Overview

Annie Leonard is Senior Counsel in the firm’s Employment Law Practice Group. She defends employers in state and federal court against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims and advises employers on federal and state employment-law compliance.  Annie’s litigation experience also includes handling disputes involving contracts, business torts, trade secrets, and shareholder disputes. She manages all phases of litigation, including appeals, and has extensive experience drafting and arguing dispositive motions, taking and defending depositions, and overseeing complex discovery matters.

Annie rejoins Trenam Law after serving as a career law clerk to the Honorable Christopher P. Tuite of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  She previously practiced in the commercial litigation group at Trenam Law from 2012 to 2021, starting as an associate and later becoming a shareholder.  Prior to that, she began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Anne C. Conway, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Representative Matters

  • Defended an employer against claims of breach of contract brought by former employee.
  • Represented employer against claims of discrimination by former employee.
  • Represented commercial music services provider in federal lawsuit involving claims of intentional interference, false representations, trade secrets, and conspiracy; obtained favorable settlement for client, which included a full release of all claims.
  • Represented financial services company in defending ERISA disability claims.
  • Represented an international investment services company in a federal lawsuit involving trade secrets and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
  • Secured affirmance from the Second District Court of Appeal in favor of investors on claims of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and violation of franchise and securities statutes.

Honors and Distinctions

  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2019–2020
  • Florida Trend Legal Elite Up and Comer, 2019
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2014–2020