Annette A.Idalski
Partner
Labor & Employment
aidalski@seyfarth.com
Annette is a successful trial lawyer and advisor to her clients because her litigation strategy is uniquely tailored to their business objectives.
More About Annette
Annette is known for being a fierce litigator and has extensive experience as lead defense counsel in “bet the company” class and complex employment litigation cases including wage and hour, discrimination, and non-compete/employee raiding litigation. She has obtained hundreds of successful rulings and verdicts for her clients both in summary judgment motions, arbitrations, and trials.
Employers in the oilfield, cable, insurance, airport services, technology, manufacturing, and hospitality industries rely on Annette to navigate workforce challenges using a creative, business-minded approach to problem-solving and litigation. Corporations across the country look to Annette for her clear “no non-sense” advice that aligns with their business goals and helps prevent or reduce litigation in the future.
In addition to her active litigation practice, Annette counsels clients on best practices to minimize workplace disputes including drafting employment agreements, arbitration agreements, and employee policies that are tailored to each client’s business objectives. She also provides guidance on day-to-day issues arising from wage and hour compliance, sexual harassment investigations, complex leave and accommodations, hiring and firing, non-compete and non-solicitation matters and mergers and acquisitions.
Annette is frequently recognized by her peers for her excellence in client service and outstanding results for her clients. She served as president of the Georgia Association For Women Lawyers.
Employers in the oilfield, cable, insurance, airport services, technology, manufacturing, and hospitality industries rely on Annette to navigate workforce challenges using a creative, business-minded approach to problem-solving and litigation. Corporations across the country look to Annette for her clear “no non-sense” advice that aligns with their business goals and helps prevent or reduce litigation in the future.
In addition to her active litigation practice, Annette counsels clients on best practices to minimize workplace disputes including drafting employment agreements, arbitration agreements, and employee policies that are tailored to each client’s business objectives. She also provides guidance on day-to-day issues arising from wage and hour compliance, sexual harassment investigations, complex leave and accommodations, hiring and firing, non-compete and non-solicitation matters and mergers and acquisitions.
Annette is frequently recognized by her peers for her excellence in client service and outstanding results for her clients. She served as president of the Georgia Association For Women Lawyers.
- JD, St. Mary's University School of Law
- BS, Central Michigan University
Cum Laude
- Georgia
- Texas
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Florida
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Southern District of Texas
- US District Court, Western District of Texas
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
09/23/2024
11 Seyfarth Attorneys Selected as 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers and Two Others as Hall of Famers
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
09/22/2023
12 Seyfarth Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 LawDragon 500 Corporate Employment Lawyers Guide
-
Recognition
06/01/2023
2023 Chambers USA Names 81 Seyfarth Lawyers as Leaders in Business Law; 36 Seyfarth Practices Also Recognized as Leaders in Their Fields
- Recognized as one of the "500 Leading Lawyers in America" by Lawdragon (2025)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2025)
- Recognized for Labor & Employment (Georgia) by Chambers USA (2022-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) - defense, The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2022-2024)
- Recognized as one of the Leading US Corporate Employment Lawyers by Lawdragon (2020-2022)
- Named to Georgia Super Lawyers in the Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine (Thomson Reuters) (2006-2007, 2009-2021)
- Named one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers in Georgia" by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) (2015-2019)
- Nominated as of the "Women of Power and Influence" by The Atlantan (Dickey Publishing) (2018)
- Listed in "Georgia's Legal Elite," nominated by Georgia attorneys and published by Georgia Trend Magazine (Morris Publishing Group) (2005, 2007, 2009-2018)
- Named Fellow by The College of Labor and Employment (2016)
- Recognized as a Top Attorney in Employment and Labor in the Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers Magazine (Thomson Reuters) (2010)
- Visionary Award by the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (2005)
- Georgia Association For Women Lawyers (legislative co-chair, 2002-2003; vice-president of strategic partnerships, 2003-2005; president-elect, 2005-2006; president, 2006-2007; past president, 2007-2008; advisory board, 2008-Present)
- Co-Author, "Supreme Court Holds That Highly-Compensated Employees Solely Paid a Day Rate Must Meet Reasonable Relationship Test," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 22, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Ruling Preserves Industry’s Ability To Employ Independent Contractors," American Oil & Gas Reporter (November 2019)
- Co-Author, "Employment in the Age of Social Media," SHALE Oil & Gas Business Magazine (March 2018)
- Co-Author, "NLRB Under the Trump Administration: Republican Nominations Poised to Revisit Obama-Era Rulings," Daily Report (July 2017)
- Co-Author, "Tips vs Service Charges: Navigating the Murky Waters of Restaurant Gratuities," Modern Restaurant Management (July 2017)
- Co-Author, "Comp Time Questions Under Working Families Flexibility Act," Law360 (July 2017)
- Co-Author, "The Era of President Donald J. Trump – What Employers Can Expect," Employment Relations Today (Winter 2017)
- Co-Author, "Impact of the Presidential Election on the Workplace," Hotel Business (October 2016)
- Author, "On-Site with Annette Idalski," Energy Executive (Winter/Spring Edition)
- Co-Author, "Six Steps for Effective Performance Evaluations," CFMA Building Profits (March/April 2016)
- Co-Author, "Be Prepared for an 'Ambush'," Workforce.com (January 2016)
- Co-Author, "Preparing for Increases to Salary Requirements for FLSA Exemptions," FSR Magazine
- Author, "Independent Contractor Status: Employer Prevails in Department of Labor Challenge," The American Oil & Gas Reporter (September 2015)
- Co-Author, "Three Things That Keep Oil & Gas Executives Up at Night," Oil & Gas (June 2015)
- Author, "Contracting Trouble: How to audit your independent contractor classifications before the DOL does," HRMagazine (April 2015)
- Co-Author, "Avoiding Joint Employment Liability: The Control Factor," Inside Counsel (February 27, 2015)
- Co-Author, "7 Steps to Drafting Effective Written Agreements to Avoid Joint Employer Liability," Inside Counsel (January 29, 2015)
- Co-Author, "The Joint Employment Arrangement: How Changes in the Law Affect Franchisor/Franchisee and Contractor Relationships," Inside Counsel (December 30, 2014)
- Co-Author, "Energy Company Wins Against DOL," BIC Magazine (May 1, 2013)
- Co-Author, "Should Employers Include Class-action Waivers in Their Arbitration Agreements?" Westlaw Journal Employment (January 10, 2012)
- Co-Author, "IRS Gets Class Conscious: Switching to Independent Contractors Draws Scrutiny," American Bar Association Journal (April 2011)
- Author, "Employee Versus Independent Contractor: Classification Dilemma," Daily Labor Rep. (BNA) No. 5 (January 7, 2011)
- Author, "Averting The March Toward Unionization," Law360 (February 10, 2009)
- Co-Author, "Doing Layoffs the Right Way," Workforce Management Online (December 2008)
- Columnist, "Managing Your Employees," Craftrends Magazine (2005-2006)
- Contributing Author, How Arbitration Works, Sixth Edition, American Bar Association (2004)
- Quoted, "New OSHA COVID-19 reporting: Do you know what’s required?" HR Morning (June 30, 2020)
- Quoted, "Natural Gas Pipeline Inspectors Lose Cert. Bid in OT Fight," Law360 (March 2017)
- Quoted, "Judge Slaps Down FLSA Certification for Gas Inspectors," The Legal Intelligencer (March 2017)
- Quoted, "Top 11 Employer FMLA Mistakes," Society for Human Resource Management (April 2016)
- Interviewed, "Annette A. Idalski: In Defense of the Entrepreneur," Attorney at Law Magazine (October 2015)
- Quoted, "Feds Targeting Companies for Misclassifying Their Workers," Atlanta Business Chronicle (July 2015)
- Quoted, "Attorneys React to DOL Misclassification Guidance," Law360 (July 2015)
- Quoted, "Fifth Circuit Sanctions Federal Government in FLSA Case," Texas Lawyer (July 2015)
- Quoted, "South Texas Oil Field Services Company Wins Appeal," The Victoria Advocate (July 2015)
- Quoted, "Drilling Down on Day Rates," North American Oil and Gas Pipelines (May 2015)
- Quoted, "Suit Attempts to Apply NLRB’s ‘Joint-Employer’ Status to Discrimination Cases," Inside Counsel (February/March 2015)
- Quoted, "Company Wins Big Fee Award from DOL," Texas Lawyer (April 17, 2014)
- Quoted, "Case in Point: How to Sue the Government and Win," Houston Business Journal (April 14, 2014)
- Quoted, "Judge Socks Labor Department With Costs of Failed Lawsuit," The National Law Journal (April 14, 2014)
- Quoted, "Atlanta Labor Lawyer Prevails Over Labor Department," Atlanta Business Chronicle (April 11, 2014)
- Quoted, "Taxing Error, Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors Can Prove Costly," The Atlanta Business Chronicle (August 16, 2013)
- Quoted, "Regulators Crack Down on Classifying Workers as Contractors," The Wall Street Journal (March 3, 2013
- Quoted, "Oilfield Services Company Wins Over Government in Legal Labor Battle," The Victoria Advocate, (February 19, 2013)
- Quoted, "Know Your Layoff Rules & Procedures," HR Focus (February 2009)
Annette is a successful trial lawyer and advisor to her clients because her litigation strategy is uniquely tailored to their business objectives.
More About Annette
Annette is known for being a fierce litigator and has extensive experience as lead defense counsel in “bet the company” class and complex employment litigation cases including wage and hour, discrimination, and non-compete/employee raiding litigation. She has obtained hundreds of successful rulings and verdicts for her clients both in summary judgment motions, arbitrations, and trials.
Employers in the oilfield, cable, insurance, airport services, technology, manufacturing, and hospitality industries rely on Annette to navigate workforce challenges using a creative, business-minded approach to problem-solving and litigation. Corporations across the country look to Annette for her clear “no non-sense” advice that aligns with their business goals and helps prevent or reduce litigation in the future.
In addition to her active litigation practice, Annette counsels clients on best practices to minimize workplace disputes including drafting employment agreements, arbitration agreements, and employee policies that are tailored to each client’s business objectives. She also provides guidance on day-to-day issues arising from wage and hour compliance, sexual harassment investigations, complex leave and accommodations, hiring and firing, non-compete and non-solicitation matters and mergers and acquisitions.
Annette is frequently recognized by her peers for her excellence in client service and outstanding results for her clients. She served as president of the Georgia Association For Women Lawyers.
Employers in the oilfield, cable, insurance, airport services, technology, manufacturing, and hospitality industries rely on Annette to navigate workforce challenges using a creative, business-minded approach to problem-solving and litigation. Corporations across the country look to Annette for her clear “no non-sense” advice that aligns with their business goals and helps prevent or reduce litigation in the future.
In addition to her active litigation practice, Annette counsels clients on best practices to minimize workplace disputes including drafting employment agreements, arbitration agreements, and employee policies that are tailored to each client’s business objectives. She also provides guidance on day-to-day issues arising from wage and hour compliance, sexual harassment investigations, complex leave and accommodations, hiring and firing, non-compete and non-solicitation matters and mergers and acquisitions.
Annette is frequently recognized by her peers for her excellence in client service and outstanding results for her clients. She served as president of the Georgia Association For Women Lawyers.
- JD, St. Mary's University School of Law
- BS, Central Michigan University
Cum Laude
- Georgia
- Texas
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Florida
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Southern District of Texas
- US District Court, Western District of Texas
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
09/23/2024
11 Seyfarth Attorneys Selected as 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers and Two Others as Hall of Famers
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
09/22/2023
12 Seyfarth Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 LawDragon 500 Corporate Employment Lawyers Guide
-
Recognition
06/01/2023
2023 Chambers USA Names 81 Seyfarth Lawyers as Leaders in Business Law; 36 Seyfarth Practices Also Recognized as Leaders in Their Fields
- Recognized as one of the "500 Leading Lawyers in America" by Lawdragon (2025)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2025)
- Recognized for Labor & Employment (Georgia) by Chambers USA (2022-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) - defense, The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2022-2024)
- Recognized as one of the Leading US Corporate Employment Lawyers by Lawdragon (2020-2022)
- Named to Georgia Super Lawyers in the Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine (Thomson Reuters) (2006-2007, 2009-2021)
- Named one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers in Georgia" by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) (2015-2019)
- Nominated as of the "Women of Power and Influence" by The Atlantan (Dickey Publishing) (2018)
- Listed in "Georgia's Legal Elite," nominated by Georgia attorneys and published by Georgia Trend Magazine (Morris Publishing Group) (2005, 2007, 2009-2018)
- Named Fellow by The College of Labor and Employment (2016)
- Recognized as a Top Attorney in Employment and Labor in the Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers Magazine (Thomson Reuters) (2010)
- Visionary Award by the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (2005)
- Georgia Association For Women Lawyers (legislative co-chair, 2002-2003; vice-president of strategic partnerships, 2003-2005; president-elect, 2005-2006; president, 2006-2007; past president, 2007-2008; advisory board, 2008-Present)
- Co-Author, "Supreme Court Holds That Highly-Compensated Employees Solely Paid a Day Rate Must Meet Reasonable Relationship Test," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 22, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Ruling Preserves Industry’s Ability To Employ Independent Contractors," American Oil & Gas Reporter (November 2019)
- Co-Author, "Employment in the Age of Social Media," SHALE Oil & Gas Business Magazine (March 2018)
- Co-Author, "NLRB Under the Trump Administration: Republican Nominations Poised to Revisit Obama-Era Rulings," Daily Report (July 2017)
- Co-Author, "Tips vs Service Charges: Navigating the Murky Waters of Restaurant Gratuities," Modern Restaurant Management (July 2017)
- Co-Author, "Comp Time Questions Under Working Families Flexibility Act," Law360 (July 2017)
- Co-Author, "The Era of President Donald J. Trump – What Employers Can Expect," Employment Relations Today (Winter 2017)
- Co-Author, "Impact of the Presidential Election on the Workplace," Hotel Business (October 2016)
- Author, "On-Site with Annette Idalski," Energy Executive (Winter/Spring Edition)
- Co-Author, "Six Steps for Effective Performance Evaluations," CFMA Building Profits (March/April 2016)
- Co-Author, "Be Prepared for an 'Ambush'," Workforce.com (January 2016)
- Co-Author, "Preparing for Increases to Salary Requirements for FLSA Exemptions," FSR Magazine
- Author, "Independent Contractor Status: Employer Prevails in Department of Labor Challenge," The American Oil & Gas Reporter (September 2015)
- Co-Author, "Three Things That Keep Oil & Gas Executives Up at Night," Oil & Gas (June 2015)
- Author, "Contracting Trouble: How to audit your independent contractor classifications before the DOL does," HRMagazine (April 2015)
- Co-Author, "Avoiding Joint Employment Liability: The Control Factor," Inside Counsel (February 27, 2015)
- Co-Author, "7 Steps to Drafting Effective Written Agreements to Avoid Joint Employer Liability," Inside Counsel (January 29, 2015)
- Co-Author, "The Joint Employment Arrangement: How Changes in the Law Affect Franchisor/Franchisee and Contractor Relationships," Inside Counsel (December 30, 2014)
- Co-Author, "Energy Company Wins Against DOL," BIC Magazine (May 1, 2013)
- Co-Author, "Should Employers Include Class-action Waivers in Their Arbitration Agreements?" Westlaw Journal Employment (January 10, 2012)
- Co-Author, "IRS Gets Class Conscious: Switching to Independent Contractors Draws Scrutiny," American Bar Association Journal (April 2011)
- Author, "Employee Versus Independent Contractor: Classification Dilemma," Daily Labor Rep. (BNA) No. 5 (January 7, 2011)
- Author, "Averting The March Toward Unionization," Law360 (February 10, 2009)
- Co-Author, "Doing Layoffs the Right Way," Workforce Management Online (December 2008)
- Columnist, "Managing Your Employees," Craftrends Magazine (2005-2006)
- Contributing Author, How Arbitration Works, Sixth Edition, American Bar Association (2004)
- Quoted, "New OSHA COVID-19 reporting: Do you know what’s required?" HR Morning (June 30, 2020)
- Quoted, "Natural Gas Pipeline Inspectors Lose Cert. Bid in OT Fight," Law360 (March 2017)
- Quoted, "Judge Slaps Down FLSA Certification for Gas Inspectors," The Legal Intelligencer (March 2017)
- Quoted, "Top 11 Employer FMLA Mistakes," Society for Human Resource Management (April 2016)
- Interviewed, "Annette A. Idalski: In Defense of the Entrepreneur," Attorney at Law Magazine (October 2015)
- Quoted, "Feds Targeting Companies for Misclassifying Their Workers," Atlanta Business Chronicle (July 2015)
- Quoted, "Attorneys React to DOL Misclassification Guidance," Law360 (July 2015)
- Quoted, "Fifth Circuit Sanctions Federal Government in FLSA Case," Texas Lawyer (July 2015)
- Quoted, "South Texas Oil Field Services Company Wins Appeal," The Victoria Advocate (July 2015)
- Quoted, "Drilling Down on Day Rates," North American Oil and Gas Pipelines (May 2015)
- Quoted, "Suit Attempts to Apply NLRB’s ‘Joint-Employer’ Status to Discrimination Cases," Inside Counsel (February/March 2015)
- Quoted, "Company Wins Big Fee Award from DOL," Texas Lawyer (April 17, 2014)
- Quoted, "Case in Point: How to Sue the Government and Win," Houston Business Journal (April 14, 2014)
- Quoted, "Judge Socks Labor Department With Costs of Failed Lawsuit," The National Law Journal (April 14, 2014)
- Quoted, "Atlanta Labor Lawyer Prevails Over Labor Department," Atlanta Business Chronicle (April 11, 2014)
- Quoted, "Taxing Error, Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors Can Prove Costly," The Atlanta Business Chronicle (August 16, 2013)
- Quoted, "Regulators Crack Down on Classifying Workers as Contractors," The Wall Street Journal (March 3, 2013
- Quoted, "Oilfield Services Company Wins Over Government in Legal Labor Battle," The Victoria Advocate, (February 19, 2013)
- Quoted, "Know Your Layoff Rules & Procedures," HR Focus (February 2009)