Michele F. Martin

Michele Martin is Counsel at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, where she practices in the Firm’s Labor and Employment Practice and Consumer Litigation Defense Practice.

Ms. Martin works with employers in matters involving employment-discrimination litigation and general labor and employment law advice. She has successfully resolved employment discrimination cases, including collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and claims concerning disability accommodation, age discrimination, sex discrimination, race discrimination and FMLA. She also has represented employers in numerous administrative proceedings. She has successfully filed and argued motions for summary judgment for employers in state and federal courts around the country. Ms. Martin works with clients to ensure they are complying with all state and federal laws that affect their human resources and regularly advises clients on how to deal in particular situations with the Fair Labor Standards Act and the harassment laws of Title VII.

Ms. Martin also concentrates her practice in all aspects of consumer litigation defense. She has extensive experience in representing defendants throughout the country both in individual and class actions cases. Such cases have involved alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and similar state law claims as well as claims alleging deceptive trade practices and invasion of privacy. Ms. Martin also counsels clients to ensure compliance with debt collection laws. She regularly advises clients regarding the drafting of initial consumer communications, building and maintaining policies and practices to comply with good faith error standards, and the drafting of compliance plans. In order to keep her clients apprised of the law, Ms. Martin provides legal updates on a regular basis to her clients.

Ms. Martin received her J.D. from the University of Florida in 1999. She received her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Florida in 1999 and 1996, respectively. Ms. Martin is also a board qualified C.P.A. and a member of The Florida Bar. Ms. Martin is admitted to practice in the Southern, Middle and Northern District Courts in Florida.

In addition to her professional practice, Ms. Martin is highly involved in community activities. Her list of civic activities includes serving as a volunteer attorney for Jacksonville Legal Aid, serving on the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Pro Bono Committee, serving as a board director for Jacksonville’s Youth Crisis Center and serving as a member of the Florida Planned Development Rules Writing Committee. Ms. Martin is also a member of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, the Jacksonville Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In addition, she assists not-for-profit entities in gaining and maintaining exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.