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Donna Marie Ballman

Donna Marie Ballman

Donna M. Ballman, P.A., Employee Advocacy Law Firm
  • Employment Law, Arbitration & Mediation
  • Florida
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Biography

Donna Ballman has been practicing employee-side employment law in Florida for over 30 years. Donna’s book, Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, was named the Winner of the Law Category of the 2012 USA Best Books Awards. She is also the award-winning author of The Writer’s Guide to the Courtroom: Let’s Quill All the Lawyers, a book geared toward informing novelists and screenwriters about the ins and outs of the civil justice system. She’s been practicing employment law, including negotiating severance agreements and litigating discrimination, sexual harassment, noncompete agreements, and employment law issues in Florida since 1986. Her blog on employee-side employment law issues, Screw You Guys, I’m Going Home, was named one of the ABA Blawg 100 best legal blogs 6 years in a row, one of the top 50 legal blogs in the inaugural ABA Web 100, and the 2011 Lexis/Nexis Top 25 Labor and Employment Law Blogs. Paralegal411 rated her blog #4 in the Top 25 Employment Law Blogs for 2013.

She has written for The Huffington Post and has written a weekly column for AOL Jobs. She has also written for Forbes, Monster.com and Ask A Manager on employment law issues. She has over 7500 followers on Twitter as @EmployeeAtty. She has taught continuing legal education classes for lawyers and accountants through organizations such as the American Bar Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, Sterling Education Services, Lorman Education Services, Alison Seminars, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, National Business Institute and community organizations. Ms. Ballman has published articles on employment law topics such as severance, non-compete agreements, discrimination, sexual harassment, and avoiding litigation. She’s been interviewed by MSNBC, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Next Avenue, AARP, Lifetime, NPR, the Daily Business Review, and many others.

Practice Areas
Employment Law
Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Arbitration & Mediation
Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
Additional Practice Areas
  • Sexual harassment
  • Noncompete agreements
  • Severance agreements
  • Discrimination in the workplace
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
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11th Circuit
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U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
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U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Member
Donna M. Ballman, P.A.
Current
Education
University of Miami School of Law
J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude
University of Miami School of Law Logo
Wellesley College
B.A.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
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Awards
Top South Florida Lawyer
South Florida Legal Guide
2001-present
AV-rated
Martindale Hubbell
1994-present
Royal Palm Literary Award
Florida Writers Association
The Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs' Lawyers in America
Lawdragon
Leading Florida Attorney and Leading American Attorney
Amer. Research Corp.
1999-2004
Woman of Distinction
Grand Jury Association of Florida
1995-1996
Woman of the Year
Downtown Business and Professional Women
1991-1992
Recognition for dedicated legal services to the African-American community and the PULSE organization
PULSE
Listed in Who's Who in American Law, International Who's Who, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who in the South and Southwest
Who's Who
Award-Winning Finalist in the Business: Reference category of the "Best Books 2010"
USA Book News
Professional Associations
American Arbitration Association
Arbitrator
- Current
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Florida State Bar  # 611336
Member
- Current
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Ark Environmental Foundation, U.S., Inc.
Director/Secretary
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Dade Community Council, District 2
Councilwoman
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Grand Jury Association of Florida
Board Member
-
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Dade County Bar
Member
-
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Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Board Member
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Business and Professional Women, Downtown Miami Club
First Vice President
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National Association of Women Business Owners
Board Member
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Are You Ready To Go Solo?
Barrister Magazine (Young Lawyers Publication of the American Bar Association)
Election Law
Miami Herald Almanac of Florida Politics
Flying Solo (Reprint), Full Disclosure: Do You Really Want to Be a Lawyer
Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association
Political Campaign Contributions
Foreign Nationals in Florida Elections, Fla. B.J.
The Florida Election Law Handbook
New Guidelines on Hiring Under Disability Act
Miami Daily Business Review
Don't Fear Lawsuits, But Prepare for the Worst
Broward Review, Miami Review Business Tips Section
Ungagging the Judges
Miami Review
Adrift in a Sea of Frivolous Suits
Miami Review
Speaking Engagements
Employment Law Update, Continuing Legal Education Seminar/panel
Sterling Education Services
Severance and non-compete agreements, Labor and Employment Law Roundtable
Daily Business Review
Panelist
New Florida employment laws and cases, Continuing education audio conference
Business & Legal Reports HR
Why You Can't Ignore the Law, No Matter Your Genre, "Pitch the Publisher" Workshop
WordSmitten Writers
Non-Compete Agreements, CLE
Certifications
certified circuit civil mediator
Florida Supreme Court
Websites & Blogs
Website
Donna M. Ballman's Website Profile
Website
Donna M. Ballman P.A. Website
Blog
Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home
Contact & Map
10400 Griffin Rd
#204
Cooper City, FL 33328
Telephone: (954) 680-6300