Sarah P. Reiner Attorney At Law

Sarah practices in the areas of employment law and commercial litigation. Her employment practice centers on the defense of employment-related actions at the agency, state and federal levels. She is well-versed in the handling of employment contract and noncompetition disputes and sexual harassment, whistleblower, discrimination and retaliation claims, as well as actions arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act (wage and hour claims), the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act and various other federal, state and local employment laws. Sarah also assists her clients with the handling of those day-to-day issues that arise in the employment and business contexts including: the development and drafting of employment policies and procedures; the drafting of employment agreements and restrictive covenant (noncompete, nonsolicit and nondisclosure) agreements; the investigation of employee complaints; the evaluation and management of complex employee relations, employee performance, and separation and severance issues; and DOL audits. Sarah’s employment practice also involves counseling employers on issues related to the impact of cannabis in the workplace, and the evolving cannabis industry.  

• Background

  Sarah is a long-time resident of the Orlando area who began her law practice in the areas of corporate and business law (and later, employment law) after graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2001. While in law school, Sarah participated in UF’s Gator TeamChild Clinic, representing children in dependency and delinquency cases, and following her return to Orlando, she served as a Guardian ad Litem.

  After years of continuing involvement in a local non-profit organization providing services to children and their families, Sarah recently obtained a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from The William and Mary Law Institute. Sarah also now serves the children and families of the Central Florida community as a foster parent.

• Education
  • University of Florida, B.A. (magna cum laude, 1998)
    • Florida Blue Key, Member, 1997
  • University of Florida, College of Law, J.D. (cum laude, 2001)
    • Gator Team Child Clinic (2001)
• Certifications
  • William and Mary Law School, PELE Institute in Special Education Advocacy, Certificate in Special Education Advocacy
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2010
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2008
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
    • Labor and Employment Law Section, Member
  • Employment Law Alliance, Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • Academy of Florida Management Attorneys, Member
  • Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers
    • Board of Directors, 2005-2009
    • President, 2007-2008
  • Orange County Bar Association
    • Labor and Employment Committee, Co-Chair, 2012-2013
    • The Briefs, OCBA newsletter
    • Former Co-Editor
    • Former Associate Editor
  • OCBA Young Lawyers Section
    • Board of Directors, Secretary 2005-2008 (three terms)
  • Florida Association of Women Lawyers
  • George C. Young First Central Florida American Inn of Court #123
  • Society for Human Resource Management, Member
  
  
• Awards and Recognitions
  • "Star of the Bar," Orange County Bar Association, 2018
  • Orlando Business Journal, Women Who Mean Business Nominee, 2013
  • Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2010
• E-Lerts and Newsletters
  • "GrayRobinson Labor and Employment and Intellectual Property Sections: What Employers Should Know About the FTC Proposed Rule to Ban Non-Compete Clauses," GrayRobinson Insight, January 12, 2023
  • "The U.S. President’s Marijuana Pardons," Employment Law Alliance Employment Matters Vlog #12, October 12, 2022
  • "GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Section: Anticipating Federal Legalization of Marijuana," October 7, 2022
  • "GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Team: U.S. Supreme Court Stays OSHA ETS; Allows CMS to Proceed," January  13, 2021
  • "GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Team: Vaccination Mandates: Employer Options for Mandating Vaccination Restricted," December 1, 2021
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Federal COVID-19 Action Plan Update," September 13, 2021
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: OSHA Updates COVID-19 Guidance: Supports Employer Vaccination Efforts," August 18, 2021
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: President Issues Executive Order that Proposes FTC Limit Use of Non-compete Clause," July 15, 2021
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: A Summary Guide for Employers on Key Provisions within the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," March 30, 2021
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: A Summary Guide for Employers on Key Provisions within the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," March 30, 2021
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: EEOC Reinstitutes Practice of Offering Opinion Letters," December 2020
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Statute of Limitations Shortened for Filing of Civil Actions Under the Florida Civil Rights Act," July 2020
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Medical Marijuana on Your Mind?" November 2019
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: DOL Announces Final Rule Regarding Changes to FLSA Overtime Regulations," September 2019
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: EEOC Provides Guidance on Component 2 EEO-1 Filing Requirements via Filing System Portal," July 2019
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: EEO-1 Component 2 Submission Deadline Update," April 2019
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Today is the Deadline to Begin Using the Updated Model FCRA Forms," September 2018
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Eleventh Circuit Rules that Sexual Orientation is Not a Protected Characteristic for Purposes of Title VII," March 2017
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Newly Passed Trade Secrets Act Will Impact Employment Agreements," May 2016
  • "Labor and Employment E-lert: Employer’s Termination of Employee for Use of Medical Marijuana Found to be Lawful," June 2015
• Presentations and Seminars
  • "Federal and Florida COVID-19 Laws: Understanding the Basics," GrayRobinson Virtual Webinar, November 18, 2021
  • GrayRobinson’s 23rd Annual Employment Law Seminar, April 1, 2021 
  • MSPA Americas Surviving and Thriving Post-COVID Strategic Summit, November 8, 2020
  • "Don't Get Spooked: 2020 Elections and the law," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Virtual Event, October 29, 2020
  • "Key Workplace Issues in the Time of Covid and Beyond," Florida Insurance Trust Virtual Conference, October 16, 2020
  • "Reopening the Workplace: Are You and Your Employees Prepared?," COVID-19 Conversations Webinar Series, June 8, 2020
  • "Mental Health and Wellness in the Virtual Workplace," Employment Law Alliance Webinar, April 28, 2020
  • "Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES)," Central Florida Development Council Webinar, April 9, 2020
  • "Families First (Paid leave) Legislation and CARES Act," National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) Webinar, April 9, 2020
  • "Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act," Town of Windermere Virtual Town Hall Meeting, April 6, 2020
  • "Medical Marijuana in the Workplace," Coral Springs Regional Chamber's Biz Academy (CSRCBA), Coral Springs, Florida, March 5, 2020
  • "State Law Update," GrayRobinson 22nd Annual Employment Law Seminar, Orlando, April 4, 2019
  • "Sexual Harassment: Fostering a Reporting-Friendly Climate," Central Florida Chapter for the Association of Legal Administrators, Orlando, February 20, 2019
  • "The Professional Workplace – How Knowing and Complying with Workplace Policies and Procedures Creates a Positive Work Environment" – Client Employee Training, February, 2019
  • "Workplace Policies, Training and Recommendations," GrayRobinson 21st Annual Employment Law Seminar, Orlando, April 5, 2018
  • "ADA Developments," GrayRobinson 20th Annual Employment Law Seminar, Orlando, April 6, 2017
  • "Equal Employment Opportunity Update," GrayRobinson 19th Annual Employment Law Seminar, Orlando, April 7, 2016
  • Live Interactive Webinar, "Religious Workplace Accommodations: The U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in Abercrombie and Fitch," Employment Law Alliance, June 30, 2015
  • "Fielding the Right Team: Employee Hiring, Orientation and Separations," The Guardian Foundation/Health Systems 11th Annual Risk Management Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 15-17, 2015
  • "Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Update," GrayRobinson 18th Annual Employment Law Orlando Seminar, March 12, 2015
  • "Privacy v. the Employer's Right to Know: Hot Issues that Straddle the Can-Am Border," Employment Law Alliance, December 4, 2014
• Civic
  • For over 10 years Sarah served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for BETA Center, a Central Florida non-profit organization that provided parenting and educational assistance to young teenage mothers and their children. In 2016 Beta Center merged with UCP of Central Florida, another outstanding Central Florida organization serving children and families.
  • Sarah has also served pro bono as a Guardian ad Litem for children in dependency cases, and as an instructor in the Teen Parent Program through the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. 
• Media Mentions
  • "Pot dispensaries at Florida Circle K stores? Can legal recreational weed be far behind?" Sun Sentinel, October 30, 2022
  • "Unemployment in the State of Florida," NewsRadio WFLA’s AM Tampa Bay, April 2020
  • "Unemployment During the COVID-19 Outbreak," NewsRadio WFLA’s AM Tampa Bay, March 2020
  • "Employers Delve Into the Weeds of Cannabis Law," Area Development, April 2019
  • "More Businesses Dropping Marijuana Drug Tests,"  iHeartRADIO 970WFLA AM Tampa Bay, May 2018
  • "Attorneys React to High Court Pregnancy Bias Ruling," Law360, March 2015
  • "Medical Marijuana," WMNF Radio Tampa, 2014
• Articles and Publications
  • "Episode 261: OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard Has Finally Been Released: What Does It Mean for US Employers?" ELA Employment Matters Podcast, June 18, 2021
  • "Episode 252: What to Expect Regarding the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard in the United States," ELA Employment Matters Podcast, May 27, 2021
  • "Highly uncertain times," The Tampa Tribune, May 18, 2014