FREDERICK D. PAYNE is the managing attorney of the Indiana office of Wessels Pautsch & Sherman P.C.  Mr. Payne received his Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University School of Law in 1998.  He received his Master of Arts degree in Geography, with a concentration in political geography, from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998, and a Bachelor of Arts from Grambling State University , in 1994, where he majored in Political Science.

Mr. Payne represents employers in employment and labor matters before the state and federal courts in Indiana, the EEOC, Department of Labor, and the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, as well the federal courts and governmental agencies in Illinois .  He represents employers in lawsuits involving discrimination, racial and sexual harassment, covenants not to compete and wrongful discharge matters.  Mr. Payne also counsels employers on matters such as DOL and DOT audits, preparing employment handbooks and general employment and workplace policies.  Mr. Payne's litigation experience also includes commercial, products liability, and insurance defense matters.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Payne worked for the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C.   He made presentations and reported to top U.S. policy officials; researched, analyzed and wrote on international military issues and arms control treaties, and participated in various international warfare symposiums.

Mr. Payne's affiliations include: the Indiana State Bar Association (House of Delegates 2003-2005; Board of Governors-Secretary 2002-2003; vice-chair of Budget & Finance Committee, 2003-2004).  He is also a member of the Marion County, Indianapolis, National, and American Bar Associations, as well as the Indiana State Pro Bono Commission (board member 2001-2007), and the Indianapolis Bar & Marion County Bar Association Justice Center Joint Task Force.  He is admitted to the Indiana State Bar, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois , United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eleventh Circuit.