Sharon Wey, Esq.
Sharon has practiced labor and employment law for over 20 years including counseling and providing training to employers on a wide variety of labor and employment matters. Sharon strives to help employersreduce the risk of litigationby listening, learning each employer’s unique work environment, and strategizing with each employer regarding best practiceson the front end, against the backdrop of applicablelabor and employment laws and regulations. Sharonhas successfully represented employers before local, state and federal agencies and in all aspects of litigation. As a former human resources manager, Sharon gained valuable front-line experience and insight regarding the types of sensitive employee issues that arise in the workplace, which employers face every day, and the critical importance of an employer’s response to mitigate exposure to potential liability. In addition to representing employers, Sharon has written numerous articles regarding labor and employment matters and regularly presents on labor and employment topics for numerous professional organizations. In her free time, Sharon enjoys spending time with her daughter, antiquing, and shelling on the beautiful beaches of Pinellas County.
Growing up in Florida, I knew hurricanes, but unlike earthquakes, they are somewhat predictable (and have no aftershocks). Following the serious Northridge earthquake, I returned to Florida and practiced on my own for a while. Then, I took a job in a firm that practiced only employment law. During my sixteen years there, I did litigation defense handling discrimination claims, contract issues, non-compete etc., EEOC and other administrative charges, along with counseling and providing preventive advice. My depth of employment law experience allowed me to be in the first group of attorneys to earn the Florida Bar Certification in Labor and Employment.
As in-house counsel, I not only handled and advised managers about HR matters, but I was responsible for managing my department of attorneys, paralegals and support staff. In this management role I gained first hand knowledge about the importance of evaluating and resolving employment matters from a practical, business standpoint, while keeping in mind budgetary constraints. This experience has served me well in representing employers over the past decades.
I am a member of Sarasota County Bar Member and formerly Co-Chair of Labor and Employment Section. I have served on the Board of Sarasota Florida Association of Women Lawyers and was a member of the Academy of Florida Management Attorneys. I belong to the Labor and Employment Law and Trial Lawyers Sections of the Florida Bar. My honors include being selected as a SuperLawyer in 2008-2010, and from 2014 through 2020.