Susan V. Warner

Partner | Litigation
Chair, Appellate Practice

About

Ms. Warner is an experienced litigator, who represents corporations, small businesses, and individuals before federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate level in a broad range of employment and business disputes. She is an assertive advocate, finding creative and efficient solutions for her clients in resolving disputes.

  • Ms. Warner practices in the areas of employment law, employment counsel, commercial litigation and appeals. She has successfully represented employers and management on a wide variety of employment litigation claims, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII); the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA); the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Ms. Warner has also defended against claims of defamation, negligent retention, breach of non-compete and employment agreements, and theft of trade secrets.

    Ms. Warner also has experience representing businesses against ADA Title III claims. She has experience advising clients on how to comply with ADA Title III regulations and providing practical advice to clients about how to comply with the physical accessibility requirements of the ADA. Ms. Warner has particular expertise in the area of ADA website compliance, defending against the first ADA website compliance claim to go to trial in the country.

    Ms. Warner has experience defending hospitals in medical staff and credentialing matters, employment disputes and HIPAA claims. She has represented universities in lawsuits involving student disciplinary matters and faculty tenure disputes.

    Before Pierson Ferdinand, Ms. Warner was a partner at FisherBroyles, LLP. Prior to that, Ms. Warner was Of Counsel at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in its Litigation practice group and an associate at a boutique litigation firm in Miami, Florida. Prior to this, she served as a federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida.


Practices

  • Commercial Litigation

  • Employment and Labor

  • Health and Pharmacy Law

  • Appellate

  • Education

Admissions

  • 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

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

  • The Supreme Court of the United States


Education

  • University of Florida College of Law, J.D. cum laude, 2006

  • University of Virginia, BA, 2000


Professional Associations

  • The Florida Bar

    • Florida Appellate Court Rules Committee 2024-2027

    • Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2018-2024

  • American Bar Association

  • Federal Bar Association

  • F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association

  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers

    • Development Director 2020-2021

    • Chapter Representative & JNC Oversight Chair 2019-2020

    • Summit Chair 2018-2019

  • Jacksonville Women Lawyer’s Association

    • JNC Oversight Chair, 2018-2019

  • Martin County Women Lawyers Association

    • Chapter Representative 2019-2021


Professional Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America - Appellate Practice (2024, 2025)

  • Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite (2020)

  • Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star (2017)

Experience

  • FisherBroyles, LLP

  • Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Publications

  • 4th Cir. Takes a Conservative Approach to LGBT Rights, Law 360 (May 23, 2016)

  • Employees’ Mental Health Disorders Often Qualify as Disabilities, Restaurant Hospitality (Dec. 7, 2016)


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