Cathleen Bell Bremmer

Katy Bremmer is an accomplished litigator whose practice is focused on management-side defense, representing employers in various aspects of labor and employment in state, federal, and class action litigation. This representation includes defending clients in equal employment discrimination, whistleblower, wage and hour, and retaliation lawsuits filed in federal and state court.

Katy believes in conducting thorough investigations and providing a proactive defense, enabling her clients to effectively evaluate and efficiently manage cases through the life of the litigation. She conducts internal investigations for clients, drafts employment agreements and policies, and advises on all manner of human resources and employment-related issues such as hiring, discipline, investigations, accommodations, leave, and termination.

Katy has extensive experience with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Railway Labor Act, Title VII, ERISA, COBRA, and civil rights litigation. She also represents employers in proceedings before federal and state equal employment opportunity agencies and defends employers, benefit plans, and fiduciaries in benefit plan litigation.

In addition to her employment law practice, Katy provides discovery practice and defense support to the firm’s litigation and national class action practice groups in both state and federal court complex civil litigation matters.

Katy is board certified in labor and employment law by the Florida Bar. She regularly writes and speaks on legal developments in employment law. She is a co-author of the federal discrimination claims chapter in the fourth edition of the recognized treatise, Handbook on ERISA Litigation, published by Wolters Kluwer.

• Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• BTI Client Service All-Stars (2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law – Management (2016–2025)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2010–2022)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2005)

• American Bar Association 
  • Employee Benefits Committee, Labor and Employment Section
  • Section of Litigation
• The Florida Bar 
  • Labor and Employment Law Certification Committee (2012–present) 
    • Chair (2015–2016) 
    • Vice Chair (2014–2015) 
• Federal Bar Association
• Hillsborough County Bar Association 
  • Co-Chair, Labor and Employment Section
• University of West Florida Alumni Association

• "Preparing for New Federal Vaccine Mandates: What Businesses Need to Know," Carlton Fields (November 9, 2021)
• “Employment Law Update: Leveling the Playing Field,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (April 2019)
• “Latest Updates in Employment Law 'Operating Systems' After the First 40 Days,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (March 2017)
• "The Potential Impact of a Trump Presidency on Employers," Carlton Fields (December 2016)
• "Wage and Hour Workshop," Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL (October 25, 2016)
• “Easing Cyber Growing Pains: Defining and Mitigating the Threat of Data Loss at Second Stage Companies,” presentation to GrowFL, Winter Park, FL (April 25, 2016)
• “Labor and Employment Law Jeopardy – New Workplace Challenges That Can Put Your Company at Risk,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (March 2016)
• "Significant Wage/Hour and NLRB Updates," General Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (November 13, 2015)
• “Don’t Let the COBRA Strike: ERISA and COBRA Issues to Be Aware of in M&A Transactions,” Carlton Fields (July 21, 2015)
• “False Claims Act/Qui Tam Investigations and Retaliation,” Hillsborough County Bar Association Health Care Law Section (April 2015)
• “Managing Employees in an Increasingly Litigious and Regulated Climate,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (March 2015)
• “HR Issues to Be Wary of and Steps to Mitigate Risks,” CEO Forum (December 2014)
• “Catching Them Coming and Going: Understanding Laws Related to Legal Employment,” NALP 2013 Annual Education Conference, Tampa, FL (April 25, 2013)
• “PEDS’s, IM’s and Twitters, Oh My ... Legal Issues Involving the Use of Personal Electronic Devices and Social Media in the Workplace,” Emerging Legal Issues for Employment Lawyers and Corporate Counsel, Tampa, FL (March 22, 2011)
• “Attorney-Client Issues for In-House Counsel: Special Issues in the Employment Law Context,” Tampa, FL (October 13, 2010)
• “ESI Discovery Update: State and Federal Law Trends,” Chicago, IL (August 24, 2010)
• “ESI Discovery Update: State and Federal Law Trends,” Dallas, TX (March 23, 2010)