Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018 
Janet Hayes, a Shareholder in the Knoxville office, is an advocate for employers and businesses across the state. Her practice focuses on employment and appellate law.
Ms. Hayes has successfully defended all types of employment claims including sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, discrimination, workers’ compensation, invasion of privacy, wage/hour claims, and denial of benefits. She has also argued more than 50 appeals in Tennessee’s appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and federal appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
With almost 30 years of litigation experience, Ms. Hayes now devotes most of her time to developing litigation-avoidance strategies for her clients. She drafts client-specific employee handbooks, policies, and employment contracts to provide legal compliance while enhancing business success. She also conducts manager/supervisor training classes and compliance audits. Employers frequently call upon Ms. Hayes to conduct formal investigations of employee complaints and allegations of internal wrongdoing. Her investigations have included allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, embezzlement, misappropriation of time, abuse of leave policies, fraud, and generalized claims of mismanagement and unprofessional conduct.
