Anitra litigates from coast-to-coast in every stage of litigation. Regularly, Anitra prepares state and federal cases for trials by leading teams and co-leading large dockets. Her practice includes defending individual, multi-district and class action cases as well as appeals. As trial counsel, she has given openings as well as cross-examined and impeached fact and professional witnesses.
Anitra interacts with clients, including local businesses as well as Fortune 50 companies, daily and timely. Dedicated to understanding long-term business goals, she keeps client values top of mind while solving problems creatively and efficiently. Her business clients are in a variety of industries including automotive, consumer goods, distribution, insurance, pharmaceutical and technology.
Anitra is consistently recognized by leading legal publications as a top litigation lawyer including Best Lawyers in America, Florida Super Lawyers, Florida Trend, and Lawdragon 500. In 2023, Anitra was recognized by the University of Florida as one of the 40 Gators Under 40.
Anitra is committed to the community especially as a Trustee of the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation, Trustee of the University of Florida’s Law Center Association, and former President of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Anitra also dedicates a portion of her practice to pro bono with an emphasis on helping children and families. Her pro bono service has earned her awards such as Shook’s 2017 William G. Zimmerman Pro Bono Award.
Representative Matters
Lead counsel in defending class actions alleging unfair business practices by insurance companies in relation to premiums charged.
Defended automotive company in two national class actions alleging consumer fraud in relation to vehicle autonomous technology feature disclosures in Florida and California.
Local counsel in multiple pharmaceutical cases alleging product defects in the Middle District of Florida.
Part of the national leadership team in defending a docket of automotive class action opt out cases, primarily in California federal and state courts. In doing so, drafted successful summary judgment, Daubert, and arbitration motions thus disposing of fraud-based claims.
Lead and local counsel in various prosecutions of non-compete agreements in Florida state and federal courts for insurance companies, local businesses and product manufacturers.
Defended multi-state automotive class action alleging transmission performance defects in the Northern District of California.
Defended personal injury and wrongful death Engle-progeny cases, including at trials.
Defended Fortune 50 corporation in an unjust enrichment and contract disputes in Florida state courts.
Defended Fortune 500 company in a catastrophic wrongful death trucking accident in Florida federal court.
Defended local business defending claims pursuant to Florida Telephone Solicitation Act class action.
Defended Fortune 50 company in tortious interference with contract, tortious interference with prospective advantage, and defamation lawsuit in the District Court of Maryland.
Presentations and Publications
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.
Moderator, Path to the Bench: District, Magistrate, and Bankruptcy Judges, U.S. Middle District of Florida Tampa Division Summer Internship Program, July 1, 2020.
Speaker, "What? Like, It's Hard?" The Millennial Perspective on Securing a Civil Protective Order, National Federal Bar Association Annual Meeting & Convention, September 5, 2019.
Media Coverage
“People to Know in Law," Tampa Bay Business Journal, April 16, 2021.