Meet our attorneys and wonderful office staff below!

Attorneys

James Moten Thompson, Esq.

Telephone: (813) 769-3900
Email: [email protected]

James Moten Thompson is our Managing Partner and Owner. James is peer review rated as a preeminent AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell; the legal community’s primary attorney rating source. James was selected to the Super Lawyers Florida for 2019 which comprised of the top 5% of attorney’s in Florida.  James was also selected as Three Best Rated Employment and Labor attorney for the Tampa Bay area.

James’ primary area of practice is in the area of Employment Law representing both employees and employers in the Tampa Bay area in cases involving workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation. James also advises and litigates on issues involving employment contracts, employment agreements, wage and hour, family medical leave as well as most issues arising out of the employment relationship.

James graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1989, where he was a member of Stetson’s Law Review. Stetson has been recognized as an elite trial advocacy school by U.S. News and World Report and has been rated as high as number one in the country in the area of trial advocacy.

James is licensed to practice law in Florida and in California and has been admitted to practice before the Florida Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, all state courts in Florida and California, the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida, the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida and the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. James has had over 100 jury trials and has a history of appellate court experience including several appellate wins in the State and Federal courts.

James’ past legal experience includes prosecuting for the State Attorney’s office in Tampa, Florida as well extensive practice in general civil litigation and civil and criminal trial work and appellate practice. For the past 22 years, James’ experience has been primarily in the area of employment litigation both at a large firm representing only employers and, for the past 20 years, representing both employees and employers in typical to complex employment matters.

James is a Tampa native and currently resides in Tampa with his wife and two sons.

Kathryn “KC” Hopkinson, Esq.

Telephone: (813) 769-3900
Email: [email protected]

Kathryn “KC” Hopkinson graduated cum laude from The University of Tampa in May of 2006, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and World Affairs. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in December of 2012. While at Stetson, KC was a Student Editor for the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy and received a Leadership Development Certificate. In the summer of 2011, KC completed a Federal Judicial Internship with Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson.

KC has been licensed to practice law in Florida since May of 2013 and has worked with Thompson Legal Center since July of 2012, being made a Partner with the Firm in 2020. She is an active Member of The Florida Bar, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Florida and Hillsborough County Associations for Women Lawyers and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

KC has been selected to the Super Lawyers Florida "Rising Stars" list (2016-2020), an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice. Only 2.5% of attorneys in Florida receive this distinction. In addition, KC was selected as one of the "Top 40 Under 40" Labor & Employment lawyers in the State of Florida (2017-2020) by the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA), an invitation-only legal organization comprised of the nation's most skilled lawyers. The ASLA selection process includes lawyers who combine stellar legal credentials with proven commitment to community engagement, leadership and the highest professional standards. Less than 1.5% of lawyers nationally are selected to this top honor.

KC focuses her law practice on Labor and Employment Law representing both employees and employers in the greater Tampa Bay area. Her employment experience varies from workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation to disability leave and family medical leave issues.

KC resides in Historic Hyde Park Village with her two cats (She-Ra and GreySkull).

Office Staff

Mary Kay Thompson

Office Manager
Mary Kay is the Office Manager and is married to Attorney Thompson. She is a graduate of St. Petersburg Catholic High School and received her B.A. degree in Political Science at the University of South Florida. She has a social work background. Jim and Mary Kay have two sons currently in college, Arman and Nicolai. They are outdoor enthusiasts and their family trips involve either the ocean or the mountains. They are involved with their church, Christ the King, and are passionate about raising awareness for autism research.

 

Andrea Gelsinger

Legal Assistant
Andrea is a seasoned legal assistant with paralegal skills and over 30 years experience in her field. She graduated from Naples High School and attended St. Pete Junior College in the early 1980s. During her time at St. Pete Junior College, she started her career working for firms such as Merkle and Magri, P.A., and Zinober & McCrea, P.A. She honed her paralegal skills while working for Zinober & McCrea, P.A. and Hale and Dorr in Boston, MA. In addition to working for Thompson Legal Center, she also helps with her husband’s contracting business, Gelsinger Design/Build, LLC, as his bookkeeper. On her off time, she volunteers for Save Our Strays in St. Petersburg as a foster. Andrea resides in Old Northeast and has one daughter and three grandchildren.

Arianna Martinez

Law Clerk
Arianna is a second-year law student at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and is in her second year with our office. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of South Florida with concurrent degrees in International Studies and History. While attending USF, she held a variety of leadership roles, including Chief of Staff of USF Student Government, Director of Student Life, and Student Ambassador. Currently she serves as a UF Law Ambassador and a legal research assistant. She is a Tampa native who loves to travel and has studied abroad in Japan and Sicily. In her free time, she enjoys photography and Do-It-Yourself projects.

 

 

Jill Coulter

Secretary
Jill has a Business degree with an emphasis in Marketing and Forecasting from California State University - Sacramento. She is an advocate for those with disabilities and their caregivers and is involved in several national programs and research projects focusing on those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. She is a military spouse and has lived in and experienced many different cultures, which she has come to love. Jill has one daughter and a grandchild.

 

Call (813) 769-3900 for a free case evaluation of your employment related issue.