Janet E. Wise

Janet E. Wise is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar since 2001, which recognizes her special knowledge, skills and proficiency in labor and employment law, along with her professionalism and ethical standards. As an attorney with the Sass Law Firm, she brings over 33 years of experience to the practice which primarily represents employees from both the private and public sectors in workplace disputes. Ms. Wise speaks frequently on employment law topics, especially in the area of attorney ethics, and serves on various committees, both locally and nationally. Janet has made the Florida Super Lawyer® list in Employment Law since 2014 as published by Thomson Reuters and was chosen by Lawdragon as one of its 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers since 2020. Ms. Wise graduated cum laude from Newberry College before obtaining her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law, and she is admitted to both The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia. Janet was 2020-2021 Chair of The Florida Bar’s Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, which is responsible for, among other things, determining whether applicants have met the minimum standards for Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law and developing and grading Labor and Employment Law certification examinations in Florida. Ms. Wise is a past President of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and past co-chair of NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Committee, and she continues to support attorneys who practice in the area of labor and employment law by her work on NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Advisory Council. For a full list of Janet’s awards, publications, speaking engagements, associations and committees, check out her Resume CV. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Janet E. Wise included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law - The Florida Bar, 2001 - Present Lead Counsel Verified in Employment Law – Thomson Reuters, 2020 - Present Best Lawyers® in Employment Law for Individuals and in Litigation – Labor and Employment – The Best Lawyers in America®, 2024 - Present Florida Super Lawyers® in Employment Law for Employees - Thomson Reuters, 2014 - Present 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers – Lawdragon, 2020 - Present Top Attorney - Superb 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2006 - Present Professional Involvement – Lawyer Legion, 2020 - Present Who's Who in American Law - Marquis Who’s Who®, 2017 - Present Legal in Labor and Employment - USA - Finance Monthly, 2021 Nominee for Florida Women in Law by Who's Who in American Law, 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award - Marquis Who’s Who®, 2019 Other Sources of Feedback About Janet E. Wise Included on the 2026Florida Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Florida Super Lawyers list 2024 Florida Super Lawyers list 2023 Florida Super Lawyers list 2022 Florida Super Lawyers list 2021 Florida Super Lawyers list 2020 Florida Super Lawyers list 2019 Florida Super Lawyers list 2018 Florida Super Lawyers list 2017 Florida Super Lawyers list 2016 Florida Super Lawyers list 2015 Florida Super Lawyers list 2014 Florida Super Lawyers list

• Attorney
• Languages
• English

• 25th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, EEO Substantive Discrimination Claims, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Tampa, Florida), 2025
• Advanced Labor Topics, Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Amelia Island, Florida), 2023
• Ethics of Interviewing Defendants’ Employees and Candor to the Court, Community | Learning | Excellence, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2020 - Present
• Does the Opposition Clause Have Only Selective Application? The Use of the Manager Rule by Defendants to Limit Retaliation Claims, Empower | Educate | Excel, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2019 - Present
• Ethics Topics, Labor Day Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2016 - Present
• Ethics Tips from the Experts, Celebrating 30 Years of Employee Rights Advocacy, Annual Conference, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2015 - Present
• “Objection as to Form” – Obstructionist Conduct or an Exercise in Restraint?, Midwinter Conference, Labor and Employment Law Section, American Bar Association, 2015 - Present
• Obtaining Attorneys’ Fees Practically & Ethically, The Summit for Workers’ Rights, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2013 - Present
• Top Five Ethical Dilemmas Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers Face, Soaking Up the Sun: Employment Law Exposure in Florida, Annual Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2012 - Present
• Professionalism and Avoidance of Sanctions, Tips for Litigating Plaintiffs’ Employment Cases, State Bar of Georgia, 2011 - Present
• Maternal Wall Bias and Related Claims, Litigation Perspective from Start to Finish, Winter Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2010 - Present
• NELA’s Ethics Survival Kit: The Rules, Opinions & Decisions All NELA Members Should Have at Their Fingertips, 20th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2009 - Present
• Welcome, Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2008 - Present
• The Life Cycle of the Attorney Client Relationship: Practice Tips from NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Committee, 19th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2008 - Present
• The Care and Feeding of Witnesses: Fact Pattern – Preparing or Coaching Witnesses: Where Is The Ethical Line?, Connect | Explore | Energize, 18th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2007 - Present
• Who Can We Talk To? Ex Parte Communications and Ethical Concerns, Advocating the Rights of Employees in the 21st Century, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2007 - Present
• Motions for Sanctions in Federal Court, Employment Law at Its Best!, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar, 2006 - Present
• The Ethical Conundrum: Sanctions Against Plaintiffs and Their Attorneys, Bridging the Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace, 17th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2006 - Present

• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1994
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1993
• Florida, 1992
• Georgia, 1992
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1992
• Georgia Court of Appeals, 1992
• Supreme Court of Georgia, 1992
• Supreme Court of Florida, 1992
• Specialties and Certifications
• Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law, The Florida Bar since 2001

• Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2018 - Present (Advisory Council Member)
• Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Grade Review Panel, - 2024 (Member)
• Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Certification Committee, 2022 - 2023 (Pre-Tester)
• Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, The Florida Bar Standing Committee, 2016 - 2022 (Committee Member)
• Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2020 - 2021 (Chair)
• Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, The Florida Bar Standing Committee, 2019 - 2020 (Vice Chair)
• Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2002 - 2018 (Committee Member)
• Governance Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2015 - 2016 (Committee Member)
• Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2008 - 2015 (Co-Chair)
• Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2007 - 2008 (President)
• Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2006 - 2007 (President-Elect)
• Sanctions Committee, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2004 - 2006 (Director)
• Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Member)
• National Employment Lawyers Association (Member)
• Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (Member)