Conducted hundreds of mediations of labor and employment law disputes (e.g., discrimination, wage and hour, breach of contract, trade secret etc.) pre-suit as well as in state and federal courts throughout Florida and the United States.
Legal Experience
Ford & Harrison, LLP Orlando, Florida office
Equity Partner (05/01/00-12/31/14)
Executive Committee (2007-2014)
Professional Development Partner (2008-2012)
Of Counsel (01/01/15-12/31/16)
Garwood, McKenna, Wolf & Finnigan, P.A. Orlando, Florida
Partner (1996-2000)
Associate, Garwood, McKenna (1992-1996)
United Telephone Company of Florida Orlando, Florida
Assistant Vice President-Law (1985-1992)
FL Public Employee Relations Commission Tallahassee, Florida
Hearing Officer (1984-1985)
U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board San Francisco, California
Presiding Official (1980-1983)
Carroll, Chauvin, Miller & Conliffe Louisville, Kentucky
Associate (1977-1980)
Jefferson County Attorney’s Office Louisville, Kentucky
Assistant County Attorney (1977-1980)
City Law Department Louisville, Kentucky
Assistant Director of Law-Personnel/
Labor Relations (1976-1977)
Teaching Experience
University of Central Florida
Executive Development Center
PMSM, EMBA, PMBA Programs
Adjunct Professor, Labor & Employment Law and
Business Law & Ethics (2010- 2017)
Professional Honors
Board-certified by the Florida Bar, Labor and Employment Law (2001-2016)
Named 'Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law-Management, Orlando' (2016) by Best Lawyers in America
‘Lawyer of the Year for Labor Law-Management, Orlando' (2012) by Best Lawyers in America
Named as one of the ‘Best Lawyers in America in Labor and Employment Law' by Best Lawyers in America (2005—)
Named as one of ‘Florida’s Legal Elite’ (top 1.6%) by Florida Trend Magazine
Named as one of the ‘Best of the Bar’ (Top 5%) by Orlando Business Journal
Named as a 'Best Lawyer' by Florida Monthly magazine
Named as one of ‘Orlando’s Best Lawyers’ by Orlando Magazine
Named as a ‘Florida Super Lawyer’ by Super Lawyers’ Corporate Counsel Edition
Named as one of the ‘Top 50 Female Lawyers in Florida’ by Law & Politics Magazine and as one of the ‘Top 25 Female Lawyers in Central, Northern & Gulf Coast of Florida'
AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating)
Civic Honors
2013 "Women Worth Watching", Profiles in Diversity Journal
The 2011 Summit Award for Professional Achievement and Outstanding Community Service in Central Florida, Central FL Women’s Resource Center
Community Service
Senior Warden, St. Richards Episcopal Church, Winter Park, Florida (2019-present); Vestry (2015-2018, 2019-present)
Chair, St Richard’s Outreach Commission (2015-2019); Co-Chair, Family Promise (2014-present)
St Richard’s Schola (2014-present)
Founding Member, Central Florida Center for Women's Philanthropy; Chair (2006-2008)
Founding Member, 100 Women Strong Giving Circle
Venture Philanthropist Giving Circle (2003-2005)
Choir, St Michaels Episcopal Church, College Park Florida (1998-2013) - singing at St. Paul's Cathedral, London (2000, 2005, 2015), The National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. (2002), St Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle and Victoria, Canada (2004)
Chair, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida (1990-1992), Board Member (1986-2014)
Vice President-Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (1990-1992), National Board of Directors (1978-1992)
Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (1978-1980), Board of Directors (1976-1980)
Chair, Big Brothers of San Francisco, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of San Francisco (1982-1983, during merger), Board of Directors (1981-1983)