Irene Oria
Partner | Litigation
Co-Chair, Class Action Defense
irene.oria@pierferd.com
+1.786.873.4603 cell
+1.786.568.8358 office
Miami | New York | Princeton
About
Ms. Oria has over 18 years of experience in complex commercial business litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration tribunals with a focus in recent years on Financial Services, Insurance and Securities Litigation, including nationwide class and multi-district litigation. She has tried jury and non-jury cases.
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Ms. Oria represents domestic and international public and private companies and individual officers and directors in contract-related and business tort disputes; international litigation and arbitration matters involving cross-border parties and issues; insurer side complex insurance coverage and bad faith disputes, including director and officer liability matters; accounting negligence and other professional negligence defense; corporate governance disputes; SEC, Florida Attorney General and other state and federal regulatory investigations; white collar defense matters including civil and criminal RICO actions; securities fraud actions alleging violations of state and federal securities laws; employer side employment-related disputes including employment discrimination matters; litigation involving the worlds of entertainment and sports; first amendment and other constitutional litigation; product liability disputes; intellectual property disputes, particularly patent infringement actions; real estate and construction litigation matters; antitrust litigation; and False Claims Act and Qui Tam actions. In particular, Ms. Oria has extensive experience defending banks and other large financial institutions in consumer class actions alleging violations of state and federal consumer protection laws such as the FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, ECOA, TILA, EFTA, E-Sign, FTC Holder Rule, Moss-Magnuson Warranty Act, HAMP, HOEPA, RESPA, SCRA, and state consumer protection acts. Ms. Oria routinely represents financial institutions and insurance companies in a myriad of financial and insurance fraud investigations as well as litigation and arbitration matters, particularly matters related to the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act (FDUTPA) and the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act.
Before Pierson Ferdinand, Ms. Oria was a partner at FisherBroyles LLP. Prior to that, Ms. Oria served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (Miami). During her tenure at the United States Department of Justice, Ms. Oria defended the interests of the United States in civil suits filed in the U.S. District Courts alleging statutory torts, constitutional torts, violations of civil rights and employment discrimination/harassment/retaliation laws, medical malpractice and a myriad of other claims. Prior to this, Ms. Oria served as federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Cecilia M. Altonaga, U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Miami Division). Ms. Oria also has prior large law firm experience as Special Counsel at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP (Miami, FL), as well as Associate at Hunton & Williams (Miami, FL); Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP (Miami, FL); and Lowenstein Sandler LLP (Roseland, NJ).
Practices
Antitrust Counseling
Arbitration and Mediation
Banking and Financial Services
Civil Pretrial and Trial Services
Class Action Defense
Commercial Litigation
Employment and Labor
Insurance
International Disputes
Litigation and Risk Management
Products Liability Litigation and Counseling
Professional and Management Liability
Real Estate
Securities and Derivative Litigation
TCPA Defense
Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants
White Collar Defense & Investigations
Admissions
Florida
New Jersey
New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern District of Florida
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern and Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Education
Cornell Law School, J.D., 1999
Columbia College of Columbia University, B.A., 1996
Professional Associations and Leadership Roles
St. Thomas University School of Law Advisory Board
Board of Directors, 2020-Present
The Florida Bar
Standing Committee on Diversity & Inclusion, 2015-2017
Hispanic National Bar Association
Immediate Past President, Sept. 2020 – present
National President, Sept. 2019 – Sept. 2020
National President-Elect, Sept. 2018 – Sept. 2019
Vice President of Programs, Sept. 2017 – Sept. 2018
National Finance Director, Sept. 2015 – Sept. 2017
Regional President, Region VIII (Florida), Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015
Member, 1998 – present
Dade County Bar Association
Director (Board of Directors), Group 3, June 2018 – present
Cuban American Bar Association
Member, 2001 – present
American Bar Association
Member, Section of Litigation, 2000 – present
Member, The Woman Advocate Committee, 2013 – present
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Chair, Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, 2022
Member, Standing Committee for Local Rules & Procedures, 2015 – present
Florida Association of Women Lawyers
Member, 2012 – present
Federal Bar Association, South Florida Chapter
Member, 2008 – present
Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida
Member, 2007 – present
American Bar Foundation
Fellow, Sept. 2018 – present
Cornell Law School Alumni Association
Director, Executive Board of Directors, Oct. 2020 to present
Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy Committee
Committee Member, Oct. 2020 to present
Professional Recognition
Included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance; Litigation – Securities
South Florida Legal Guide’s “Top Lawyers,” 2015-2018
ABA Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy Fellow, 2015
“Top Up and Comer” in Commercial Litigation and Financial Litigation, South Florida Legal Guide, 2014-2015
“40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County” Award, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2013
2013 Lawyers of Color “Hot List” (Southern Region)
Languages
Spanish
Experience
FisherBroyles, LLP
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, formerly Hunton & Williams LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Representative Transactions
Currently defending a Fortune 500 global motor vehicle rental company in a putative consumer class action pending in Florida federal court attacking the company’s self-insurance business practices. The class representative’s claims include several alleged violations of the Florida Insurance Code, Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), the Florida Civil RICO statute, and breach of contract.
Representing a publicly traded property and casualty insurer in a second putative consumer class action pending in federal court in Florida which challenges certain fees and sales taxes charged on insurance products sold by car rental companies at airport counters throughout Florida. The class representative has asserted claims for unjust enrichment, breach of contract, disgorgement and restitution, and violation of Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA).
Recently settled a federal court action on behalf of a Fortune 500 corporation and a global insurance company, thwarting the plaintiffs’ efforts to transform uninsured/underinsured motorist claims into a class action for violations of the Florida Insurance Code.
Represented a Fortune 100 institutional developer of a high-end condo/hotel in Hawaii in defending claims of fraud, unfair and deceptive practices, negligence and breach of contract that resulted in a complete defense verdict.
Successfully represented national bank in multidistrict litigation in the Southern District of Florida related to checking account overdraft fees, negotiating settlement on favorable terms.
Obtained a dismissal with prejudice in favor of a leading cruise line in class action litigation involving wage and hour claims by crew members.
Obtained dismissal with prejudice in favor of large alcoholic beverage manufacturer in antitrust litigation alleging federal antitrust and state franchise law violations.
Favorably settled a breach of contract dispute relating to the Copa America Fútbol tournament where represented a leading sports event marketing and management company.
Favorably settled accounting malpractice litigation in connection with a failed IPO in which represented one of the six largest accounting firms in the world.
Successfully represented leading foreign telecommunications company in enforcement of judgment proceedings
Successfully represented leading affinity marketing company in Florida Attorney General investigations
Successfully represented leading Northeast real estate brokerage firm in breach of contract/lease disputes
Successfully represented leading medical/health care product supplier and various other entities in product liability litigation; negotiated settlement on favorable terms
Successfully represented global pharmaceutical company in commercial litigation, including class action litigation
Successfully represented entities and individuals in confidential white collar criminal investigations
Successfully represented entities and individuals in internal investigations, regulatory advice and other corporate compliance matters
Presentations and Teaching Experience
Panelist, Super Stars in Trial Mock Trial, Technology in Trial, American Inns of Court, Miami, FL, September 28, 2018
Speaker, 4th Annual National Diversity Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair 2017, Miami, FL, October 13, 2017
Moderator, “Bad Faith Nightmares: Recent Trends & Themes In Bad and Extra-Contractual Insurance Litigation,” 2017 Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention, Kansas City, MO, September 7, 2017
Panelist, “Beware of Spoliation: Civil and Criminal Penalties for Destroying Stale Information,” HNBA 2016 Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, September 7-10, 2016
Moderator, “Don’t Print! Legal Writing & Reading in The Digital Age,” HNBA 2016 Corporate Counsel Conference, Las Vegas, NV, March 16-19, 2016
Panelist, “The Holy Grail: Pay Gap Increases and Negotiating to Decrease Inequity,” HNBA 2015 Annual Convention, Boston, MA, September 2-5, 2015
Panelist, “Top Issues Facing Young Hispanic Attorneys,” HNBA 2014 Annual Convention, Washington, DC, September 10-13, 2014