New Florida Non-Compete Agreement Law Update: House Bill 1219 “CHOICE Act

Cathleen Scott | Scott Law Team, LLC

Ms. Scott received a B.A. from Stetson University in 1993 and her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California in 1997. Ms. Scott has been board certified by The Florida Bar in labor and employment law since 2006. She is the managing partner of Scott Law Team, LLC. She managed Scott Wagner & Associates, P.A. The original firm, Cathleen Scott & Associates, P.A., was established in 2000. The current firm is based in Jupiter, Florida with satellite offices in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach. The seven attorney firm practices in the areas of labor and employment law. Ms. Scott specializes in representing employees and employers in administrative, state, and federal proceedings in employment law matters. She is a Licensed Certified Circuit Court Mediator. She is the former owner and President of ARC Mediation. During her ownership of ARC, she managed a roster of over 20 certified attorney/mediators and former judges with locations in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Martin, Broward, and Dade Counties. Ms. Scott has been a Board-Certified Labor & Employment lawyer since 2006, rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, recognized as a “Super Lawyer” and “Rising Star” for the Super Lawyers publication, a member of The Florida Bar (Labor & Employment, Litigation, and Health Care sections) and the Bars of the Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. She is the former Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, and CLE Director of the Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Executive Counsel. She is the past chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Palm Beach County Bar, executive board member of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association, and a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association (Labor and Employment, International, and Litigation sections) and is active in several non-profit activities at the state and local level. She has been a Super Lawyers 2005-2025. She currently serves on the Labor and Employment Law Certification Committee, which is responsible for drafting the board certification exam and approving applicants. She is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, and its Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute. She believes in community and has supported the wage and hour task force at El Sol and the Jupiter Resource Center in Jupiter, Florida.

As set forth in more detail below, Ms. Scott regularly lectures on the topic of labor and employment law with recent lectures as the board certification review course, the Palm Beach County Bar, the Florida Bar Labor and Employment Section CLE presentations, and the International Forum of Senior Executive Advisers (IFSEA). She presents as an expert in labor law at the College of Advanced Judicial Studies, University of Miami, and Nova Southeastern University.

The firm handles both individual and class action cases. They also draft employment contracts, restrictive covenants, arbitration agreements, employment handbooks, job descriptions, and policies as well as provides sensitivity training for employers both large and small. Ms. Scott is passionate about providing employers with core value training and help employers meet the moment by crafting flexible work schedules, tackling remote work issues, and paid time off. Ms. Scott also handles matters before the National Labor Relations Board involving policy violations as well as Department of Labor investigations for wage and hour issues.

The firm handles workplace investigations in a fair and impartial manner.

Ms. Scott together with her former husband of 25 years managed urgent care centers. The couple has two adult children who are professional musicians and reside in Los Angeles, California. She holds a second degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do and enjoys adjunct instructing at Hwang’s Martial Arts in Palm Beach Gardens and teaching free self-defense classes.

She is the founder of the Jupiter Jazz and Performing Arts Society, a nonprofit that raises money for school music programs and local musicians.

I. Framework of the CHOICE Act (House Bill 1219) | 12:00pm – 12:12pm

II. Comparison of legal frameworks | 12:12pm – 12:24pm

III. Drafting guidance for employers | 12:24pm – 12:36pm

IV. Employee rights and responsibilities | 12:36pm – 12:48pm

V. Strategic insights for key stakeholders | 12:48pm – 1:00pm