Ruth Vafek
Partner
Ruth Vafek is a partner in Berger Singerman’s Tallahassee office. Ruth focuses her practice on Labor and Employment Law and Intellectual Property. She has extensive litigation experience in both areas; however, she especially enjoys working with clients to identify, prevent, and resolve employment and IP issues in order to minimize litigation risk and support clients to success.
Prior to and during law school she worked in multiple industries, including as in-house HR consultant in a California tech company, in the restaurant industry, and with the US government. This experience helps her provide practical advice in the legal context, because she understands the numerous constraints and variables that businesses must juggle every day.
Ruth is also Florida Supreme Court certified as a Circuit Civil Mediator and leverages the same pragmatism and creativity to assist with the resolution of disputes as a neutral.
- Defending employers in employment litigation involving Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and FCRA claims.
- Representing both employers and executive level employees in connection with restrictive covenants, such as non-compete agreements.
- Representing employers at the EEOC and FCHR.
- Investigating, advising employers, and resolving employee complaints and grievances.
- Drafting employment agreements, employee handbooks and policies, and non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements.
- Trademark and copyright registration and portfolio counseling.
- Negotiation and drafting of licensing and development agreements, including SaaS/PaaS agreements.
- Litigating all types of infringement and licensing dispute claims.
- Developed and negotiated groundbreaking Master Services Agreement allocating IP rights and obligations in order to facilitate functional joint research, development, and commercialization between multiple parties.
- Tallahassee Bar Association Member
- Tallahassee Women Lawyers and Florida Association of Women Lawyers Member
- Former member and Chair of the Board of Directors, Tallahassee Urban League
- Former member of Board of Directors, Housing Leadership Council
- United Way workplace campaign coordinator for multiple years at prior firm
HR Magazine Quotes Ruth Vafek in "The Childcare Crisis"
April 5, 2024
March 14, 2024
December 7, 2023
December 6, 2023
Inc. Quotes Ruth Vafek in "How Companies Can Support Women Going Through Menopause"
June 30, 2023
May 22, 2023
April 20, 2020
February 7, 2024
Ruth Vafek, Speaker, "Copyright Law", FSU Law
November 28, 2023
February 15, 2023
Ruth Vafek, Presenter, "Intellectual Property Issues for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses"
June 21, 2022
Ruth Vafek, Co-Panelist, Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management
2019
Client Alert: Federal Court in Texas Blocks Implementation of the FTC’s Rule Banning Non-Competes
August 21, 2024
Client Alert: Texas Federal Court Grants Limited Injunction of FTC’s Rule Banning Noncompete Clauses
July 8, 2024
DOL Implements New Overtime Thresholds
April 24, 2024
Breaking News: FTC Approves Nationwide Ban on Noncompete Clauses – What It Means for Your Business
April 23, 2024
Client Alert: Florida’s New Immigration Law and Implications for Private Employers
June 14, 2023
March 14, 2023
- Ausley McMullen
- Intransa, Inc.