Vanessa Lopez

Vanessa Lopez is a Miami litigation attorney who has a significant background in complex litigation and federal practice. Ms. Lopez's practice focuses on business disputes and employment defense. She has defended clients against class actions and collective actions, as well as clients involved in complex multiparty actions and contentious business disputes. Ms. Lopez has experience representing clients in numerous forums, including state and federal court, as well as domestic and international arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and various government agencies.

Ms. Lopez has experience helping direct pre-suit investigations, assisting clients in early resolution of disputes through settlement negotiations and mediation, leading discovery teams, engaging in substantive motion practice for dismissal and summary judgment, and trying cases before the final factfinder. She also has experience defending and prosecuting actions relating to contract and quasi-contract causes of action, business torts, nuisance claims and maritime actions. In the employment context, Ms. Lopez defends against claims asserted under Title VII, the Equal Pay Act (EPA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and retaliation under various statutory frameworks.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Lopez served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. During her tenure with Judge Huck, Ms. Lopez also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Federico A. Moreno of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on a multidistrict litigation proceeding pending before the court.

While at Emory University School of Law, Ms. Lopez gained trial and appellate court experience serving as a legal intern for Judge Huck, as well as the Honorable Amy Totenberg of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the Honorable Frank M. Hull of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.