Ms. Martine Tariot Wells

Experience: Wage and Hour & Collective Actions: Won dismissal at the motion to dismiss phase of a manufacturing employee's class and collective action claim that the unionized employees should have paid for pre-shift donning and doffing of steel-toe boots and related items.; Represented a call center employer in a federal court nationwide class and collective action by employees alleging off-the-clock activities were compensable. Obtained a voluntary dismissal by plaintiffs before the responsive pleading was filed or discovery conducted.; Represented a large luxury resort and casino in federal court wage class and collective action. After hearing and substantial briefing, achieved a partial dismissal of the claims of current and former employees who allege they were not properly paid their tips while working for the client, substantially limiting the timeframe at issue to less than 5 weeks.; Won summary judgment and entry of a costs award on behalf of a large education financial services company in a wage collective action by call center employees alleging payment for pre-shift and post-shift activities like booting up computers. Represented company in subsequent appeal in federal circuit court.; Employment Litigation: Won preliminary injunction hearing on behalf of online gaming employer, defending allegation that its new employee stole its former employer's trade secrets and violated his non-compete agreement.; Won summary judgment for a health care employer against an employee terminated for administering unauthorized prescription medication in the workplace.; Won dismissal at the motion to dismiss phase of an employee's claims that she was wrongfully terminated on the basis of protected characteristics.; Achieved a four-figure settlement-the day before a jury trial-for an employer whose employee alleged that she was wrongfully terminated for advising a co-worker about sexual harassment.; Obtained denial of motion for preliminary injunction in trade secret and restrictive covenant dispute against an executive by a former employer.; Employment Counsel: Designed a wage compliance program for an employer with over 10,000 hourly employees to ensure all hourly employees were being paid for all working time, designing and providing leadership training and revising policies and practices.; Provided a mortgage lending client with an employment law review of all aspects of a transaction acquiring technology company.; Drafted transaction bonus agreements and associated non-competes for hundreds of employees attendant to the sale of a chemical company.; Prepared employee lease agreement for hundreds of employees attendant to the purchase of a hospitality company.; Advocated on behalf of employers before the U.S. Department of Labor in rulemaking proceedings regarding independent contractor issues and before the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, regarding rulemakings related to COMPS, HFWA, Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, and related.; Served as outside employment counsel to advise on workplace, HR, and compliance matters (including employment agreements, non-compete/non-solicit agreements, terminations, reductions in force (RIFs), investigations, workplace safety, etc.), for companies of all sizes and across industries.; Provide strategic support to deal teams on employment issues to support mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions, for companies of all sizes and across industries.; Seconded on-site with a major retailer to handle its employment counseling and litigation as it wound down its 50-state and international operations in bankruptcy, reporting directly to the general counsel and executive team for several months.; The above representations were handled by Ms. Wells prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.; Internships: Legal Intern, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2008