Ford & Harrison LLP, a national labor and employment law firm, is pleased to announce that four of the firm's Florida-based partners have been voted "2010 Florida Legal Elite Honorees" by Florida Trend magazine. James G. Brown, Tracey K. Jaensch, Tammie L. Rattray and Kay L. Wolf were recognized. In addition, Kelly H. Chanfrau was recognized as a "2010 Up & Comer" by Florida Trend.
The selection process was rigorous. It began with notifying and inviting members of the Florida Bar to name attorneys they hold in the highest regard or would recommend to others. The ballots were processed, checked and tabulate and the list of top vote-getters was further examined using membership status and practice histories provided by the Florida Bar. This year's list of 918 Legal Elite attorneys represents less than 2% of the nearly 63,000 Florida Bar members practicing in Florida. Up & Comers are top attorneys in practice 10 years or less or under 40 years of age.
Jim Brown concentrates his practice on labor relations law, employment discrimination law, defense of wage and hour matters and mediation. He regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board, the State of Florida Public Employees Relations Commission and the United States Department of Labor. Jim is a certified mediator who has mediated over 600 labor and employment cases. He represents companies and employers in a variety of industries including health care, transportation, government contracting, and the public sector such as cities, towns and school boards. Jim received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1970.
Tracey Jaensch's practice focuses on defending employers in discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and contract dispute litigation. She represents companies in a variety of industries, including health care, corrections, banking, hospitality and retail. Tracey's specialty is complex litigation and trial work. She has successfully tried numerous cases for our firm's employer clients and been lead defense attorney in multi-plaintiff discrimination lawsuits in Florida. Tracey also has significant experience in executive level employment contract disputes, trade secret and whistle-blower suits. Tracey received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 1991.
Tammie Rattray's practice includes union avoidance, union organizing campaigns, contract negotiations, alleged unfair labor practices, wage and hour claims, and all aspects of EEO claims, including alleged harassment, discrimination and retaliation cases. Tammie has successfully litigated claims, to include jury trials, in both state and federal court, and she has also successfully defended employers in arbitrations and administrative proceedings before the NLRB, EEOC and other state and federal agencies. Tammie received her J.D. from University of Florida College of Law, with honors, in 1997.
Kay Wolf, Board-certified by the Florida Bar as a Specialist in labor and employment law, has practiced in the area since 1976. Her practice is devoted to providing management with the necessary tools to meet the challenges in today's employment arena, through proactive legal advice, training, and litigating complex cases in both trial and appellate courts. Kay is a certified mediator in Florida's circuit courts and in the U.S. Middle District of Florida. She also serves as an arbitrator. Kay received her J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1975.
Kelly Chanfrau concentrates her practice in employment law, wage and hour law, litigation and client counseling. She has successfully handled cases in a variety of substantive areas before both State and Federal Courts in Florida, the EEOC, DOL, OFCCP, DOAH, City Pension Boards, and County Human Resources Boards. She has successfully represented private and public employers of all sizes in a wide variety of industries. Kelly received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, with honors, in 2001.