Overview

Dionysia Johnson-Massie is a litigator who focuses her practice on federal employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wage-hour litigation and strategic compliance issues, including diversity and inclusion strategies and matters arising under:

  • Title VII and Section 1981
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act

Dionysia uses a combination of legal skills and business acumen to offer her clients creative and cost-effective strategies that minimize exposure to a myriad of legal risks. She regularly provides advice and counsel on the practical and legal implications of everyday employment decisions. She also has extensive experience investigating potential legal issues and developing appropriate legal and compliance strategies for companies.

Through mediations, arbitrations, trials or summary judgment motions, she effectively resolves difficult and complex “bet the company” matters. She also has unique experience handling religious accommodation matters for employers in a variety of industries and promotion and tenure issues for educational institutions.

A dynamic presenter on employment law topics, Dionysia has conducted numerous training sessions for clients and presented to business associations and organizations, including the Atlanta and American Bar Associations, Corporate Counsel Association,  Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Association of African Americans in Human Resource professionals and other legal and human resources organizations throughout the country. She has authored a number of articles and papers and has been quoted in national and local publications regarding employment law issues.

Dionysia has experience representing and counseling the following types of clients:

  • Financial services
  • Retail
  • Entertainment
  • Telecommunications
  • Healthcare
  • Consumer services
  • Manufacturing
  • Higher education
  • Religious organizations
  • Restaurants
  • Hotels
  • Public sector

Dionysia has an emeritus role and serves in an advisory capacity to the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. She was among the founding members of the D&I Council and served as its co-chair for many years. She is also co-chair of the firm’s Career Advocacy Program (CAP). Dionysia is a member of the firm's National Recruitment and Governance committees and formerly served as the hiring shareholder for the Atlanta office.

Previously, Dionysia worked with another labor and employment boutique in Atlanta and also served as a general counsel for another entity.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Caldwell Partners International Inc. Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council

2018

Columnist

Legal Smarts

Atlanta Tribune, The Magazine

Assistant Secretary, Board of Directors

Big Bethel Towers, Inc.

Member, Board of Directors

Atlanta Legal Diversity Consortium

Recognition

Named, Best Mentor

The American Lawyer

2022

Recipient, Law and Justice Award

Women Works Media Group

2018-2019

Selected, One of 2019's Most Influential Women in Corporate America

Savoy Magazine

2019

Recipient, Leadership Excellence Award

Georgia Chapter

National Diversity Council

2018

News, Analysis & Press

Speaking Engagements

Workplace 2.COVID: Trends, Traps and Regulatory Mischief

Atlanta, GA

October 6, 2021

Panelist, Effective Diversity and Inclusion Management in the Workplace: What You Should Know and Do

The Knowledge Group, LLC, Live Webcast

February 21, 2020

Connecting the Dots in Federal Contract Compliance: Moving from Burden to Benefit

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 3, 2018

Accommodating a Multireligious and Multicultural Workforce

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 3, 2018

Challenges and Differences in Accommodating Religion, Pregnancy and Disabilities in the Workplace

Webinar

December 13, 2017

Challenges and Differences in Accommodating Religion, Pregnancy and Disabilities in the Workplace

September 19, 2017

Pay Equity: A Rapidly Expanding Frontier

The 2017 Executive Employer® Conference

May 11, 2017

The Role of HR Professionals in Investigating Compliance and Whistleblower Claims

The 2016 Executive Employer® Conference

May 5, 2016

Education

  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1993
  • B.A./B.A., Yale University, 1989

Bar Admission

Georgia

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia