Making Her Words Count

Georgia Thompson has always been a talented writer. Initially, she planned to pursue a career in journalism. She attended the University of Florida's College of Journalism. Once Georgia had a taste of mass communications law, however, she knew law school was her next stop.

There, Georgia discovered a passion for oral advocacy that rivaled her affinity for written advocacy. She became a member of the University of Florida College of Law's prestigious trial team, earned the book award for her trial advocacy class and participated in mock trial competitions across the country.

Georgia found the litigation arena an ideal match for her dual skill sets. "I love the challenge involved in researching and drafting a motion to get it just right—and the opportunity to argue a motion in court is really the icing on the cake," she says.

Georgia now showcases her skills as a partner in Day Pitney's Complex Commercial Litigation group, where she handles contested matters involving contracts, negligence, product liability, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, personal injury, fraud, civil theft and unfair trade practices, among others.

Georgia has extensive experience representing clients in the banking and financial services industries. Recently, Georgia successfully argued competing summary judgment motions in federal court on behalf of an international banking executive. Georgia describes the exhilaration of courtroom advocacy as a litigator's championship game and notes that there is nothing quite like the thrill of securing a big win for a client. But she stresses that the foundation for excellent advocacy is laid long before stepping into the courtroom. She knows the importance of being thorough, digging into the intricate details and exploring alternate legal theories. "In that case, I researched and developed a secondary ERISA claim, in addition to our primary breach of contract claim, that ultimately won the day," she says.

Client Ramon Perez notes Georgia's in-depth knowledge of different aspects of the law. "Ours was a difficult case," he said. "Not only was Georgia ready to respond to the other side without hesitation, she demonstrated great insight in her ability to anticipate their strategy. I appreciated her willingness to listen and her unwavering compassion during a difficult time."

Georgia serves clients in other industries, including hospitality, telecommunications, consumer goods and manufacturing. She has represented a Fortune 100 company in defense of numerous product liability claims filed throughout Florida's state and federal courts.

Georgia also keeps a close eye on ADA legislation. She has defended numerous premises accessibility cases, as well as numerous web accessibility cases challenging the accessibility of businesses' websites and applications by disabled users. Georgia notes that while clients are committed to web accessibility, a lack of clarity from the legislature and the Department of Justice and a split among the federal circuits leave questions as to just what "accessibility" means and whether it applies to them. That is where Georgia comes in. She educates clients on the state of the law in their circuit and on best practices for making their platforms accessible, and she helps them resolve these claims.

Outside of her legal practice, Georgia is a proud Gator and maintains a strong affiliation with the University of Florida, where she was named to the Hall of Fame in 2012. She is also a strong supporter of the Junior League of Miami and its advocacy efforts for women and children. In addition, Georgia enjoys being a member of Day Pitney's Hiring Committee, recruiting and interviewing top talent to join its ranks.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

University of Florida, Levin College of Law, cum laude, J.D.

University of Florida, summa cum laude, B.S.

Admissions: Florida