Tacita A. Mikel Scott is a Partner in the Firm’s Atlanta office with over 18 years trial experience. She is a member of the litigation and employment practice groups. Tacita’s expansive litigation practice focuses on all aspects of business litigation, including claims involving breach of contract, business torts, creditors’ rights, general liability, and vendor disputes.

As   part   of   her   employment   practice,   Tacita   assists   management   and   executives throughout the United States in all areas of employment law, including such issues as, (i) Harassment and discrimination claims; (ii) Overtime and other wage and hour claims (including collective actions); (iii) Family and Medical Leave Act claims; (iv) Restrictive covenant and trade secrets claims; (v) Whistleblower claims (vi) ERISA claims (including union withdrawal assessments); and (vii) contract drafting/negotiations. Tacita also routinely advises employers on the avoidance of employee related problems and finding creative solutions to workplace issues. She often trains, and speaks to, management, lawyers, and human resources professionals on employment issues.

Tacita has  litigated  a  wide  array  of  cases  in  Federal  and  State  courts,  governmental agencies and arbitration tribunals for companies, municipalities and government agencies of all sizes and has extensive experience negotiating complex settlements. As both a pragmatic counselor and a skilled advocate, Tacita is well equipped to temper the urge to litigate with the need to negotiate, which enables her to support the process that best fits her clients’ goals.

In   addition   to   graduating   Leadership Atlanta,   the   National   Diversity   Council   has recognized Tacita as one of the most influential women in Georgia, and Atlanta Woman magazine named Tacita one of “Atlanta’s 25 Power Women to Watch.” She has also been repeatedly  recognized  by  Atlanta  Magazine  as  a  Georgia  Super  Lawyers  Rising  Star, ranking her in the top 2.5 percent in the state, and is frequently included in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta, a publication that celebrates black achievement. Tacita is also a recipient of The  Black  Gents  of  Hollywood’s  Excellence  Award,  and  the  Mothers  Against  Drunk Driving’s Community Champion Award.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Over 18 years business and employment litigation experience handling all facets of the litigation process from initial pleadings to trial to appellate motions.

Business litigation representative matters include:

  • Successfully represented and defended municipality in terminating $100 million vendor contract
  • Jury verdict in employment-related trade secrets case
  • Obtained dismissal of trade secret suit brought by competitor between granting of TRO and preliminary injunction hearing through aggressive accelerated discovery and persuasive motion practice
  • Represented self-insured employer in dispute with insurance company over payment of third party claims; obtained highly favorable settlement of entire claim amount plus attorneys’ fees
  • Defended Fortune 50 company in multi-million dollar dispute with customer; obtained highly favorable settlement that included a new contract with customer of greater value through creative negotiations

Employment law/litigation representative matters include:

  • Defended  high-profile  educational  institution  in  race discrimination, FLSA,  and breach  of  contract action; obtained highly favorable settlement with payment of de minimis amount through aggressive discovery
  • Defended corporation in wage and hour collective action; obtained highly favorable settlement with payment of de minimis amount through offensive discovery tactics
  • Defended a corporation and individual in restrictive covenants litigation (customer non-solicitation, employee non-solicitation); obtained highly favorable settlement with payment of de minimis amount through aggressive discovery and creative negotiations
  • Obtained voluntary dismissal of race claim through aggressive discovery and savvy motion practices
  • Sexual harassment training of over 2500 employees for single employer
  • Human resources outpost to proactively avoid disputes, conduct audits, and resolve lawsuits

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Employment Counseling and Training
  • Employment Litigation
  • Restrictive Covenants Litigation
  • Trade Secrets Litigation
  • Products Liability and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Trial, Insurance Defense and Coverage

PROFESSIONAL HONORS, AWARDS AND ACTIVITIES

  • Board of Directors (Emeritus Council), Goodwill Industries of North Georgia; Member, 2018 Strategic Planning Committee; Former Chair, Legal Committee; Former Member, Executive Committee and 2014 Strategic Planning Committee
  • Board of Trustees, The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
  • Board of Directors, The Georgia Diversity Council; Chairperson of Board
  • Adjunct Professor, Kingdom Business University
  • Board of Advisors, Destiny University
  • Board of Governors, American Institute for Managing Diversity (25th Anniversary Committee)

ADMISSIONS

  • Georgia
  • New York

PUBLICATIONS

  • Tax Law Considerations, Legal Eagle Column in Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association (“CDMA”) Magazine, THE MAX, multi-part bi-monthly series from  February 2012 through October 2012
  • Best Practices for Managing Tort Liability Risks, Legal Eagle Column in CDMA Magazine, THE MAX, multi-part bi-monthly series from April 2011 through December 2011
  • Leased Employees and Other Contingent Workers:  Panacea or Pandora’s Box?  The John Liner Review 22, No. 4 (Winter 2009): 62
  • Supporting Our Troops in the Workplace: An Introduction to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, The John Liner Review 20, No. 2 (Summer 2006): 23
  • Till Termination Do Us Part: A Primer on Effectively Managing Today’s Work force, The John Liner Review 17, No. 2 (Summer 2003): 43 Court of Appeal

SPEECHES

  • “Repositioning for Excellence and Compliance” (Solutions TV, Atlanta, GA, December 2011)
  • “Repositioning for Transformation” (Solutions TV, Atlanta, GA, December 2011)
  • “Importance  of  Education  (Young  Women  Leadership  Program  Kick-Off  Symposium,  Atlanta,  GA, (October 2011)
  • Leadership Lessons for Women of Color” (Georgia Diversity Council Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, September 2011)
  • “What is a Personal Brand and Why Is It Important to Have? ” (Georgia Diversity Council Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, September 2011)
  • “Overcoming Workforce Barriers” (Georgia Diversity Council’s Multicultural Roundtable, Atlanta, GA, May, 2011)
  • “Employment Law Considerations” (National Bar Association’s Religion Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, April 2011)
  • “Networking Strategies” (National Diversity Council’s Women in  Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, September 2010)
  • “Employment  Law  Considerations,  Tax  Law  Considerations,  Corporate  Formation  Considerations, Constitutional Law Considerations, and Employment Law Considerations”   (CDMA’s Ministers and Leaders Conference, Atlanta, GA, March, 2010)
  • “FLSA Basics “(National Bar Association’s Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • “Avoiding and/or Resolving Potential FLSA Collective Actions” (National Bar Association’s Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • “Perspectives on Post-Certification Discovery in FLSA Actions” (National Bar Association’s Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • “Employment Law Overview” (Atlanta, GA, November 2009)
  • “Establishing Credibility in the Workplace” (National Diversity Council Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, November 2009)
  • Marketing Strategies for All Levels (National Bar Association Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, August 2009)
  • Representing Religious Institutions: A Snapshot of Legal Considerations (Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia 6th Annual Nonprofit Law Seminar, Atlanta, GA, April 2009)
  • Real and Perceived Barriers to Leadership (National Diversity Council Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, November 2008) Leased Employees and Other Contingent Workers: Panacea or Pandora’s Box? (National Employment Law Council Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 2008)
  • 2007 Labor & Employment Law Update: Wage and Hour Overview (National Bar Association’s Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA, July 2007)
  • The OFCCP’s Internet Applicant Rule: An Administrative Nightmare or Sweet Dream? (National Bar Association Commercial Law Section’s 19th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, Birmingham, AL February 2006)
  • A Primer on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as Amended (National  Bar  Association Commercial Law  Section’s  19th  Annual  Corporate  Counsel  Conference, Birmingham, AL, February 2006)
  • FLSA Compliance Audits (Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s 4th Annual CLE Expo, Chicago, IL, February 2005)
  • Minimum Wage Requirements: Wage and Hour Law Update in Georgia (Lorman Education Services, Atlanta, GA, March 2004)
  • Overtime Requirements: Wage and Hour Law Update in Georgia (Lorman Education Services, Atlanta, GA, March 2004)
  • Hours Worked Under FLSA: Wage and Hour Law Update in Georgia (Lorman Education Services, Atlanta, GA, March 2004)
  • Employers Should Be Prepared for Emergencies, Including Terrorist Attacks (Atlanta, GA, July 2003)
  • Basic Principles of Employment Law/Discrimination Issues (Selected Topics in Structuring and Operating a Business in Georgia, Atlanta, GA, May 2003)

EDUCATION

  • J.D, Vanderbilt University (1994)
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Spelman College (1991)