HOLLY A. DINCMAN

EDUCATION:
Florida State University College of Business, Bachelor of Science – Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, 1994, magna cum laude.
Florida State University College of Law, Juris Doctor, 1997, with High Honors.
Law Review, Senior Articles Editor
Mock Trial Team
Book Awards (Highest Class Grade) in Insurance Law and Florida Administrative Procedure

ABOUT:
Holly A. Dincman is a highly qualified and experienced labor and employment lawyer who is admitted to practice in all Florida state and federal courts and the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Following her graduation from the Florida State University College of Law with High Honors in 1997, Holly joined Coppins Monroe where she quickly distinguished herself as an associate attorney. Her exceptional work led the firm to promote her to an equity shareholder in 2004. In 2008, Holly joined the elite ranks of Florida employment attorneys by becoming Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Labor & Employment law. In 2016, Holly further distinguished herself by achieving certification as a Florida Certified Labor Relations Professional through the Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association’s professional certification program.

Holly has directly litigated, as a primary attorney, numerous employment-related disputes in both state and federal court and before the Florida Commission on Human Relations (“FCHR”) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). She has defended discrimination and retaliation claims in both federal and state court brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, the American’s with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the Florida Civil Rights Act, Chapter 760, Florida Statutes, and sections 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and 1983 (including race and gender discrimination as well as First Amendment retaliation and other claims). Holly has also defended retaliation claims brought under Florida’s public and private sector Whistle-blower Protection acts, §§ 112.3187, and 448.102, et. seq., Florida Statutes, and other statutes prohibiting discrimination and retaliation based on race, age, gender, disability, marital status, and protected activities of all kinds.

Holly is a frequent trainer and lecturer on sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, FMLA compliance, and other employment matters. She has assisted clients in the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements and has assisted in policy development—including the development of entire employee handbooks, policy manuals, leave policies, sexual harassment/discrimination polices, grievance procedures, drug-testing policies, etc. She has drafted and litigated restrictive covenant/non-compete cases on both sides. She has conducted internal employee investigations, prosecuted claims of employee misconduct, and litigated public employee misconduct charges before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (“DOAH”) and local civil service boards. She provides routine day-to-day advice to governmental and corporate clients on matters of employee rights, discipline, terminations/severances, and hiring matters. She routinely attends and resolves claims at pre-suit and post-suit mediations on behalf of her clients.

Holly’s extensive work with governmental clients–providing primary litigation representation to school districts across North Florida and other city and county clients, means that she is experienced and knowledgeable about governmental litigation and the unique claims, issues, and defenses related to such litigation.

Holly is an officer in the William H. Stafford American Inn of Court. She is the current Chair of the Board of Directors for Big Bend Hospice and is passionate about her work and advocacy for Hospice. Holly is a member of the Education Law Association, the Tallahassee Women Lawyers, the Florida Defense Lawyers’ Association, the Tallahassee Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute.

AWARDS AND ASSOCIATIONS:
Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar (2008)
Florida Certified Labor Relations Professional, 2016, through the Florida Public Employers’ Labor Relations Association (FPELRA) Certification Program
Florida Educational Negotiators (FEN), Commercial Member
The Florida Bar, Labor & Employment Section
American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section
William H. Stafford, American Inn of Court, Master Lawyer Member, Current Counselor (President-Elect)
Florida Defense Lawyers Association, past-chair, Labor and Employment Law Committee
Big Bend Society for Human Resource Managers, Member
Tallahassee Bar Association, Member, Past Member-Board of Directors, Past-Treasurer, Young Lawyers Section
Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), Member
Tallahassee Women Lawyers, Member; Past-Secretary, Past-FAWL Representative
Federal Bar Association, Tallahassee Chapter
Northeast Business Association (Tallahassee)
Defense Research Institute, Member

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Holly serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Big Bend Hospice, Inc.