Amanda represents employees whose workplace rights have been violated, advocating for them in both federal and state courts, arbitration, civil service hearings and mediation. She also represents workers before administrative agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Additionally, Amanda assists workers in obtaining reemployment assistance (unemployment benefits) and otherwise helps clients understand their legal rights and obligations before a dispute arises.
Before founding her own employment law firm, Amanda honed her skills at one of Tampa’s premier employment law firms, where she represented employees in a wide range of employment-related disputes. Prior to relocating to Tampa, Amanda served as a management-side employment lawyer, gaining unique insights into the strategies and tactics used by employers in litigation. Her experience allows her to effectively identify, combat, and overcome the challenges workers face in employment lawsuits. Amanda’s career also includes her role as an attorney for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, a state agency formed to enforce statutes prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and places of public accommodations. Her extensive knowledge and experience make her a formidable advocate for workers, and she is dedicated to resolving disputes favorably for her clients.
Amanda’s commitment to excellence has been recognized by several prestigious organizations. She was listed as a Super Lawyer® by Thomson Reuters in 2024 and featured in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law for Individuals and Labor and Employment Litigation. Previously, she was honored as a “Ones to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America®. Since 2021, Amanda has been recognized in the 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers Guide by Lawdragon and acknowledged by Lawyer Legion for her professional involvement.
Amanda has lectured on various topics related to employment law and fair housing. She “wrote the book” on fair housing law for the Missouri Bar Deskbook – Real Estate Law, 5th Edition, published in 2019, and has written articles for Lawyer magazine published by the Hillsborough County Bar Association, as well as legal update blogs.
Amanda graduated with honors from Saint Louis University School of Law, in St. Louis, Missouri, and is admitted to the bar in Missouri, Illinois as well as Florida. Amanda is actively involved in the legal community, and currently serves as the President of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association also known as Florida NELA, the Co-Vice Chair of the Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, and Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.
Outside the office, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoors. Contact Amanda today at 813-428-8800 to schedule a consultation and ensure your workplace rights are protected.
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Education
- Saint Louis University, Juris Doctor, cum laude, graduated 2012
- Washington University in St. Louis, Bachelor of Science, graduated 2000
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 2018
- Missouri, 2012 (currently inactive)
- Illinois, 2013 (currently inactive)
Awards and Recognitions
- Rated by Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters, 2024
- Best Lawyers® in Employment Law for Individuals and in Litigation – Labor and Employment – The Best Lawyers in America®, 2024-2025
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2021-present
- Top Attorney – Superb 10.0 Rating by Avvo, 2021- present
- Lead Counsel Verified in Employment Law – Thomson Reuters, 2021-present
- Professional Involvement – Recognition by Lawyer Legion, 2020-present
- Recommended by The Employment Attorneys for the State of Florida 2024-2025
- Who’s Who in American Law – Marquis Who’s Who®, 2024
- Ones to Watch, Employment Law – The Best Lawyers in America®, 2021-2023
- Amazing Ally in Housing – Corbel Award, Springfield Center for Independent Living, 2018
Affiliations
- Labor and Employment Section, Hillsborough County Bar Association – Co-Chair (2019-2025); Current Member
- Continuing Legal Education Committee, The Florida Bar – Vice Chair (2024-2025); Vice Co-Chair (2023-2024); Committee Member (2021-2023)
- Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association – President (2024); President-Elect (2023); Programming Vice President (2022); Vice President (2021); Membership Committee Member (2020)
- Judicial Recognition Committee, Tampa Bay Chapter, Federal Bar Association – Co-Chair (2021-2023)
- National Employment Lawyers Association – Current member
- Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association – Current member
- Federal Bar Association – Current Member
- Tampa Bay Chapter, Federal Bar Association – Current Member
- Labor & Employment Law Section of The Florida Bar – Current Member
- Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar – Current Member
- Hillsborough County Bar Association – Current Member
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Pasco County Chapter – Current Member
- Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar – (2018-2023)
- Annual Real Estate Institute, The Missouri Bar – Planning Chair (2018)
Court Admissions
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2018
- Florida Supreme Court, 2018
- Florida District Courts of Appeal, 2018
Publications
The materials listed below are being made available for informational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as legal advice.
- The First Amendment and Employee Social Media Use – Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association, March/April 2021
- Recent Developments in Florida Public Whistleblower Law – Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association, November/December 2019
- Fair Housing – Missouri Bar Deskbook: Real Estate Practice, The Missouri Bar, published August 2019
- Scotus Deals Blow to Public Unions in Ideological Split – Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association, September/October 2018
- Avoid the Dangers of Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors – Labor & Employment Law Update, SmithAmundsen, LLC, March 2018
- Is Your Companyʼs “Flexible Scheduling” Policy a Violation of Wage and Hour Law? – Labor & Employment Law Update, SmithAmundsen, LLC, October 2017
- An Employerʼs Guide on Service Animals and the ADA – Labor & Employment Law Update, SmithAmundsen, LLC, July 2017
- Colorado District Court Issues Landmark Decision Holding that the Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – Law Update, SmithAmundsen, LLC, July 2017
- Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My (Service) Horse: A Business Ownerʼs Primer on Service Animals and the ADA – Labor & Employment Law Update, SmithAmundsen, LLC, May 2017
- The Catʼs Paw Theory Burns Another Employer – Labor & Employment Law Update, SmithAmundsen, LLC, April 2017
Speaking Engagements & Interviews
- Workplace Rights: What Nurses Need to Know– Florida Nurses Association Membership Assembly (Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida), September 2022
- Empower, Advocate and Represent Employee Rights in the Workplace – On the Record with Sarina Fazan, Sarina Fazan Network (Interview), April 2022
- Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations – 10TampaBay (Interview), March 2021
- Fair Housing Law – Public Interest Law Section, The Florida Bar (Webinar), April 2019
- Service Animals in the Workplace – Advanced Labor Topics 2019, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Jupiter, Florida), April 2019
- Employee Handbook Essentials for HR Pros and Business Owners – SmithAmundsen, LLC (Webinar), November 2017
- ADA Compliance for Employers – Lunch & Learn, Empower Abilities, f/k/a Southwest Center for Independent Living (Springfield Missouri), November 2017
- ADA Compliance: Who is Covered and How to Limit Liability – Third Annual Labor & Employment Fall Seminar, SmithAmundsen, LLC (Lombard, Illinois), September 2017
- Common Discrimination Complaints and How to Avoid Them – Fair Housing Symposium, City of Jefferson and Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors (Jefferson City, Missouri), June 2017
- Fair Housing – Missouri Supportive Housing Institute (Missouri), April 2017
- Service Animals, Fair Housing and the Americans with Disabilities Act – Fair Housing and Lending Seminar, City of Columbia Human Rights and Disabilities Commissions, Central Bank of Boone County, Columbia Housing Authority, Columbia Apartment Association and the Missouri Commission on Human Relations (Columbia, Missouri), April 2017
- Fair Housing for Survivors of Domestic Abuse – 2016 MCADSV Annual Conference, Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (Columbia, Missouri), November 2016
- Disparate Impact Theory Under the Fair Housing Act – Navigating Affordable Housing, 2016 MOCARH Conference, Missouri Council for Affordable Rental Housing (Branson, Missouri), September 2016
- Is This an Assistance Animal? – Kansas City Fair Housing Seminar, The Whole Person (Kansas City, Missouri), August 2016
- Fair Housing Law and the Administrative Complaint Process – Springfield Fair Housing Seminar, Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Regulations (Springfield, Missouri), July 2016
- Presentation by Missouri Commission on Human Rights – Committee Meeting, St. Charles Human Relations Commission (St. Charles, Missouri), July 2016
- Fair Housing – Ensuring Equal Opportunity: Missouri Commission on Human Rights, Saint Louis University School of Law (St. Louis, Missouri), April 2016
- Presentation by Missouri Commission on Human Rights – Committee Meeting, Bellefontaine Neighbors Human Relations Commission (St. Louis, Missouri), August 2015
- Criminal Records Guidance and Fair Housing – 2015 Annual Conference, Heartland Affordable Housing Management Association (Riverside, Missouri), July 2015
- Fair Housing Assistance: Cause Cases and the Adjudication Process – Program Training Conference, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Region VII (Kansas City, Kansas), June 2015
- Overview of the Missouri Commission on Human Relations – Committee Meeting, Regional Housing Collaborative Steering Committee, Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri), June 2015
- The Missouri Human Rights Act: Housing Provider Best Practices – Fair Housing Seminar, City of Columbia (Columbia, Missouri), April 2015
- Presentation by Missouri Commission on Human Rights – Committee Meeting, Ferguson Human Rights Commission (Ferguson, Missouri), January 2015
- The Missouri Human Rights Act and Administrative Process – Missouri State Conference Meeting, NAACP (Columbia, Missouri), October 2014
