony; Prepare reports of investigation.
- Human Resources Generalist
- 7-Eleven, Incorporated
-
2003 –
2011
- Managed employee relations for over 3000 employees throughout the State of Florida; prepared position statements in response to federal, state and local employment law claims;
Prepared and presented training presentations and training manuals related to employment law regulations; Managed the workers compensation and unemployment compensation claims process;
Collaborated with corporate and private counsel to prepare for potential litigation; Attended mediations and depositions as company representative; Monitored changes in the law to ensure policies comply with all federal, state and local regulations; Developed and implemented new policies; Researched and evaluated management practices, training and development programs, and leadership principles, using metrics to measure performance; Advised store management team regarding hourly employee training and development needs; Managed the human resources planning process, including assisting management team with individual development plans, performance improvement plans and performance appraisals; Provided coaching to management team to ensure effective employee relations, reduce turnover, and minimize potential litigation.
- Field Consultant/District Manager
- 7-Eleven, Incorporated
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1994 –
2003
- Provided necessary supervision for all aspects of operations for eight to twelve retail convenience stores and over 100 employees; Took all necessary action for opening new stores, including recruiting, hiring, training and developing store associates and store managers; Developed a team of store managers who achieved established financial plans, sales goals and customer service objectives; Evaluated Store Manager performance, conducted performance appraisals, developed performance improvement plans, and provided feedback and development opportunities to increase retention of Store Managers and sales associates; Reviewed financial reports and managed expenses, to ensure budgeted sales and profits goals were met.
- Non-Commissioned Officer Sergeant (E-5)
- U.S. Army
-
1987 –
1994
- Served eight years active-duty in the U.S. Army and one year as a U.S. Army Reservist; promoted to E5/Sergeant; Honorably Discharged; Served as Unit Equal Employment Opportunity Representative; Managed a team of 4 to 12 information management specialists; Provided guidance to ensure all publications and forms met prescribed style, format, and legal and military standard operating procedure requirements; Managed all aspects of information management division, including training, software, hardware, telecommunications, communications systems and equipment, mail and publications.
- Courtroom Deputy/Administrative Assistant JS-9
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court
-
1983 –
1986
- Administrative Assistant to Clerk of U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Courtroom Deputy to U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judges; Managed the judges’ and Clerk of Court calendars and scheduled hearings, trials and conferences; Assisted with the orderly flow of proceedings, by setting up the courtroom; interfacing with and ensuring the presence of all necessary participants; administering oaths; managing exhibits; operating courtroom technology; and facilitating jury selection; Took notes of proceedings, prepared formal written documentation of the outcome of those proceedings, and electronically docketed the same.
- Administrative Deputy Clerk
- U.S. Marshal’s Service
-
1981 –
1983
- Performed administrative tasks, including processing legal pleadings; Performed accounting and bookkeeping duties, including accounts payable and receivables; Assisted in the Witness Security and Warrants Divisions as needed.
- Education
- Stetson University College of Law
- J.D. (2009) | Law
-
2009
-
- Wayland Baptist University
- MBA (2001) | Human Resource Mgmt.
-
2001
-
- Wayland Baptist University
- B.S. | Business Administration
-
1999
- Honors: Graduated with Honors
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- Central Texas College
- A.A.S. (1994) | Applied Management
-
1994
- Honors: Graduated with Honors
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- Monterey Peninsula College
- A.S. (1993) | Accounting
-
1993
- Honors: Highest Honors
-
- Monterey Peninsula College
- A.S. (1993) | Business Administration
-
1993
- Honors: Highest Honors
-
- Awards
- Florida Legal Elite
- Florida Trend
- 2021
- Recognized by Florida Trend Magazine in 2018 and 2021 among the selectees of Florida’s Legal Elite.
- 2021 Top Lawyers
- Palm Beach Media Group – Stuart Magazine
- 2021
- Annette Newman was selected by a vote of her peers to be included in Palm Beach Media Group’s Stuart Magazine 2021 list of Top Lawyers. The list will appear within the November 2021 issue of Stuart Magazine.
- Superlawyers Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- 2020
- Recognized as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers for four consecutive years from 2017-2020.
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
- America’s Top 100
- 2019
- Selection to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is by invitation only and is comprised of the nation’s most exceptional trial lawyers for high stakes legal matters. For initial consideration, an attorney must have successfully litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake (i.e. bet-the-company litigation valued in excess of $2,000,000). Thereafter, qualifying candidates are ranked based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, legal achievements, significant case results, peer reputation, and community impact (See Selection Methodology for more information about the selection process) to determine the Top 100 High Stakes Litigators in each state*.
- Super Lawyers Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- 2019
- Annette Newman has been selected to the 2019 Florida Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.
- Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- 2018
- Attorney was selected to the Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2018. Only 2.5% of lawyers are selected as Rising Stars by Super Lawyers.
- Rising Star
- Super Lawyers
- 2017
- Selected as a 2017 Super Lawyers Rising Star. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
- Top 100 Attorney
- National Black Lawyers Top 100
- 2017
- Selected as a Top 100 Attorney by the National Black Lawyers Top 100 in 2016 and 2017
- Top 100 Attorney
- National Black Lawyers Top 100
- 2016
- William F. Blews Pro Bono Award
- Stetson University College of Law
- 2009
- In honor of William F. Blews, ’66, Stetson College of Law has established this award to recognize those students who, at a minimum, perform twice the number of Pro Bono service hours required for graduation.
- Recognition
- Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities
- 2001
- Recognized for academic merit.
- Recognition
- National Deans List
- 2001
- Recognized for academic merit.
- Army Commendation medal
- U.S. Army
- 1994
- 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster
- Army Achievement Medal
- U.S. Army
- 1990
- 2nd Oakleaf Cluster
- Professional Associations
- Florida Bar
- Member
- Current
- Activities: Employment Law Section member
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- Florida National Employment Lawyers Association
- Member
-
2015 –
Current -
- National Black Lawyers Top 100
- Member
-
2016 –
2018 -
- National Bar Association
- Member
-
2015 –
2018 -
- National Association of Professional Women (NAPW)
- Member
-
2015 –
2017 -
- National Employment Lawyers Association
- Member
-
2015 –
2017 -
- American Bar Association
- Member
-
2009 –
2013 - Activities: Employment/Labor Law Section
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- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Member
-
2008 –
2010 -
- Websites & Blogs
- Website
- Website
- Contact & Address
- Rate This Lawyer