Overview

Joyce Mocek is a Partner who practices in the Labor and Employment Section at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, where she serves as Chair of the firm's ADA Accessibility national practice team. Within her Labor and Employment practice, Ms. Mocek represents companies across the United States in a variety of labor and employment matters, including employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, FMLA interference and retaliation claims, ADA failure to accommodate and retaliation claims, ADA accessibility claims and wage and hour claims and compliance with the FLSA, including issues related to misclassification of employees as exempt or as independent contractors.

Ms. Mocek also regularly provides day-to-day counseling to companies on FLSA compliance, harassment investigations, leave and accommodation scenarios, employment agreements, and handbook reviews and training. As part of her practice, Ms. Mocek regularly appears before the EEOC and related federal and state agencies, including the United States Department of Labor, and represents employers before federal and state courts on all levels in employment disputes.



Ms. Mocek's experience includes representing organizations in various claims and bad faith lawsuits involving directors and officers, employment practices liability, errors and omissions, comprehensive general liability, and excess insurance policies. Her practice also involves complex commercial litigation, particularly in the areas of contract related disputes. She assists clients with their daily issues and company policies, as well as through litigation, presenting evidence and arguments to all levels of state and federal tribunals and administrative agencies. Ms. Mocek produces optimal results for clients seeking to avoid lawsuits or for clients who want to pursue their rights through litigation.

Ms. Mocek has served in a variety of leadership positions within the legal and business community. She served as the President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) and served as the liaison with the insurance commissioner's office for the organization for several years. She has also served on the board for Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and was a past president for the Atlanta Chapter. Ms. Mocek also co-chaired  the Women in the Profession Committee of the Atlanta Bar Association.

Ms. Mocek has been named a “Best Lawyer in America” in litigation for 2016-2017, and 2017-2018. She has lectured to employer groups and conducted client training throughout the southeast, and has also authored numerous articles on topics pertaining to employment and insurance law matters.

Bar Admissions

Georgia State, Appellate and Supreme Court(s)

Maryland State, Appellate and Supreme Court(s)

New Jersey State and Federal Court(s)

U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

Publications & Engagements

Representative Cases & Clients

  • DeJuan Price v. P.L. Marketing, Inc., United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division; Civil Action File No. 1:19cv00861 (MLB).
  • Hartford Casualty Insurance Company v. John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, Inc., et al, In the Superior Court of Cobb County, State of Georgia, Civil Action No.: 10-1-03068-18.
  • Hathaway Development Company, Inc. v. American Empire Surplus Lines, Insurance Associates of Georgia and Leroy Conrad Murphy, Superior Court of Gwinnett County, Civil Action File No.: 06A-09664-01
  • Thomas Earl Johnson v. Robert Half International Inc.; United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division; Civil Action File No. 1:03 CV 1496(WBH).
  • Rita Hinesman, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Civil Action File No.: 1:08-CV-0779(RLV)(2008).
  • Christopher Lee Potts v. Eddie Ray Johnston, Riverside Metal Products, and Riverside Steel, LLC, filed in the Superior Court of Walton County, State of Georgia, Civil Action Number: 09-3905-3.  Companion Case- Progressive Preferred Ins. Company v. Christopher Lee Potts, Eddie Ray Johnson, Riverside Metal Products and Riverside Steel, filed in the Superior Court of Walton County, State of Georgia, Civil Action Number: 10-0867-2.
  • Petroleum Realty V, LLC v. Zurich American Ins. Company, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta, Division, Civil Action No.: 1:08-CV-2301-CAP, and 1:09-CV-2213-CAP.
  • Claude Rowe v. Robert Half International Inc. and Accountemps; United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division; Civil Action File No. 1:04 CV 1209(CAP).
  • Lee Secrest and Shari Stanford, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated v. AON Consulting, Inc.; United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division; Civil Action No.: 1:01-CV-464-CAP.
  • Daniel Smith and Lila Smith v. Sallie Mae, Inc., Educap, and Firstmark Services, LLC, Superior Court of Effingham County; Civil Action No. SU07CV346T.
  • Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation and Empire Financial Services, Inc. v. Colonial American Casualty and Surety Company, United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division, Civil Action File No.: 7:08cv55
  • Vista India v. Raaga, Inc., United States District Court, District of New Jersey, Civil Action No.: 07-1262 (HAA).
  • Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. v. Curtis M. Lockey; United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division; Case No. 305cv0467-h.
  • In the Matter of the Arbitration between Claimant Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and Respondent Raymond N. Cornelius; New York Stock Exchange Docket No. 2004 015065.

Affiliations

  • Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Atlanta Chapter
  • Insurance Professionals of Atlanta
  • Southern Loss Association
  • ProWin
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Georgia Association of Women Lawyers

Awards & Recognition

  •  2023-2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, 2021 Edition in the field of Litigation - Insurance
  • Best Lawyers in America, "Women In The Law", 2016

Classes/Seminars Taught

  • Presentation entitled "A Look at Employment Law" at the State Bar of Georgia, Younger Lawyers Section Seminar, and Atlanta Women in Business Meeting(s)

Education

  • J.D., Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, with distinctions
  • B.S., B.A., University of Maryland, Business School, with honors
  • Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)