FLORIDA – May 23, 2012 – RumbergerKirk partners Linda Bond Edwards and LaShawnda K. Jackson will be inducted in the Florida Association of Women Lawyers’ (FAWL) 2012 class of Leaders in Law. The ceremony will be held during FAWL’s 2012 Annual Meeting June 22 – 23, which coincides with The Florida Bar’s Annual Convention at the Gaylord Palms Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

FAWL solicited chapter nominations of women who had earned the respect of other professionals, been involved in activities for the betterment of the local community, exemplified the qualities of a positive role, and advanced the cause of women in the community. Edwards was nominated by the Tallahassee chapter while Jackson was selected to represented the Central Florida chapter.

Edwards devotes her Tallahassee litigation practice to the representation of employers in the private and public sectors in matters involving employment and labor issues.  As a county and circuit mediator certified by the Florida Supreme Court, she also assists parties in resolving their disputes through use of the mediation process.

An AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Edwards conducts workplace investigations into harassment and discrimination, audits clients’ employment practices and provides proactive advice that helps employers avoid and or limit liability. She also prepares affirmative action plans for clients.

Edwards has represented public and private employers in judicial and administrative proceedings including those before the EEOC and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. She has defended clients in cases asserting claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Chapter 760, Florida Statutes including those based on religion, national origin, race and gender. Edwards has experience defending against claims brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the American with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 as well as allegations of age discrimination brought under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.

Edwards received the 2009-2010 Justice Peggy A. Quince Award for Outstanding Service and Professionalism from the Tallahassee Barristers Association. She earned a juris doctor from Florida State University College of Law.

Based in the firm’s Orlando office, Jackson practices in the areas of casualty defense, product liability and insurance coverage.  She defends individuals and companies against premises liability, product defect, and motor vehicle accident liability claims. Jackson handles personal injury, wrongful death and property damage cases.  Defending manufacturers and distributors against product liability claims is part of her practice. She has defended a variety of products, including automobiles, forklift trucks, refuse trucks escalators and personal watercraft.

Jackson assists insurance industry clients in coverage disputes and defends them against bad faith claims.

Among her many honors, Jackson received The Florida Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Diversity Award, and she has been named a Florida SuperLawyers Rising Star since 2009. Currently, she is a member of The Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors and President of the Orange County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.

Jackson earned a juris doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
 

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RumbergerKirk provides litigation and counseling services in a wide range of civil practice areas including products liability, commercial litigation, intellectual property, environmental, employment, insurance, professional liability, health care and administrative law. Offices are located in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee and Birmingham, Alabama.