Overview
Jacqueline Prats is an associate in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Practice Groups. Jacqueline assists businesses with commercial disputes and litigation, as well as regularly advises employers on compliance with federal and state employment law. She also represents employers in government investigations and litigation of employment claims. Prior to joining the firm, Jacqueline was a Federal Judicial Intern at the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, and served as a Summer Associate at Trenam.
Representative Matters
- Won summary judgment on behalf of employer in federal harassment and retaliation case.
- Successfully defeated a summary judgment motion in a multi-count breach-of-contract and deceptive trade practices case on behalf of a business client, leading to resolution of claims out of court.
- Successfully moved class-action Fair Labor Standards Act claims against employer from court to arbitration.
- Assisted in blocking opponent’s demand for attorneys’ fees, resulting in six-to seven-figure reduction of client’s potential liability.
- Assisted in winning summary judgment in complicated trade-secrets misappropriation case, leading to resolution of claims out of court.
- Represented numerous employers in drafting and review of employment documents including employee handbooks, workplace policies, and employment agreements.
- Represented businesses in negligence claims, defamation claims, contract disputes, and collections matters.
- Represented employers of varying sizes against charges of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, and disability discrimination filed with federal, state, and local administrative agencies.
- Represented employers of varying sizes against claims of wage-and-hour violations, trade secret misappropriation, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, in both federal and state court.
- Represented companies and individuals in prosecution and defense of non-compete and other restrictive covenant claims.
Honors and Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025
- Florida Super Lawyers , Rising Star, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2019-2024
- Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Up & Comers, 2019
- The Florida Bar Labor and Employment Section, Checkoff Newcoming Author of the Year Award, 2020
Professional Involvement
- American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, member
- Florida Bar
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), Student Member
- Bay Area Legal Services (BALS)
- Tampa Connection, Class of 2020
Community Involvement
- Kinney Karate, Martial Arts Instructor
- Family Forms Clinic for Bay Area Legal Services
- Stageworks Theatre, Community Engagement Committee
News
- Sixty-Four Attorneys from Trenam Law Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2025
- Forty-Five Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2024
- Broward County and Miami Beach Expand Anti-Discrimination Protections to Hair Texture and Style
- NLRB Issues Final Rule Lowering Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status
- Fifty-One Attorneys from Trenam Law Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024
- Forty-Five Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2023
- Forty-One Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2021
- Forty-Seven Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2020
- Jacqueline Prats Selected to the Tampa Connection’s Class of 2020
- Twenty-One Attorneys Named to Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2019
- Forty-Nine Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2019
- Twenty Attorneys Named to Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2018
Thought Leadership
- “Federal Court Blocks FTC Non-Compete Rule From Taking Effect,” Employment Law Update, August 2024
- “DHS Introduces New Alternative Procedures for Remote Examination of Work Authorization Documents,” Employment Law Update, September 2023
- “NLRB Marks Return to Stricter Standard for Evaluating Workplace Policies,” Employment Law Update, September 2023
- “DOL Announces Proposed Rule to Increase the Minimum Salary Required for Exemptions from Overtime Pay Requirement,” Trenam Legal Update, September 2023
- “NLRB Decision Marks Return to Stricter Independent Contractor Test,” Employment Law Update, June 2023
- “Employers Face Increased Risks Associated with Entering Into Non-Competes and Other Restrictive Covenants with Employees,” Employment Law Update, June 2023
- “Gov. DeSantis Signs Immigration Bill Imposing E-Verify and Other Requirements for Many Employers,” Employment Law Update, May 2023
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Issues Updated Summary of Rights Form,” Employment Law Update, May 2023
- “New Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees,” Employment Law Update, May 2023
- NLRB Issues Decision Limiting Employers’ Ability to Include Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Provisions in Separation Agreements,” Employment Law Update, May 2023
- “NLRB Issues Decision That May Restrict Workplace Civility Policies,” Employment Law Update, May 2023
- “DHS Ends Policy Allowing Flexibility for Employers to Verify Form I-9 Documents,” Employment Law Update, May 2023
- ABA-TIPS/ABOTA National Trial Academy, Participant, September 2022
- “Jacqueline Prats discusses the EPA Supreme Court Decision on Ruling Making Power from DOL, EEOC, and NLRB,” SHRM, July 2022
- “Diversity Initiatives and the Backlash of Reverse Discrimination Claims,” The Florida Bar Journal, August 2021
- “Jaqueline Prats Discusses Perfect Attendance Policies,” SHRM Online, May 2021
- “FFCRA’s Mandate Will Expire, but Appropriations Bill Allows Employers to Seek Tax Credit for Paid Leave Offered Voluntarily,” Employment Law Update, December 2020
- “New NLRB Decision Eases Restrictions on Keeping Harassment Investigations Confidential,” Author, Modern Restaurant Management, January 2020
- “SCOTUS Resolves Circuit Split on Administrative Exhaustion as Jurisdictional Requirement,” Author, the Checkoff, August 2019
- “Are Arbitration Agreements Necessary for Class-Action Waivers to Be Enforceable?,” Author, Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 92, No. 9, November 2018
- “2018 Midwinter Treatise Supplement: The Fair Labor Standards Act,” Contributing Author, Forthcoming 2018
- “The Decision That Could Alter Employment Contracts for Restaurants,” Author, FSR Magazine, June 2018
- “Hot Topics in Whistleblower Law,” Speaker, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Subcommittee of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the ABA, February 2018