L. Vanessa Lopez
Partner
Overview
Vanessa Lopez is a Miami litigation attorney who has a significant background in complex litigation and federal practice. Ms. Lopez’s practice focuses on complex business disputes and employment defense. She has defended clients against class actions and collective actions, as well as represented clients involved in 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 taking cases to trial. Her experience includes defending and prosecuting actions relating to contract and quasi-contract causes of action, business torts, nuisance claims and maritime actions. In the employment context, clients have relied on Ms. Lopez to assist them with 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 claims under various statutory frameworks.
Ms. Lopez’s court experience includes having served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and to the Honorable Federico A. Moreno of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida specifically for multidistrict litigation 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 the Honorable Paul C. 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.
Representative Experience
- Successfully obtained jury verdict for nearly $159 million for cruise line that sued an engine manufacturer for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentations and omissions, recovering the largest verdict in the state of Florida in 2022
- Obtained dismissal of action while defending international asset management firm against litigation claiming $500 million in damages for breach of contract, arguing before Florida's Supreme Court that Florida courts lacked jurisdiction over management firm
- Succeeded in obtaining a preliminary injunction in favor of minority shareholder in arbitration asserting majority shareholder abuse of position and breach of shareholder agreement
- Obtained dismissal of class action complaint asserting claims of false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress by Filipino crew members alleged against a cruise line
- In Florida state court, obtained dismissal of an action against Florida utility concerning extensive power outage caused by nautical allision
- In International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration in Colombia, successfully defended mining company against breach of contract claims in a take-or-pay dispute asserting damages of more than $100 million following the final hearing
- In American Arbitration Association (AAA) arbitration in Florida, obtained a judgment in favor of an education company pursuing claims against a former executive of the company that wrongfully disbursed the company's funds
- Obtained dismissal of class action complaint filed against multinational shipping and receiving company, asserting claims under Fair Credit Reporting Act's notice provisions, where authored motion to dismiss asserted an at-the-time novel standing argument
- In arbitration, obtained summary judgment defending hospitality company against allegations by a former senior executive of sex and age discrimination, hostile work environment and breach of contract
- Obtained favorable class action settlement for a national insurance company facing overtime claims involving alleged off-the-clock work performed by employees
- Successfully defended an American multinational fast food chain, obtaining dismissal of a class action complaint asserting violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act's disclosure and authorization provisions
- Performed numerous internal investigations regarding complaints of race, sex, sexual orientation and age discrimination, and hostile work environment
- Drafted numerous position statements in response to complaints brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or state agencies
Credentials
- Emory University School of Law, J.D., high honors
- University of Miami, M.A.
- University of Miami, B.A., cum laude
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- The Florida Bar
- Cuban American Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Miami Commercial Litigation, Ones to Watch, 2025
- Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2024
- AdvanceLaw, Diversity Mentorship Program, 2021
- Order of the Coif
- Alpha Epsilon Lambda
- English
- Spanish