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Ashleigh C. Bennett is a litigation associate in Greenberg Traurig’s West Palm Beach office. Ashleigh focuses her practice on complex commercial, products liability, and real estate litigation in federal and state courts and in arbitrations. She represents large institutional clients, high-net-worth individuals, and a variety of businesses in matters involving contract disputes, fraud, unfair trade practices, violations of various state and federal statutes, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Ashleigh also has experience in representing investment banks, broker-dealers, and registered representatives in securities litigation and employment disputes.

Her experience spans all aspects of litigation, including first-chairing and second-chairing trials, development of litigation strategies, case management, managing e-discovery, preparing fact and expert witnesses for deposition and trial, taking and defending depositions, selecting and managing trial experts, drafting and arguing discovery, dispositive, and pre-trial motions, negotiating and drafting settlement agreements, handling mediations, and trial practice. As a trial lawyer, Ashleigh is willing to try cases where the client’s interests call for trial but has also resolved and narrowed litigation before trial.

Prior to joining the firm, Ashleigh worked as an associate at a boutique litigation law firm where she litigated matters involving construction defects, insurance coverage, partnership disputes, shareholder derivative actions, and providing general counsel services with respect to compliance with laws and regulations. During law school, Ashleigh served as a student attorney in the Vanderbilt Community Enterprise Clinic. In that role, she advised small businesses on entity formation, governance, and federal income tax issues. Prior to law school, Ashleigh worked at a boutique law firm where she handled real estate closings and assisted with related business law matters.

Concentrations

  • Complex commercial litigation and business disputes
  • Products liability defense
  • Real estate litigation
  • Construction defect and design litigation
  • Insurance coverage claims
  • Securities litigation and arbitration
  • Employment litigation and arbitration
  • Financial services litigation
  • Bank litigation
  • Equine litigation

Capabilities

Experience

  • As first chair, represented corporation in AAA arbitration prosecuting contract-based claims relating to invocation of force majeure clause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Defended corporate employer in state court against claims brought by former executive officers relating to compensation.
  • Defended a major rental car company in connection with personal injury and other liability matters, including catastrophic injury cases.
  • Shareholder Derivative Action. Represented unit owners in a members derivative action brought against condominium association for breach of fiduciary duties by failing to maintain the common elements.°
  • Partnership and Shareholder Dispute. Defended purchasers of a veterinary practice against suit brought by sellers alleging breach of contract, rescission, fraud, and deceptive trade practices.°
  • Defended an upscale fashion boutique in state court against claims brought by landlord relating to a commercial lease dispute.
  • Defended a global commercial real estate services firm and its agent in state court against suit brought by sellers of a multi-million-dollar commercial property portfolio alleging breach of statutory and fiduciary duties, fraud, and negligence claims relating to the marketing and sale of the properties.
  • Defended seller and listing agent in suit brought by homebuyer alleging Johnson v. Davis non-disclosure claims for allegedly failing to disclose latent defects.
  • Represented homebuyers in suit against sellers and listing agent alleging Johnson v. Davis claims for failing to properly disclose latent defects.°
  • Represented condominium associations and homeowners in litigation against developers, general contractors, design professionals, and subcontractors involving association/turnover disputes related to design and construction defects.°
  • Defended national home builder against numerous construction defect claims in the Chapter 558 stage, litigation, and arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association (AAA).°
  • Obtained settlement for affordable-housing developer against roofing contractor for construction defects.°
  • Obtained six-figure settlement for single-family homeowner against mechanical contractor for negligence.°
  • Resolution of construction lien dispute on behalf of custom home builder.°
  • Prosecution of coverage and additional-insured claims under commercial general liability, umbrella and excess liability, and property and casualty insurance policies.°
  • Prosecution of contractual and common-law indemnity claims on behalf of national home builder against subcontractors related to underlying construction defect claims.°
  • As first-chair, defended national brokerage firms employer in FINRA arbitration trials against a Form U-5 expungement claim brought by former financial advisors.
  • Defended national brokerage firm employers and registered representatives in FINRA arbitration proceedings against various claims brought by former financial advisers.
  • Represented national brokerage firms in prosecuting promissory note collection claims against financial advisors.
  • Represented national brokerage firms in state courts in bringing interpleader actions to resolve disputes between family members relating to entitlement to assets held in brokerage accounts maintained by decedents.
  • Defended national brokerage firms and registered representatives in FINRA arbitrations against alleged sales practice violations brought by customers.
  • Represented registered representatives in obtaining expungement of customer dispute information from Central Registration Depository (CRD) records.
  • Obtained settlement for hedge fund in AAA arbitration against claims brought by accredited investors relating to lock-up and premature redemption requests.
  • Served on team who represented national bank in dispute against Originating Depository Financial Institution (ODFI) relating to indemnification obligations under National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) for unauthorized ACH transactions.
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<li>Served on defense team who represented the buyers of a competitive show horse in federal court involving complex factual and legal issues, and obtained settlement before trial.</li>
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<p><em>&deg;The above representations were handled by Ms. Bennett prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.</em></p>

Recognition & Leadership

  • Member, The Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Division
  • Member, Palm Beach County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School
    • Recipient, Lightfoot Franklin & White Best Oralist Award
    • Recipient, Law & Business Certificate
  • B.S., magna cum laude, University of Florida
Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida