Kamilah Perry
Kamilah Perry practices in the area of labor and employment. She represents clients in civil court litigation and administrative proceedings regarding claims involving employment discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, family and medical leave laws, union-management relations, employee benefits, and various employment-related torts. Her experience also includes insurance coverage, insurance defense, commercial litigation and business torts.
Kamilah was named “Super Lawyer” by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine for Employment and Labor Law from 2013 to 2019, and was also named a “Rising Star” by Florida Super Lawyers for five consecutive years from 2009 to 2013. She also was listed among the “100 Most influential African-Americans in Tampa Bay,” was as a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journal “2008 Business Woman of the Year Award” and a recipient of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “Up & Comers” honor in 2012. She received the 2008 "Volunteer Leadership of the Year Award” from the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope and the 2005 “President’s Award” from the George Edgecomb Bar Association.
Education
- Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 2002; Moot Court Board Member; Best Appellate Brief, 2001
- Stetson University, M.B.A., 2002
- Samford University, B.A., in Journalism and Mass Communication, 1999
Memberships and Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- National Bar Association
- The Florida Bar, Appointed Member Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee (2015); Appointed Member of the Constitutional Judiciary Committee (2013)
- Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association – President (2014-2015); President-Elect (2013-2014)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- George Edgecomb Bar Association - President (2008-2010), Vice President (2006-2008), Executive Board Member (2004-2005), Treasurer (2004-2005), Scholarship Committee Chair (2003-2005)
- Hillsborough County Association of Women Lawyers – Small Firm Committee Chair (2014-present); Executive Board Member (2004-2007), Pro Bono Domestic Violence Committee Chair (2004), Treasurer (2005)
- Florida Association of Women Lawyer’s – Executive Board Liaison (2015)
- City of Tampa’s Mayor’s African-American Advisory Council, Community Development Chairperson (2012-present)
- 13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “B” (2012-present)
- Stetson University Lawyers Association Advisory Council (2012-present)
- Tampa Bay Platinum Professionals (founding member)
- Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections African-American Advisory Board (2008)
- Tampa Bay Black MBA Association (founding member; co-counsel 2007-2010)
- Tampa Bay Academy of Hope Board Member and Board Counsel (2009-2012)
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Publications and Speeches
- Legal Panelist, A Redefined Workforce in 2015, National Association of African-Americans in Human Resources (2015)
- Legal Panelist, Business Technology & Training Symposium, Prewitt Solutions, LLC (2015)
- Author, Employment Law Manual Articles / Florida Requirements, XpertHR, in partnership with LexisNexis (www.xperthr.com). Topics include: Wages - Hours Worked, Minimum Wage and Overtime; Labor – Strikes, Lockouts and Other Economic Weapons, Public Sector Labor Relations, Union Organization and Labor Relations; EEO Laws - Affirmative Action, Retaliation, Discrimination, Harassment, and Employee Handbooks, Workplace Rules, and Employee Conduct; Leaves of Absence – Leaves, USERRA equivalent
- Author, "Broad 'At-Will Employment' Disclaimers Can Violate The National Labor Relations Act," Phelps Dunbar eLABORate, July 2012.
- Author, "Fifth Circuit Approves Class-Action Arbitration Waivers in Employment Agreements," Phelps Dunbar eLABORate, December 2013.
- Contributing Author, American Bar Association, “2012 Midwinter Treatise Supplement” The Fair Labor Standards Act
- “Appendix of Florida Case Law Concerning the Notice-Prejudice Rule,” Fidelity Law Association Journal, Vol. IV, September 2005
Service Areas
Published Decisions
- Thomas v. Hillsborough Ass’n for Retarded Citizens, 2011 WL 589548 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 10, 2011) – Granting Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Count for negligent failure to maintain a workplace free of sexual harassment, with prejudice. Court agreed with counsel’s position that Plaintiff's claim for negligent retention and supervision was not based on a tort recognized under Florida common law, and that neither promissory estoppel nor equitable estoppel were appropriate underlying torts for Plaintiff's claims.
- Buell v. Direct General Ins. Agency, Inc., 2007 WL 1662347 (M.D. Fla. June 6, 2007) – Defendant's motion to dismiss putative class action complaint brought against insurer asserting, inter alia, a violation of statute prohibiting the practice of “sliding” with respect to the sale of certain ancillary insurance products granted with prejudice, affirmed, 2008 WL 598281 (11th Cir. March 6, 2008). Court agreed with counsel’s position that no private right of action existed under the statute.
Recognitions
- Florida Super Lawyers - 2013 - 2019
- Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- “100 Most influential African-Americans in Tampa Bay"
- Tampa Bay Business Journal “Business Woman of the Year Award" Finalist, 2008
- Tampa Bay Business Journal “Up & Comers” award, 2012
- Tampa Bay Academy of Hope's "Volunteer Leadership of the Year Award,” 2008
- George Edgecomb Bar Association's “President’s Award” 2005
Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
