Amy Bender is a Partner at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP and is located in the Atlanta and Tampa offices. She is a member of the Labor & Employment Law Practice Section. She also serves as the Firm’s Assistant General Counsel. She is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Florida. She has been selected as a Georgia Super Lawyers “Rising Star” as published by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine.

Ms. Bender represents clients in various industries, including healthcare, construction, food and beverage, manufacturing, distribution, accounting, service, non-profit, and insurance, as well as numerous local government bodies. Her practice in labor and employment law includes representation of private and public employers in federal and state litigation and administrative proceedings, including defense of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, and family and medical leave claims. She also frequently defends clients in garnishment actions and unemployment benefits proceedings. In addition, her regularly advises clients on day-to-day personnel issues and prepares and reviews employee handbooks, employment contracts, restrictive covenants, and severance agreements. She frequently presents on employment law issues to human resources organizations.

Ms. Bender received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she was an Articles Editor for the Georgia Law Review. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, with a Minor in Business Administration, from the University of Florida.

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Florida

Georgia

Supreme Court of Georgia

U.S. Courts of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia

• “Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors Is High on Agenda;” DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar – The Voice, September 2010
• “EEOC Issues Long-Awaited Proposed ADAAA Regulations;” DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar – The Voice, December 2009
• “Genetic Information: A New Protected Category;” DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar – The Job Description, October 2008

• Dees v. Office Management Systems, Inc., 2012 WL 640695 (N.D. Miss. Feb. 27, 2012).
• Gomez v. United Forming, Inc., 2009 WL 3367165 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 15, 2009).
• Grizzle v. Macon County, Ga., 2009 WL 2611319 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 20, 2009).
• Bolden v. United Forming, Inc., 2009 WL 2423176 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 4, 2009).
• Reeves v. Yeager, 298 Fed. Appx. 878, 2008 WL 4772096 (11th Cir. Oct. 31, 2008).
• Little v. Cobb County, 203 Fed. Appx. 993, 2006 WL 3102457 (11th Cir. Oct. 31, 2006).
• Benefit Support, Inc. v. Hall County, Georgia, 281 Ga. App. 825, 637 S.E.2d 763 (2006).
• The Outsourcing Partnership, LLC v. Vinson, 2006 WL 2298114 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 8, 2006).
• Massengale v. Hill, 2006 WL 83429 (N.D. Ga. Jan. 10, 2006).
• Hurley v. Racetrac Petroleum, Inc., 146 Fed. Appx. 365, 2005 WL 2007034 (11th Cir. Aug. 22, 2005).
• Nance v. Buffalo’s Cafe of Griffin, Inc., 2005 WL 2148548 (N.D. Ga. Mar. 30, 2005).

• State Bar of Georgia, Section on Labor and Employment
• Escambia/Santa Rosa, Florida Bar Association

• Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star, Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine

• “FMLA and ADA and Worker’s Comp, Oh My! Effectively Managing Employee Leaves of Absence;” Greater Pensacola, Florida SHRM Annual Legal Conference, May 2025
• “Is Your Employee Handbook Up To Date? Artificial Intelligence, Arbitration, Pregnancy Protections, and More;” Greater Pensacola, Florida SHRM Annual Legal Conference, May 2024
• Pensacola State College Nonprofit Center Certification Program Legal Day, Panel of Experts, February 2024
• “FMLA and ADA and Worker’s Comp, Oh My! Effectively Managing Employee Leaves of Absence;” Greater Pensacola, Florida SHRM Annual Legal Conference, May 2021
• “The Impact of Cyber Threats on You and Your Business;” Bank of America Merrill Lynch, September 2018
• “Best Practices for Effective Employee Handbooks;” Greater Pensacola, Florida SHRM Annual Legal Conference, May 2016
• “DOL’s Proposed Changes to FLSA Overtime Regulations;” Greater Pensacola, Florida SHRM Meeting, January 2016
• “DOL’s Proposed Changes to FLSA Overtime Regulations;” Pensacola, Florida Chamber of Commerce HR Roundtable, September 2015
• “Dos and Don’ts of Investigating Employee Complaints;” Greater Pensacola, Florida SHRM Legal Conference, May 2014
• “Dos and Don’ts of Investigating Employee Complaints;” Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Employment Law Seminar, September 2011
• “Understanding and Appreciating Diversity in the Workplace;” Newton County, Georgia, October-November 2008
• “Putting It In Writing – Important Employment Documents;” Legal Advisory, Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, May 2007
• “Advanced Employee Discharge and Documentation;” Lorman Education Services, August 2006
• “Avoiding The FMLA’s Landmines: Top 10 FMLA Traps And How To Avoid Them;” Lorman Education Services, June 2006
• “Family and Medical Leave Act;” Lorman Education Services, April 2006
• “Employment Law from A to Z in Georgia;” Lorman Education Services, July 2005
• “Public Sector Employment Law Update;” Council on Education in Management, April 2005
• “Discipline and Discharge;” Lorman Education Services, January 2005
• “Employment Related Records;” Lorman Education Services, December 2004
• “Georgia Employment Law From A to Z;” Lorman Education Services, July 2004
• “Human Resources Audits in Georgia;” Lorman Education Services, May 2004