Profil
Recognized for excellence by judges, peers, and clients, Bridget is an experienced strategic legal counselor and trial lawyer, focused on pursuing the efficient, effective resolution of high stakes business and employment challenges and disputes. Her diverse federal and state courtroom experience includes complex, multiparty and class action litigation in the areas of general real estate; zoning and land use; title insurance, hotel condominium mixed use and commercial real estate ownership and operations; affordable housing and other commercial developments; financial services and foreclosures; and food and beverage, including dairy, wine and spirits, sports nutrition and nutraceuticals. Bridget also has represented companies in multiple industries to implement strategies to reduce litigation risk and combat a wide range of employment matters including compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, contract, ADA and other laws, including claims for injunctive relief and enforcement of restrictive covenants and confidentiality, non-disparagement and non-disclosure provisions.
Since 2012, Bridget has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in areas including Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Real Estate; Litigation – Construction; and Litigation – Labor & Employment. In 2015, 2019, and 2021 Bridget was named “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law and in 2023, “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Construction in West Palm Beach. Since 2012, Bridget has been recognized on the Florida Super Lawyers list, and since 2013 as a Florida Top Lawyer. In 2017, Bridget was listed as a Florida “Legal Elite” in Labor and Employment. She has been recognized as a Top Lawyer by Palm Beach Illustrated since the award’s inception in 2018. She has consistently been rated AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 and as a Preeminent Woman Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell.
Bridget has served on various Palm Beach County Bar Association Committees, including the Business Court Committee. Bridget, since 2020, has co-chaired the Bar’s Judicial Relations Committee, and since 2014 has serviced as a director and president of the Guild of Catholic Lawyers of the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Additionally, Bridget has been recognized for her leadership as a mentor and in providing community service, including as the 2021 Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation Leadership Awards Private Sector Honoree and 2019 Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.
She was awarded The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award in 2013 and continues to serve both on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and on the 15th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee of the Florida Bar.
Bridget has served on the Executive Trustee Counsel and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, where she has also served on the Strategic Global Outreach Program and Community Events Task Force.
She served for many years as a judge in the Palm Beach Post Palm Beach/Martin County Pathfinder Scholarship Fund Awards (history and political science category), and also served on the Palm Beach County Bar Association Diversity Mentoring Committee, as Chair for the “Raise the Bar” benefit for the Girl’s Leadership Institute, and as a member in the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Palm Beach County Chapter.
From 1994 to 2013, Bridget served in many leadership positions for United Way of Palm Beach County, including as General Counsel for United Way from 2002-2006, and as Chair of the Improving Lives of Seniors Impact Area from 2006-2009.
Kompetencje
Doświadczenie
- Transactional law and litigation in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1990-1991
- Adjunct Professor, Palm Beach Atlantic College, MBA Program, Legal Environment of Business Course, 1999, 2000
- Intern, Chief Justice Boyd, Supreme Court of Florida, 1984-1985
Sukcesy i wyróżnienia
- Recognized, Palm Beach Illustrated, "Top Lawyers," 2018-2023
- Private Sector Honoree, Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation 37th Annual Women in Leadership Awards, 2021
- Named, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, "Woman of the Year," 2019
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Litigation - Real Estate; Employment Law - Management, 2012-2024
- Named, "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Labor and Employment, West Palm Beach, 2015 and 2024
- Named, "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Construction, West Palm Beach, 2023
- Named, "Lawyer of the Year," Employment Law - Management, West Palm Beach, 2019 and 2021
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2012-2023
- Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Lawyer," Labor & Employment, 2013-2021
- Listed, Florida Trend, "Legal Elite - Labor & Employment," 2017
- Recipient, Gold Pin (for 100+ hours of pro bono service, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County), 2014
- Recipient, "Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award," Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Florida Bar Association, 2013
- Team Member, a Law360 "Employment Practice Group of the Year," 2011 & 2013
- Listed, Marquis Who's Who and Marquis Who's Who in America, 2012
- Recipient, "Juvenile Law Award," Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, 2011
- Team Member, Firm Award (for Independent Living Review Project), Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, 2011
- Recipient, "Mentor of the Year Award," Greenberg Traurig Second Annual Outstanding Pro Bono Service Awards, 2010
- Team Member, "Office of the Year Award" (for Independent Living Review Project), Greenberg Traurig, 2010
- Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Member, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Executive Committee, 2021-2023
- Member, Executive Trustee Council, 2015-Present
- Member, Board of Directors, 2018-2023
- Member, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review, and Attorney Grievance, 2023-Present
- Judge, Palm Beach/Martin County Pathfinders Scholarship Fund Awards (history and political science category), Palm Beach Post, 2008-2016
- United Way of Palm Beach County, 1996-2013
- General Counsel, United Way of Palm Beach County, 2002-2006
- Chair, Improving the Lives of Seniors Impact Area, 2006-2009
- Executive Committee, 2002-2010
- Board of Directors, 2002-2013
- Oversight Committee, 2006-2009
- Strategic Planning Task Force Committee, 2006-2012
- Women's Leadership Counsel, 2008
- Campaign Cabinet, 2006-2007
- Community Impact Steering Committee, 2009-2012
- Initiatives, Grants, and Contracts Subcommittee
- Campaign Committee, 2010-2012
- Chair, Leadership Circle (donors giving $1,000 and above annually), 2010-2012
- Sub-Committee for Agency Affiliation, 2010
- Member, Palm Beach County Bar Association, 1985-Present
- Co-Chair, Judicial Relations Committee, 2020-Present
- Member, Civil Circuit Committee, 2023
- Former Business Court Committee
- Former Chairperson, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
- Former Liaison, Diversity Mentoring Committee
- Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
- Member, Board of Directors
- Founder and Chair, Greenberg Traurig Independent Living Review Program (representing children aging out of foster care)
- Member, Juvenile Advocacy Project, 1993-Present (representing children through age 18 in Juvenile Court (dependency and delinquency matters, adoption and foster care); Family Court and Probate Court
- Member, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, 2015-Present
- Member, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Palm Beach Chapter
- Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese, Palm Beach County
- President, Palm Beach County, 2014-2023
- Member, Board of Directors
- Former Member, Notre Dame Club of the Palm Beaches
- Member, Board of Directors, Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1988-1989
- Chair, "Raise the Bar" event to benefit the Girl's Leadership Institute, Woman's Foundation of Palm Beach County, 2011
Kwalifikacje
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J.D., cum laude, Florida State University College of Law
- Articles and Notes Editor, Florida State University College of Law
- B.A., American Studies and French, cum laude, University of Notre Dame
- Awarded Diploma in French Economics, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris at Universite Catholique de l'Ouest, Angers, France, 1978
- Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Supreme Court of the United States