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Alison F.SmithPartner
Alison F.
Smith

Partner

Ft. Lauderdale
(954) 763-4242
asmith@wsh-law.com

Alison focuses her practice on labor & employment, municipal, appellate, and administrative and regulatory matters. Alison regularly represents public and private entities in connection with lawsuits brought pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and many other labor and employment laws. She also acts as outside counsel to several municipalities, assisting them in navigating matters relating to the complex and rapidly evolving labor and employment landscape, to include handling collective bargaining negotiations, employee investigations, arbitrations, and providing training and daily advice and counsel on matters such as harassment, discrimination, unconscious bias, conflict resolution, anger management, cultural competency and a myriad of other topics.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Immediate Past President, Broward County Bar Association, June 2022
  • Member, Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review, and Attorney Grievance of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, April 2022
  • Member, Society for Human Resource Management, 2020-present
  • Treasurer, Broward County Bar Association, June 2020-June 2021
  • Secretary, Broward County Bar Association, June 2019-June 2020
  • Nova Southeastern University Law School Board of Governors, 2019-present
  • Co-Chair, Membership Committee, NSU Law Board of Governors, 2019-present
  • Keiser University’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board, 2018-present
  • 17th Judicial Circuit’s Professionalism Panel, 2017-present
  • President, Caribbean Bar Association, 2012 – 2013
  • Secretary, Caribbean Bar Association, 2011 – 2012
  • Past Chair, Legal Aid Service of Broward County
  • Past Chair, Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc.

Awards & Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America® – Ones to Watch: Labor and Employment Law – Management, 2024
  • National Diversity Council, Woman of the Year Award, 2023
  • The Florida Association for Women, Leader in Law, 2021
  • First Annual South Florida Business and Wealth, Prestigious Women Awards, 2021
  • South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Up and Comer,” 2015 – present
  • South Florida Business and Wealth, “Top up and Comer,” 2019, 2020
  • Presidential Recognition Award, Miami Dade College, 2019
  • Florida Super Lawyers®, Rising Star, 2014 – 2018
  • Icon Under 40 in the Caribbean American Community, Ms. Jamaica South Florida Pageant, 2018
  • Honoree, Caribbean American Heritage & Culture (CAHMUSA), Caribbean American Heritage, 2016
  • Most Powerful and Influential Women in South Florida, Legacy Magazine, 2016
  • Professionalism Award, Broward County Bar Association, 2016
  • “ICABA Rising Star Awards,” International Career and Business Alliance, 2015
  • Top 20 Distinguished Jamaican Youth Under 40 in South Florida, Caribbean National Weekly, 2016
  • Most Powerful & Influential Woman Award, Florida Diversity Council, 2015
  • Top 40 Outstanding Attorney under 40, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2015
  • 20 Under 40, Miami Herald, November 2014
  • 40 Under 40, South Florida Business Journal, August 2014
  • Top 40 Leaders Under 40 in Broward County, Legacy Magazine, 2014

Publications

Reported Cases

  • Nova Southeastern University v. Jacobson, 25 So. 3d 82 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009)
  • Milson v. State, 832 So. 2d 897 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)
  • Enich v. State, 838 So. 2d 1216 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003)
  • Pollen v. State, 834 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003)
  • Louis v. State, 855 So. 2d 253 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003)

Practice Areas

Admissions

Florida, 2004


U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2009


U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2007


U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2006


U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2006

Education

Nova Southeastern University, J.D., magna cum laude, 2003


Nova Southeastern University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2000

Press Mentions
Presentations
  • Employee Handbooks: Creating and Revising the Guide for your Hive, HR Association of Broward County (HRABC)’s Seminar, March 15th, 2023
  • Covid-Related Legal Issues Impacting Local Government, Broward County Bar Association, August 25, 2020
  • Caribbean-American Heritage Month celebration of Caribbean elected officials, June 2020
  • 17th Judicial Circuit Black History Month event presented in collaboration with the Broward County Bar Association, February 21, 2020
  • Sexual Harassment and the “Me Too” Movement, Florida Government Finance Officer’s Association School of Government and Finance, October 16, 2018
  • The Business of Law, Nova Law School Mentoring Program, September 21, 2018
  • Medical Marijuana And Its Impact On Our Communities, Florida City and County Management Association, June 2018
  • The Pathway To A Career In The Law, Miami Dade College, March, 2018
  • “Florida Law,” Radio Talk Show produced by the Broward County Bar Association, 2018
  • Legalization of Medical Marijuana, Jamaica Diaspora Conference, Kingston Jamaica, July 25, 2017
  • Medical Marijuana Issues Affecting Local Government Including Land Use and Labor Issues, Florida City and County Management Association, 2017
  • “Let’s Talk,” Town Hall Public Safety Meeting, Miramar Town Center, August 25, 2017
  • Young Lawyers Bootcamp, Broward County Bar Association, June 2017
  • Discovery in Arbitration, Broward County Bar Association, 2017
  • “Legal News and Review – labor and employment topics”, Radio Show 90.9FM and 103.9 FM, 2017
  • NSU Law Mentoring Program, “Your Personal Business Plan,” November 2016
  • Labor & Employment Discussion, Barry University, 2016
  • Building Your Personal Brand,” Florida Diversity Council’s Women’s Empowerment Conference, 2016

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