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Jeff Hammer is a seasoned civil litigator with experience in employment law and complex commercial litigation. He focuses his practice in the area of labor and employment law, including representation of clients in wage and hour litigation, discrimination and harassment cases, and contract disputes.

Mr. Hammer has advised and represented clients in numerous industries, including construction, manufacturing, hospitality and real estate. He is admitted to practice in State and Federal Courts throughout Florida. Mr. Hammer’s reported cases include Law Offices of Lynn W. Martin, P.A. v. Madson, 144 So. 3d 707 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014), Duval v. SunTrust Bank, 116 So. 3d 1275 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013) and United Dominion Realty v. Penco Construction, 108 So. 3d 1111 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013).

Mr. Hammer previously served as a subcommittee chairperson on The Florida Bar Law Related Education Committee, and he is actively involved in the Central Florida community.

After graduating with Highest Honors from Florida State University in 2002, Mr. Hammer earned his Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University College of Law in 2006

Ms. Webb was born in Greenville, North Carolina and was raised in Northeast Arkansas. She received both her undergraduate degree and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Following her graduation in 1998, Kimberly served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Judith Rodgers of the Arkansas Court of Appeals and to Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Ms. Webb moved to Central Florida in 2001 and began her career litigating in a broad range of areas including property and casualty insurance coverage and bad faith, products liability, insurance defense, and commercial, employment, and civil rights litigation. Kimberly has litigated in these areas extensively in both the state and federal trial and appellate courts. Ms. Webb currently practices exclusively in the area of employment litigation and consultation.

Ms. Webb is an active member of the local Bar associations. She is a past president of the Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers and has served as a member of the Board for the Orange County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and on the Orange County Bar Association Executive Council.

Ms. Webb is licensed to practice in Florida, all federal district courts in Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Truesdell has practiced in the area of labor and employment law representing both employers and employees in the public and private sectors for 20 years. Mr. Truesdell has provided both advice and litigation services to numerous clients on employment law matters. He is a member of the Labor and Employment Law sections of The Florida Bar and the Orange County Bar Association.

In addition to representing numerous employees, Mr. Truesdell has represented employers of all sizes, from small local businesses to large corporations. He has represented many public sector clients, including school boards in Osceola and Indian River Counties, the cities of Cocoa, Winter Springs and Cape Canaveral and the Reedy Creek Improvement District at Walt Disney World. Additionally, Mr. Truesdell has served as the General Counsel for the Florida Real Estate Commission. He is currently the Legislative Chair of the Volusia/Flager Society of Human Resource Management.

Mr. Truesdell has experience in collective bargaining negotiations and has appeared before various administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Public Employees Relations Commission. He has litigated all types of employment law cases in federal and state courts, including disputes in the areas of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour violations, civil rights, medical leave, unemployment and military leave. Mr. Truesdell also has extensive experience drafting non-compete agreements and employee handbooks. He is licensed to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Truesdell has presented numerous training seminars on various employment law topics.

Mr. Truesdell graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with an honors grade in appellate advocacy and was Managing Editor of the law school newspaper. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Truesdell was a news reporter for the Orlando Sentinel and wrote in-depth investigative articles about legal issues and law enforcement. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida School of Journalism and Communications.

Mr. Spalter graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 1992, and received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University in 1989. Since graduating from law school, Mr. Spalter has concentrated his practice in the field of labor and employment law. Over the years, Mr. Spalter has represented a wide variety of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to individuals employed in numerous industries and professions within the private and public sectors.

Mr. Spalter has litigated throughout the State of Florida, and is a member of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Spalter has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law since 2002, and was inducted into the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in 2013. Mr. Spalter is rated “AV” (highest rating) by Martindale Hubbell, and has received many other designations, including being listed as a “Florida Super Lawyer” by the Law & Politics publication, as a member of “Florida’s Legal Elite” by Florida Trend Magazine, and as one of “Orlando’s Top Lawyers” by Orlando Home & Leisure Magazine. Mr. Spalter also maintains the highest rating, “Superb,” in the Avvo legal directory.

Mr. Spalter has served on the Florida Bar Labor and Employment Section’s Executive Council.  Additionally, he has served as the  President of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association.

Mr. Spalter devotes a substantial portion of his practice to matters relating to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other unpaid wage claims. In addition to litigating these claims, Mr. Spalter regularly conducts compliance audits and represents employers during Department of Labor investigations. Mr. Spalter also served on a committee organized by the Orange County Bar Association to develop a standard FLSA Scheduling Order for the Orlando Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The resulting draft was adopted by the court, which is now routinely used in FLSA cases filed within the Division.

Mr. Spalter also lectures frequently on the FLSA in seminars for attorneys, business owners and managers, and human resources professionals. In 2003, Mr. Spalter co-authored a publication for G.Neil, titled Wage and Hour Law Understood, an Employer’s Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Currently, he is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Thompson Publishing Group’s wage & hour series, including the Employer’s Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act, and has published many articles and comments in these publications’ monthly newsletters.

Jill S. Schwartz graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers University. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law where she received the award for the most significant publication by a graduating law student. After completing a Judicial Clerkship in Maryland, she was hired by the Special Litigation Division of the United States Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. Ms. Schwartz is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in Florida and in Maryland, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits, as well as The United States Supreme Court. She is AV Peer Review (highest) Rated by Martindale-Hubble and is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and Preeminent Women Lawyers.

In 2005, Ms. Schwartz was the first woman in the State of Florida inducted into The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, representing the highest recognition by her colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in her profession. She has chaired the College’s Credentials Committee for the Eleventh Circuit.  Ms. Schwartz is a former Chairman of the Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Section. Additionally she has held numerous leadership roles in the Labor and Employment Law Section, including Past-Chair, Chair-Elect, Legal Education Director and Secretary/Treasurer.

Ms. Schwartz is Past-President of the Orlando Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and has served as a National Delegate for the Federal Bar Association. She is a Past-President of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association. She was also selected to be Chairperson of the Orange County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Committee.

Ms. Schwartz was appointed by former Governor Jeb Bush to a four-year term on the Fifth District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission. She subsequently served as Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission and was chosen to serve on the Magistrate Merit Selection Panel. Ms. Schwartz was appointed Chair of the Middle District of Florida Magistrate Selection Committee.

Ms. Schwartz was selected to serve on the Commission to Improve the Civil Justice System. She has been appointed to serve on the Orange County Bar Foundation. Additionally, she was selected by the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar to a three-year term on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee.

Ms. Schwartz has been active in the litigation of employment discrimination and retaliation cases in various federal and state courts, and has significant experience in all aspects of the practice of employment law. She has handled employment litigation under the Florida Civil Rights Act, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, employment-related torts and civil rights matters. She represents clients in whistleblower actions, including federal and state False Claims Acts/Qui Tam matters.

Additionally, Ms. Schwartz is an author and a frequent lecturer on employment law topics for the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Dispute Resolution Center. She was selected as the monthly columnist for a national magazine, Venture Woman, regarding workplace issues and has appeared in Smart Money, The Wall Street Journal Magazine of Personal Business, and has been quoted in The Orlando Business Journal, The Orlando Sentinel and in The Wall Street Journal. She has been a monthly columnist for the “Ask the Legal Professional” section of The Orlando Business Journal.

As a certified mediator, Ms. Schwartz concentrates on resolving employment litigation matters. She is also certified by the Fifth District Court of Appeals as an appellate mediator. She has continued to attend and conduct seminars on alternative dispute resolution. Ms. Schwartz mediates litigation pending in the United States District Courts and Florida State Courts. She also conducts pre-suit mediation. Additionally, Ms. Schwartz was selected by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the United States Postal Service to mediate employment matters for these agencies. Additionally, Ms. Schwartz is a qualified arbitrator and has served as an Instructor for the Supreme Court of Florida Dispute Resolution Center Arbitration Certification Training seminars.

As an employment attorney, Jill believes strongly in maintaining an optimal work environment. Since 2002, the firm has been selected as The Orlando Sentinel’s “Top 100 Companies for Working Families.” Jill S. Schwartz & Associates received the Sentinel’s “Corporate Champion Award” in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. In addition, the firm has been chosen by Florida Trend Magazine as the number one “Best Company to Work For” in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and continues to be recognized as a best company to work for in 2021. The firm was also selected by the Orlando Business Journal as a 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 “Best Place To Work.”

Ms. Schwartz believes in giving back to the community, and this is a firm-wide effort. In 2012, she was honored by the Central Florida Women’s Resource Center with their “Summit Award” for outstanding philanthropic contribution to her community. In 2010, Ms. Schwartz received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2007, the firm received the prestigious “Community Service Award” from The Orlando Sentinel. Jill serves on the board of directors and advisory boards of several non-profit organizations and the firm is involved in numerous philanthropic ventures each year.

Ms. Schwartz has been named “Best Of The Bar” (Top 5%) by The Orlando Business Journal and one of “Florida’s Legal Elite” (Top 1.6%) by Florida Trend magazine. She has earned Avvo’s highest rating (“Superb”). Ms. Schwartz has also been named one of the “Best Lawyers in Central Florida” and “Orlando’s Best Lawyers” by Orlando Magazine. Ms. Schwartz has been included in “Top Attorneys in Florida” in the Wall Street Journal, and the “Top 50 Women Attorneys in Florida” in the Wall Street Journal as well as Florida Super Lawyers and Florida Super Lawyers Top 50 Women. She has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the Law and Leading Attorneys publication as a “Leading American Attorney” in the areas of Employment Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She has several times been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers, the oldest and most highly respected peer review guide to the legal profession worldwide. Ms. Schwartz has most recently been selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for 2022. In 2021, Ms. Schwartz was named to Florida Trend’s  “Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders” across major industries.

Ms. Robertson graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Kentucky and received her Juris Doctor degree from Barry University School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Robertson focused her studies in the areas of labor and employment law and received The Labor and Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar’s Outstanding Labor and Employment Law School Student award. Ms. Robertson also served as the Barry University Law School Liaison for the Orlando Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and has co-authored an article with Jill S. Schwartz that was published in the Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Section’s Checkoff publication.

Ms. Robertson focuses her practice in the representation of clients in labor and employment matters including discrimination and harassment in the workplace, retaliation, violations of the Family Medical Leave Act and whistleblower litigation.

Ms. Robertson is a member of the Florida Bar Labor and Employment Section, Orange County Bar Association, the Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers and the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association.

Christopher A. Pace has focused his practice primarily on a broad spectrum of complex litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout Florida, with a strong focus on employment, labor and business litigation matters, representing both employees and employers.

Mr. Pace has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts, including a significant seven-month federal jury trial, and has successfully argued Americans with Disabilities Act issues before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Pace is licensed to practice law in Florida, all federal district courts in Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  Additionally, he has represented clients before city commissions and school boards.

Mr. Pace is rated AV Preeminent (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell. Additionally, Mr. Pace has been acknowledged by the Super Lawyers publication as a Rising Star for four consecutive years, and he has earned Avvo’s highest rating (“Superb”). Local publications Orlando Life Magazine and Orlando Home & Leisure Magazine have recognized Mr. Pace as one of Orlando’s “Top Lawyers.” Mr. Pace served as Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s (OCBA) Business Law Committee from 2010 through 2011, as well as on the OCBA’s Judicial Relations Committee. Mr. Pace is currently a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of The Florida Bar.

Mr. Pace graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2003, receiving dean’s list honors in 2002. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Florida, where he was a member of the National Golden Key Honor Society.

Mr. Katsafanas started his college career at Cornell University. He then attended the University of Hawaii while serving in the Air Force, stationed at Hickam Air Force base in Honolulu. He received his Juris Doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law in 1975. Mr. Katsafanas holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest attorney rating, “AV Preeminent,” based upon peer reviews.

Mr. Katsafanas has over thirty years of experience practicing in the area of labor and employment law, advising clients in traditional labor areas such as union matters, election campaigns, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration and unfair labor practice matters. These include litigation before State Labor Relations Agencies, The National Labor Relations Board and the National Mediation Board.

In addition, Mr. Katsafanas has extensive experience representing and advising clients in all areas of employment law including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, non-competition agreements, whistleblower statutes, and state, federal and local discrimination statutes and ordinances. His experience includes representation of clients’ interests in employment litigation including jury and non-jury trials in State and Federal Trial Courts, appellate arguments in State and Federal Appeals Courts and administrative litigation before State and Federal administrative agencies.

John M. Hunt graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2008.  Mr. Hunt was designated as one of the valedictorians of his graduating class in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Mr. Hunt’s undergraduate seminar paper, “A New Era in the Brain: The Civil Rights Movement in Tallahassee, Florida,” was selected for publication in the Journal of the University of Florida Department of History (Vol. V, Spring 2008). During his senior year, Mr. Hunt served as the president of Phi Alpha Theta, the honor society for the Department of History.

Mr. Hunt graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2011. His article, “The New Frontier of Money Laundering: How Terrorist Organizations Use Cyberlaundering to Fund Their Activities, and How Governments are Trying to Stop Them,” was published in the Journal Information & Communications Technology Law (Vol. 20, Issue 2, 2011). During his third year of law school, Mr. Hunt served as the Managing Editor of the Florida Journal of International Law.

Following his graduation, Mr. Hunt clerked for The Honorable Thomas D. Sawaya at the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Hunt joined Jill S. Schwartz & Associates in April 2015.

Ms. Herrmann graduated with an A.B. in Architecture from Princeton University in 1984. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 1990 where she was awarded the National Association for Women Lawyers’ Outstanding Graduate Award and received a Fellowship from the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

Since 1994, Ms. Herrmann has concentrated her practice in the field of labor and employment law. Ms. Herrmann has litigated in courts throughout the State of Florida, is a member of the Bars of the United States District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

Ms. Herrmann has successfully represented numerous local and Fortune 500 Companies resulting in several published court decisions. Specifically, she has handled employment litigation under the Florida Civil Rights Act, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act. In addition, she represents clients in whistleblower actions, employment-related torts, and civil rights matters. Ms. Herrmann also regularly conducts training seminars on workplace issues.

Ms. Herrmann is a past President of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She has served as the Chair of the Orange County Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section. Additionally, she is an active member of numerous charitable and civic organizations throughout the Central Florida area.