Dena H. Sokolow Attorney At Law

Providing employers with strategic counsel and defense through a valuable combination of legal and HR insights. Adroitly helps clients manage risk, ensure compliance, and resolve labor and employment challenges effectively.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Dena Sokolow is a nationally recognized labor and employment attorney who combines legal acumen with practical HR insight to help businesses navigate today’s complex workplace challenges. Known for her direct, solution-oriented style, Dena is both a litigator and a strategic advisor who helps employers stay ahead of legal risk while building stronger, more compliant workplaces.

Dena represents clients across a wide range of industries—including health care, retail, construction, hospitality, and staffing—in federal and state employment litigation. Her litigation practice includes defending claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination, as well as wage and hour violations, FMLA claims, and employee misclassification. She has developed a national reputation for her work in wage and hour law, particularly involving Department of Labor audits, FLSA collective actions, and internal classification audits addressing independent contractor and exemption issues. Dena routinely conducts proactive internal audits to help clients identify and correct compliance risks before they lead to litigation or enforcement actions.

A dynamic speaker and educator, Dena is frequently invited to present at industry conferences, professional associations, and in-house leadership meetings. She developed The Legal Side of Leadership, a practical and engaging training program that equips frontline supervisors with the tools to lead effectively while minimizing legal exposure. Dena takes a business-minded approach to her representation, working closely with clients to understand their goals and deliver tailored, practical legal solutions that support long-term success.
 

• Notable Work
  • Defended a Fortune 500 company in a nationwide Department of Labor (DOL) classification audit involving multiple job categories across the U.S. Achieved a complete resolution with no fines, penalties or liquidated damages assessed, saving the client over $1.5 million in potential liability.
  • Led a large-scale internal classification audit for a Fortune 500 company, reviewing more than 500 job titles. Provided strategic guidance on reclassification, back wage calculations, and employee communications to proactively mitigate risk and ensure FLSA compliance.
  • Represented a logistics and construction company in DOL audits in Florida and Alabama concerning off-the-clock work and employee misclassification. When a private lawsuit was filed during the audit, negotiated a settlement with both the DOL and plaintiffs, preventing class certification and minimizing liability.
  • Represented a multi-unit franchise operator in a DOL investigation involving alleged overtime and off-the-clock work violations. Successfully resolved the matter without any liquidated damages or fines, shielding the client from reputational damage and further enforcement action.
  • Defended a regional restaurant group in a DOL audit related to improper break time deductions and wage and hour compliance across multiple locations. Negotiated a favorable resolution with no fines or penalties assessed.
  • Represented a restaurant employer operating in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama in a collective action lawsuit alleging tip pooling violations and off-the-clock work. Negotiated a favorable settlement early in the litigation, avoiding costly discovery and limiting public exposure.
  • Represented a national staffing agency through a DOL lawsuit and audit involving child labor violations across multiple worksites. Negotiated a Consent Order that significantly reduced penalties compared to co-defendant employers.
  • Successfully resolved numerous employment discrimination charges and lawsuits, including claims under Title VII, the ADA, and the FCRA. Recent matters have been dismissed or settled on favorable terms prior to trial, often avoiding protracted litigation and publicity.
• Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025
    • Litigation
    • Labor and Employment and Employment Law
    • Management
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent Rated
  • Florida Super Lawyers
    • Employment and Labor, 2024-2025
    • Employment and Labor: Employer, 2017–2019
  • Tallahassee Democrat, 25 Women You Need to Know, 2018
  • Florida Trend, Legal Elite, Labor and Employment, 2013, 2018, 2019
• Insights
  • "GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Insight: Florida Reshapes the Rules on Non-Competes with the CHOICE Act," June 6, 2025
• Media
  • "GrayRobinson Hires Baker Donelson Employment Pro In Fla.," Law360, June 10, 2025
• Affiliations
  • Alabama State Bar
  • American Bar Association
    • Labor and Employment Section
  • The Florida Bar
  • Society for Human Resource Managers
  • State Bar of Georgia
• Credentials
  • LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 1995, with distinction
  • J.D., Florida State University College of Law, 1994, with honors
  • B.A., Tulane University, 1990, cum laude
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit