Stephanie Houston Mays

Stephanie is a Shareholder in Maynard Nexsen’s Labor & Employment Practice. She has experience defending public and private employers ranging from large manufacturers to municipalities, poultry processing facilities, health care providers, large retail companies, post-secondary colleges, and small businesses. She represents clients in litigation and federal agency proceedings and provides training, day-to-day legal advice, and pragmatic solutions that are tailored to meet her clients' needs.

Stephanie's practice consists of representing management and advising clients in all aspects of the employment relationship, including EEOC charges and cases arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. She also assists clients in drafting employment policies and employee handbooks and conducting internal investigations.

Among her experience in both federal and state courts, Stephanie defended a complex eight-week jury trial in federal district court in which the jury awarded less than 3% of the damages sought. She also tried a three-week case in Circuit Court in Bessemer, Alabama, with a jury verdict returned in favor of the defendant, her client.

Stephanie is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and Super Lawyers for Litigation: Labor and Employment. She was included in the 2016 and 2018 Benchmark Litigation "Under 40 Hot List," an elite accolade honoring the achievements of the nation's most accomplished legal partners who are 40 years old or younger. In addition, Stephanie was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a 2017 "Rising Star Lawyer."

Community & Professional

• American Bar Association
• Alabama Lawyers Association
• Birmingham Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association Future Leaders Forum, Class of 2010
• Magic City Bar Association, Past Corresponding Secretary and Recording Secretary
• Alabama State Bar 2014 Leadership Forum, Character and Fitness Committee
• YWCA Board Member (2021)
• Cumberland School of Law Advisory Board (2015 - present)
• The Women's Fund Development Committee Member (2020)
• The Women's Fund, SMART Party Co-Chair (2017)
• UAB Minority Health & Research Center YP Board (2008 - 2013)

• On an going basis, advises senior management of national corporations and regional businesses in all aspects of the employment relationship, drafts employment policies and employee handbooks, conducts internal investigations, develops and delivers anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and management training procedures
• Eight-week jury trial in Northern District of Alabama federal court; at the time this was the largest FLSA claim ever brought by the United States Department of Labor; trial centered on $8 million in overtime for poultry workers and resulted in a successful outcome for the client in which the jury awarded less than 3 percent of damages sought and found no record keeping violation
• Three-week wrongful death jury trial in Bessemer, Alabama, Circuit Court, with a verdict in favor of defendant
• Defended client against driver’s claims for compensation in bench trial in Montgomery, Alabama, District Court, with verdict in favor of defendant
• Three-day Equal Pay Act and race discrimination jury trial in Middle District of Alabama federal court with a verdict in favor of defendant
• Obtained complete summary judgment in Middle District of Alabama federal court case involving termination of police officer who alleged race discrimination, violation of consent decree, First Amendment violations and retaliatory hostile work environment after she was disciplined for posting racially provocative statements on Facebook and terminated for insubordination after she used police vehicle to block her fiancé’s car in the driveway of her residence and refused several instructions by superior officers to move the vehicle

Recognition

• Recognized by Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Alabama, Labor & Employment (2018 - Present)
• The Best Lawyers in America© for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2018 - Present), Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management (2023 - Present)
• Birmingham Business Journal's "Leaders in Diversity" honoree (2021)
• Birmingham Business Journal's "Top 40 Under 40" (2021)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers for Employment and Labor Law (2016 - Present)
• Recognized as a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation
• Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation
• Benchmark Litigation "Under 40 Hot List" (2016, 2018, and 2019)
• Birmingham Business Journal's "Rising Star Lawyers" (2017)
• Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Star for Employment & Labor (2012); Employment & Labor (2013-2015)
• Southern Region Lawyers of Color Hot List (2013)
• American Law Institute - American Bar Association Award
• National Association of Women's Lawyers Award

Blog Posts

Podcasts