Overview

Jennifer A. Mansfield is a partner in Holland & Knight's Jacksonville office. Ms. Mansfield practices in the area of commercial litigation, with extensive experience in media law.

Ms. Mansfield has a wide variety of commercial litigation experience. Her media law practice includes representing newspapers and television stations in defense of defamation claims, in pursuit of courtroom access, enforcement of Florida's Sunshine Law and for access to public records under the Freedom of Information Act and Florida's public records laws. In that capacity, Ms. Mansfield was instrumental in obtaining a favorable defense judgment, affirmed on appeal, which involved one of the first instances of using internet reports to establish public figure status as part of a defamation defense.

In addition, Ms. Mansfield represented the Florida Times-Union in its lawsuit to obtain teacher “value-added” data used by the state as part of the annual teacher evaluation process, and to enforce the Sunshine Law with regard to pension negotiations between the City of Jacksonville and its police and fire unions. Ms. Mansfield has written articles on social media liability and has been invited to speak numerous times regarding the legal implications of social media and internet privacy. She is currently updating the chapter on Media and Invasion of Privacy for the Florida Bar’s Reporters’ Handbook.

Ms. Mansfield also has experience in both federal and state courts with antitrust claims, product liability defense, enforcement of patent rights, Florida lien law and other commercial disputes at the trial court and appellate levels.

Before joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Mansfield served for two years as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Ralph W. Nimmons, Jr., United States District Judge (deceased) for the Middle District of Florida.

Prior to her law career, Ms. Mansfield served for three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay teaching business skills to the management of a farmers' cooperative.

Credentials

Education
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
  • Northwestern University, B.A., Economics
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • All State Courts in Florida
  • All Federal Courts in Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Memberships
  • Merit Selection Panel, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2017, 2018
  • The Florida Bar, Media Awards for Outstanding Journalism Committee, 2017
  • The Florida Bar, Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, 2016-present
  • The Florida Bar, Media & Communications Law Committee, Chair, 2011-2012
  • The Florida Bar, Civil Trial Practice Manual, Steering Committee
  • The Florida Bar, Civil Procedures Rules Committee, 2004-2010
  • Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission, Commissioner, 2010-2017; Chair 2013-2014 
  • Mental Health America of Northeast Florida, Chair
  • JCCI Forward, Chair, 2012-2013
  • Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • American Bar Association, Forum on Communications Law
  • Jacksonville Bar Association
  • Theatre Jacksonville, Chair, 2013-2014 
  • Jacksonville Community Council
Honors & Awards
  • First Coast Women in Law, Attorney at Law Magazine, 2023
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020
  • Holland & Knight Public and Charitable Service All-Star Award, 2017
  • The Federal Bar Association Jacksonville Chapter, Spirit of Giving Award, 2016
  • Leadership Jacksonville, Class of 2011
  • "40 Under 40," Jacksonville Business Journal, 2008
  • Pro Bono Champ, Holland & Knight, 2004, 2007, 2008
  • Order of the Coif
  • Dean's List, University of Miami School of Law
  • University of Miami Law Review
Spoken Languages
  • English
  • Guarani
  • Spanish

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News