Anitra is an experienced litigator who partners closely with clients at every stage of complex state and federal litigation nationally. She regularly leads trial teams and co-manages large dockets, handling individual actions, multidistrict litigation and class actions. Her practice encompasses all aspects of litigation, including serving as trial counsel.
Anitra works with a diverse client base that includes local Florida businesses, Fortune 50 companies, and foreign enterprises across industries such as automotive, consumer goods, distribution, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and technology. She provides timely, practical and strategic counsel aligned with clients’ long-term business objectives.
Anitra currently serves as a trustee of the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation, trustee of the University of Florida’s Law Center Association, and board of director of the University of Florida Alumni Association. She is a former president of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and a recipient of the Federal Bar Association’s 2025 Robyn J. Spalter Outstanding Achievement Award. Anitra also dedicates a portion of her practice to pro bono work, with an emphasis on assisting children and families, and has been recognized with honors including Shook’s 2017 William G. Zimmerman Pro Bono Award.
Representative Matters
Represented an insurance company in California federal class actions alleging that policyholders were overcharged during COVID-19-related state closures. Led the defense strategy, including removal, motion practice, fact and expert discovery, and court proceedings, resulting in the early dismissal of one class action and summary judgment in the other.
Represented an international transmission parts manufacturer in a multimillion-dollar business dispute involving contract, tort, fraud, and product liability claims. Led the defense strategy, including removal to Florida federal court, dispositive motion practice, discovery, and mediation, resulting in an early confidential settlement.
Represented a pharmaceutical company that manufactured a prescription weight-loss drug in several cases in Florida federal courts in which plaintiffs alleged that the drug caused serious illnesses. Served on a multi-firm team that secured denial of the plaintiffs’ request to consolidate the individual actions into multidistrict litigation.
Represented a cookware manufacturer in a product liability dispute in Florida federal court involving allegations of career-ending, catastrophic injuries. Helped execute the defense strategy and was selected to serve as trial counsel before the case resolved through a confidential settlement a few days before trial.
Represented an automotive company in a wrongful death lawsuit in Tennessee federal court alleging airbag and seatbelt defects. Led the defense strategy, including motion practice and discovery strategy, and was selected to serve as second-chair trial counsel before the case was dismissed without settlement.
Represented a pharmaceutical company in an unjust enrichment and breach of contract lawsuit filed by a local Sarasota business in Florida state court. Drafted and argued motions and led discovery before the case was dismissed.
Represented a Fortune 50 company in a unique commercial dispute involving tortious interference, contract, and defamation claims. Led the defense, including removal to Maryland federal court, and secured dismissal before discovery.
Represented a product manufacturer in a multiparty wrongful death lawsuit arising from a trucking accident in Florida federal court. Led the defense strategy, including motion practice that resulted in an early dismissal by the plaintiff without settlement.
Served on the national leadership team defending a docket of automotive class action opt-out cases in California federal and state courts. Drafted successful summary judgment, Daubert, and arbitration motions to dispose of fraud-based claims.
Represented a tobacco manufacturer in Engle-progeny cases throughout Florida state and federal courts, as well as in personal injury matters in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Drafted and argued motions, conducted discovery, and served on trial teams.
Represented a retailer in a premises liability action in Florida state court involving an eggshell plaintiff who alleged catastrophic injuries. Led the defense strategy, including written and oral motion practice and discovery, before the case settled.
Represented automotive companies in national and multistate class actions throughout the country alleging consumer fraud related to autonomous vehicle feature disclosures, paint defects, Bluetooth features, and transmission defects.
Served as lead and local counsel for insurance companies, staffing businesses, and product manufacturers in non-compete and non-solicitation disputes in Florida state and federal courts involving confidential proprietary information and trade secrets. Secured injunctions, summary judgments, and favorable settlements.
Represented a local Tampa jewelry business in a Florida Telephone Solicitation Act class action. Led the defense, including a motion practice strategy that resulted in dismissal without settlement.
Represented a snack company in two class actions in Florida federal courts alleging deceptive advertising based on product packaging. Served on the team that secured dismissal of both class actions.
Represented a pharmaceutical subsidiary in individual cases following remand from multidistrict litigation in which plaintiffs alleged that the company failed to warn that a chemotherapy drug could cause permanent hair loss.
Represented an insurance company in a total loss class action alleging violations of California contract and consumer protection laws. Served on the team that secured removal to federal court, class decertification, and dismissal of the federal appeal.
Represented a major supplier of advanced materials for the semiconductor industry in Florida federal court. Helped secure a quick resolution after seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the unauthorized use or disclosure of proprietary information and/or trade secrets.
Represented a technology company in multidistrict litigation and coordinated proceedings. Led the removal and JPML tagging strategy and third-party offensive discovery strategy, and oversaw case-specific discovery involving key fact witnesses in bellwether cases.
Represent a shareholder in a substantial closely held business dispute involving derivative, fiduciary duty, and director liability claims in Florida state trial and appellate courts. Served as trial counsel in evidentiary hearings and two bifurcated trials.
Presentations and Publications
Panelist, Emerging Trends in Litigation, National Bar Association Commercial Law Section’s 39th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, February 19, 2026.
Panelist, Don’t Let Spoliation Issues Spoil Your Case, Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, January 29, 2026.
Panelist, Top of Your Game: How to Grow Your Firm, Acquire Corporate Clients, or Ascend the Corporate Ladder, George Edgecomb Bar Association, April 15, 2025.
Panelist, Mastering the Associate Path: Essential Tools for Success in a Law Firm, Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, February 8, 2025.
Panelist, Nuclear Verdicts: How Outside and Inside Counsel Should Collaborate to Defeat Them, National Bar Association Commercial Law Section, October 16, 2024.
Panelist, Best Trial Practices, National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s International Leadership Conference, April 12, 2024.
Co-Editor, Florida Mediation Best Practices Handbook, Third Edition, September 1, 2023.
Panelist, “True Confessions Part 1” – What Trial Lawyers and their Clients Really Want from Mediators, The 31st Annual Florida Dispute Resolution Center Conference, August 4, 2023.
Co-Author, Adoption By the Numbers: Two Years Later, How Should the Florida Courts Navigate the “Not-So-New” Florida Summary Judgment Rule?, The Florida Bar Journal, September 2023.
Moderator, Civil Ligation – Best Practices, U.S. Middle District of Florida Tampa Division Summer Internship Program, May 25, 2023.
Panelist, Third Annual Litigator Mediator Decision Maker Forum, Hillsborough County Bar Association, April 5, 2023.
Co-Author, The Early Bird Gets the Worm: How the First-to-File Rule Can Determine Venue for Similar Subsequently Filed Cases, and Recommendations for Motion Practice, Perspectives, Younger Lawyers Division, Federal Bar Association, pages 5-8, Winter 2023 (with Sarah O'Rourke).
Presenter, Witness Ethics: Avoiding the Minefields, American Bar Association, December 14, 2022.
Moderator, Federal Practice Seminar Judicial Panel, Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, November 3, 2022.
Panelist, Hot Topics in Litigation, National Bar Association’s 35th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, February 25, 2022.
Moderator, Path to the Bench: District, Magistrate, and Bankruptcy Judges, U.S. Middle District of Florida Tampa Division Summer Internship Program, May 27, 2021.
Moderator, Federal State of the Courts COVID Edition, CLE Webinar, Florida Bar Federal Court Practice Committee, February 11, 2021.
Media Coverage
“People to Know in Law," Tampa Bay Business Journal, April 16, 2021.