Ellen J. Messer

Ellen is an Atlanta-based employment attorney with a passion for problem-solving. Her practice focuses on preventing, litigating, and resolving workplace disputes, and she has extensive experience advocating for companies in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration.

Ellen has achieved positive outcomes for companies faced with a wide array of challenges, including:

• Claims of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment arising under Title VII, Section 1981, the ADEA, GINA, the Pay Equity Act, Title I of the ADA, and related state laws;
• Claims of noncompliance with the FMLA, FCRA, FLSA, NLRA, WARN, and Title III of the ADA;
• Tort claims such as IIED, negligence, and tortious interference;
• Contract disputes related to relocation reimbursement agreements, compensation structure agreements, and restrictive covenants such as non-compete agreements;
• Workplace developments such as mergers, layoffs, worker re-classifications, policy changes, handbook updates, and more.

Ellen graduated summa cum laude with highest pro bono distinction from Georgia State University College of Law. During law school, Ellen served on the Editorial Board of the Georgia State University Law Review and spearheaded the creation of the annual Legislative Forum. She earned several CALI Awards (highest grade in the class) and served as a legal writing teaching assistant, Pupil in the Bleckley Inn of Court, and coach and competitor for multiple Moot Court teams.

Ellen spent her final year of law school as an extern with the Appeals and Legal Advice Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Upon graduating, she was inducted into the Order of the Coif and was awarded her school’s Advocacy Certificate and Public Interest Law and Policy Certificate with Honors.

A native of Mississippi, Ellen earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on Atlanta United, following Formula 1 racing, and singing in local a cappella groups. Ellen remains passionate about public service and regularly volunteers with Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer’s Foundation, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, and other local non-profits.