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Overview
Tia J. Combs is a Partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP’s Lexington, KY and Indianapolis, IN offices and is Chair of the firm's Government Law national practice section. She is also Chair of the firm's Education national practice team. She practices primarily in employment law, school law, and professional liability law.
Ms. Combs helps public and private employers in matters involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and related state laws. She also provides essential guidance to employers navigating these matters in the workplace.
Ms. Combs also has considerable experience representing schools, school administrators, and teachers in matters ranging from employment conflicts to student disciplinary matters, special education, civil rights, Title IX, and contract negotiation and drafting.
She represents a wide spectrum of professionals in malpractice claims, especially insurance agents and claims professionals, accountants, and attorneys.
She also has represented clients in diverse industries, ranging from telecommunications to retail, in all both regulatory and litigation matters.
Bar Admissions
Indiana
- Indiana State Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Kentucky
- Kentucky State Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Courts of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Education
J.D.
University of Kentucky College of Law, cum laude
B.A., A.A. (summa cum laude)
Thomas More College
Publications & Engagements
- “The Far-Reaching Impact of Student for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admission, Inc. v. University of North Carolina“, For The Defense (DRI Magazine), July & August 2024
- “Tots, block, and… Glocks? The Perils of Arming School Staff” – For the Defense (June 2017)
Affiliations
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Fayette County Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Kentucky Defense Counsel
Awards & Recognition
- 2023-2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™
- Kentucky Defense Counsel’s “Young Lawyer of the Year” (2017)
- Recognized by Super Lawyers as “Kentucky Super Lawyers Rising Star” (2015-2026)
Classes/Seminars Taught
- “What to Expect When Your Employee is Expecting: Accommodations for Pregnant Workers and New Mothers,” FMG Webinar (2025)
- “Defending Federal and State Education Law Claims and Cases Based on Allegations of Sexual Assault or Sexual Harassment” (2023)
Practice Sections
Interdisciplinary Teams
Education
J.D.
University of Kentucky College of Law, cum laude
B.A., A.A. (summa cum laude)
Thomas More College