3100 Cumberland Boulevard SE, #1460, Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: (404) 348-2363
Fax: (404) 848-0883

Tacita A. Mikel Scott

404-348-2363, ext. 701
404-719-5077 direct
tscott@keystonelegalgroup.com

Tacita A. Mikel Scott is the Chief Executive Officer of the division with over 19 years experience practicing law. In addition to managing the firm, she is a member of the employment and litigation practice groups.

Tacita’s expansive litigation practice focuses on all types of litigation that can impact religious institutions and their service providers, including, but not limited to, breach of contract, premises liability, Church liability for the acts of employees and volunteers, and vendor disputes.

As part of her employment practice, Tacita assists Churches and their service providers throughout the United States in all areas of employment law, including such issues as, (i) Harassment and discrimination claims; (ii) Overtime and other wage and hour claims (including collective actions); (iii) Family and Medical Leave Act claims; (iv) Restrictive covenant and trade secrets claims; (v) Whistleblower claims; and (vi) ERISA claims. Tacita also routinely advises Churches and their service providers on employment law obligations, the avoidance of employee-related problems, and finding creative solutions to workplace issues.

Tacita often trains, and speaks to, Church leaders and management of service providers on a variety of employment related topics centered around compliance management. In addition, Tacita regularly counsels Churches and their Boards on Board development issues and best practices. She also routinely drafts and negotiates Pastoral/Executive Agreements, and drafts other Human Resources documentation to ensure that organizations have a strong documentation infrastructure to support its policies and decisions.

Tacita has litigated a wide array of cases and handled trials in Federal and State courts, governmental agencies and arbitration tribunals for organizations of all sizes. She also has extensive experience negotiating complex settlements. As both a pragmatic counselor and a skilled advocate, Tacita is well equipped to temper the urge to litigate with the need to negotiate, which enables her to support the process that best fits her clients’ goals.

The National Diversity Council has recognized Tacita as one of the Most Influential Women in Georgia, and Atlanta Woman magazine named Tacita one of “Atlanta’s 25 Power Woman to Watch.” She has also been repeatedly recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star, ranking her in the top 2.5 percent in the state, and is frequently included in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta, a publication that celebrates African-American achievement. Tacita is also a recipient of The Black Gents of Hollywood’s Excellence Award, and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Community Champion Award.

EXPERIENCE

  • Over 19 years business and employment litigation experience handling all facets of the litigation process from initial pleadings to appellate motions post-trial
  • Defending full gamut of employment litigation claims including sexual harassment, wage and hour, FMLA, ERISA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and employment torts
  • Handling training on all employment issues including sexual harassment, employment law compliance, discrimination, retaliation, pre-employment inquiries, wage and hour compliance, and workplace violence for audiences ranging from senior management to over 2000 employees
  • Drafting of all employment-related documentation, with emphasis on separation agreements and executive compensation agreements
  • Serving as human resources outpost to proactively avoid disputes, investigations and lawsuits
  • Conducting full range of employment audits including wage and hour and employment law compliance
  • Creating Human Resources infrastructure for Churches and their service providers
  • Board development training

EDUCATION

  • J.D., Vanderbilt University (1994)
  • B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Spelman College (1991)

INVOLVEMENT

  • Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of North Georgia; Chair, Legal Committee; Member, Executive Committee, Financial Committee and Strategic Planning Committee
  • Board of Trustees, The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
  • Board of Advisors, Destiny University f/k/a/ Center for Creative Leadership and Ministry Innovation
  • Board of Governors, American Institute for Managing Diversity (25th Anniversary Committee)
  • Member, National Association of Women Lawyers; Member, Mid-Year Conference and Atlanta Night of Giving Planning Committees
  • Membership Committee, The Buckhead Club
  • Member, Leadership Atlanta
  • Member, Junior League of Atlanta
  • Member, American Bar, National Bar, Georgia Bar and Atlanta Bar Associations
  • Member, National Employment Law Council
  • Member, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and Gate City Bar Association

PUBLICATIONS

  • Leased Employees and Other Contingent Workers: Panacea or Pandora’s Box? The John Liner Review 22, No. 4 (Winter 2009): 62
  • Supporting Our Troops in the Workplace: An Introduction to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, The John Liner Review 20, No. 2 (Summer 2006): 23
  • Till Termination Do Us Part: A Primer on Effectively Managing Today’s Workforce, The John Liner Review 17, No. 2 (Summer 2003): 43

SPEECHES

  • Employment Law Considerations (National Bar Association’s Religion Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, April 2011)
  • Networking Strategies (National Diversity Council’s Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, September 2010)
  • Employment Law Considerations (Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association’s Ministry Enrichment Seminar, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Tax Law Considerations (Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association’s Ministry Enrichment Seminar, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Corporate Formation Considerations (Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association’s Ministry Enrichment Seminar, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Constitutional Law Considerations (Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association’s Ministry Enrichment Seminar, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Employment Law Considerations (Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association’s Ministry Enrichment Seminar, Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • FLSA Basics (National Bar Association’s Employment Law Conference , Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Avoiding and/or Resolving Potential Collective Actions (National Bar Association’s Employment Law Conference , Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Perspectives on Post-Certification (National Bar Association’s Employment Law Conference , Atlanta, GA, March 2010)
  • Employment Law Overview (Atlanta, GA, November 2009)
  • Establishing Credibility in the Workplace (National Diversity Council’s Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, November 2009)
  • Top 10 HR Do’s and Don’ts (Atlanta, GA, August 2009)
  • Documentation, Discipline & Discharge (Atlanta, GA, August 2009)
  • Marketing Strategies for All Levels (National Bar Association Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, August 2009)
  • Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts (Atlanta, GA, April 2009)
  • Representing Religious Institutions: A Snapshot of Legal Considerations (Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia 6th Annual Nonprofit Law Seminar, Atlanta, GA, April 2009)
  • Real and Perceived Barriers to Leadership (National Diversity Council’s Women in Leadership Symposium, Atlanta, GA, November 2008)
  • Leased Employees and Other Contingent Workers: Panacea or Pandora’s Box? (National Employment Law Council Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 2008)
  • 2007 Labor & Employment Law Update: Wage and Hour Overview (National Bar Association’s Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA, July 2007)
  • The OFCCP’s Internet Applicant Rule: An Administrative Nightmare or Sweet Dream? (National Bar Association Commercial Law Section’s 19th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, Birmingham, AL February 2006)
  • A Primer on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as Amended (National Bar Association Commercial Law Section’s 19th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, Birmingham, AL, February 2006)
  • FLSA Compliance Audits (Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s 4th Annual CLE Expo, Chicago, IL, February 2005)
  • Minimum Wage Requirements: Wage and Hour Law Update in Georgia (Lorman Education Services, Atlanta, GA, March 2004)
  • Overtime Requirements: Wage and Hour Law Update in Georgia (Lorman Education Services, Atlanta, GA, March 2004)
  • Hours Worked Under FLSA: Wage and Hour Law Update in Georgia (Lorman Education Services, Atlanta, GA, March 2004)
  • Employers Should Be Prepared for Emergencies, Including Terrorist Attacks (Morris, Manning & Martin, Atlanta, GA, July 2003)
  • Basic Principles of Employment Law/Discrimination Issues (Selected Topics in Structuring and Operating a Business in Georgia, Atlanta, GA, May 2003)