About Tanya
Prior to beginning her practice as a mediator and arbitrator thirteen years ago, Tanya represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants in a multitude of different cases involving employment law, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, contracts and torts, corporate litigation, insurance coverage, school law, premises liability, and personal injury suits. Her twenty-five plus years of experience working as a litigator representing both plaintiffs and defendants in employment law, business litigation and 1983 claims has given Tanya unique and unbiased insight into each side’s position and provided her with a broad base of knowledge from which to draw during mediation. Tanya’s experience, patience, and ability to quickly spot and evaluate the most contested issues has allowed her to bring over one thousand cases to a successful resolution.
In addition, Tanya is a skilled arbitrator. Arbitration offers individuals a chance to present their case directly to a neutral arbitrator, one who’s been selected by both parties – not a randomly assigned judge. Tanya has served as a solo arbitrator, as well as worked on three-arbitrator panels. Her trial experience, broad background in employment law and commercial disputes, years of experience, attention to detail and thoroughness, and deep desire to reach a correct and well-reasoned conclusion make her an extremely effective arbitrator.
Tanya’s Mediation & Arbitration areas include:
Employment Law & Civil Rights:
- Harassment
- Civil Rights Law (Section 1983)
- Employee Benefits
- Discrimination
- Wage and Hour
- COVID/FFCRA
Premises Liability:
- Accidents
- Liability for criminal acts
- Slip and Fall
Insurance Coverage Disputes
Business Law:
- Trade Secrets and Injunctive Relief Cases
- Franchisee-Franchisor Disputes
- Restrictive Covenant Disputes
- Partnership Disputes/Dissolutions
- Contract Disputes
- Landlord-Tenant
Personal Injury
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
Personal & Professional
Tanya is a member of the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals, America’s foremost professional organization for experienced mediators and arbitrators practicing in the field of civil & commercial mediation and arbitration. Beginning in 2009, Tanya became a certified mediator and later became a member of the American Arbitration Association’s commercial and employment arbitrator and mediator panels in 2020.Tanya is a also member of the Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta and served as a mentor in the Atlanta Bar Association’s Employment Law Mentorship Academy in 2021 and 2022.
Tanya graduated from the University of Georgia Honors Program in 1992, magna cum laude with high honors, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, and received her J.D., also from the University of Georgia, in 1995. Ms. Tate has been given the prestigious “AV” rating by the Martindale-Hubbell National Legal Directory. Additionally, she has twice been recognized as a Georgia Rising Star “Super Lawyer” in employment law, a designation given to only 2.5% of the attorneys in the state. Her firm received the “Pinnacle Award” from the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, recognizing it as one of the top 25 small businesses in the county.
When she is not working Tanya is traveling, spending time with her family, watching college football, biking or spending time outdoors. She is also a tireless fundraiser for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the New England Parkinson’s Ride, raising money as Captain of team “Stormin’ for Norman” which was created to honor of her dad. Last year the team surpassed the 1 million dollar total fundraising mark.
Arbitration
Oftentimes parties either elect, or are contractually required, to arbitrate their disputes. Arbitration offers individuals a chance to present their case directly to a neutral arbitrator, one who’s been selected by both parties – not a randomly assigned judge. And arbitration can level the playing field in other ways – it is typically faster and can be less expensive than litigation. Tanya has served as a solo arbitrator, as well as worked as one of many three arbitrator panels. Her trial experience, broad background in employment law and commercial disputes, years of experience, attention to detail and thoroughness, and deep desire to reach a correct and well-reasoned conclusion make her an extremely effective arbitrator.
What People Are Saying
“My firm has enlisted Tanya to mediate numerous cases and she has done an excellent job in assisting the parties reach resolutions. She’s well prepared and has a very congenial personality that is well suited for mediating. I highly recommend Tanya as a mediator.”
Severin RobertsPartner
Barrett & Farahany, LLP
“Tanya is great at building rapport and trust. She helped my client settle a case with a very fragile plaintiff and handled the emotions involved very successfully. I highly recommend her for employment mediations.”
Janell AhnertLabor & Employment Litigation Attorney
Representing Employers; Shareholder, Littler
“I highly recommend Tanya as a Mediator. Her expertise and experience in both the Law and the art of Mediation is matched by her unique intuition and ability to work with people in the most difficult of circumstances. Tanya recently helped our client resolve an extremely difficult and emotional case; one I’m certain most mediators would have given up on. Tanya’s reputation in the Atlanta Legal Community as an outstanding, professional and dedicated Mediator is well earned and deserved.”
Dan KniffenPartner
Drew Eckl & Farnham
“A successful mediator must have a firm grasp of the law, must understand the parties’ positions, and must have the patience to work beyond the parties’ resistance. Tanya Tate has all of these skills in spades and gets results.”
Ian SmithCounsel
Barrett & Faraha
“Tanya Tate connects with the participants in a mediation effectively. She allows for the mediation process to develop in a constructive method so that each side recognizes that her communicating proposals, conditions and messages is being done in useful fashion.”
Richard GerakitisTrial Attorney
for Specialized Litigation