March 1, 2023
BeLabor the Point Blog
Ingrid's work is superior; she is concise, informative and pragmatic. I also appreciate her responsiveness and depth of knowledge.
Chambers USA 2024
Practice & Industry Groups
Overview
For over 25 years, Ingrid Ponce has represented employers of all sizes in labor and employment matters. Her clients come from diverse industries and include major sports franchises, international restaurant chains, and educational institutions.
An experienced litigator, Ingrid has served as lead counsel on a number of large class and collective actions alleging wage and hour issues, such as off-the-clock work, improper wage deductions, tip pooling and exemption misclassification. Ingrid routinely defends clients in litigation involving all forms of employment issues, such as harassment/hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation and whistleblower claims.
On the counseling side, Ingrid partners with clients to develop innovative approaches to solving employee issues and provides training to managers and employees on preventing workplace harassment, EEO compliance, FMLA, ADA, workplace violence, and litigation prevention. Ingrid also assists clients with investigations and frequently appears before federal agencies, such as the Department of Labor, the EEOC, and OSHA.
Ingrid is a regular contributor to the firm’s labor and employment law blog, BeLabor the Point. Ingrid is also a member of the firm’s Board of Directors.
Notable Experience
- Successfully represents clients in jury trials in both state and federal courts, and in appeals before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal.
- Representation of clients in collective and class actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and other federal and state laws.
- Lead counsel of litigation teams that have secured summary judgment victories on behalf of various clients in cases involving claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Florida Whistleblower Act, and other employment statutes.
- Defense of employers in a variety of employment related lawsuits, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Florida Whistleblower Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other federal, state and local employment-related laws and regulations.
- Frequently appears before the EEOC, as well as state and local EEO agencies, to defend clients against charges of discrimination and harassment; experience includes working with in-house legal or personnel departments to prepare position statements and other materials in response to such claims.
- Counsels clients with respect to design and implementation of personnel policies and procedures, and reviews, drafts, and updates policies.
- Conducts company-wide and supervisor/manager training in Spanish and English on a variety of topics, including preventing workplace harassment, EEO compliance, FMLA, ADA, workplace violence and litigation prevention.
- Represented client in a successful appeal before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. The Court reversed a $2.5 million jury verdict against our client in a case that contributes significantly to existing case law on discrimination and retaliation in Florida.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., with honors, University of Florida College of Law, 1998
- Order of the Barristers
- B.A., magna cum laude, Rollins College, 1995
Admissions
- Florida
- United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Languages
- Spanish
Professional & Community Involvement
- Breakthrough Miami, Board of Directors, 2014-2023
- The Florida Bar, Labor and Employment Section
- St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Vestry Member
Recognition
- Chambers USA, Labor & Employment (Florida), 2020-Present
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite NOTABLE – Labor & Employment Lawyers, 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-Present
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2022-Present; Rising Star, 2011-2013
- Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2018-2022
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers in South Florida – Labor & Employment, 2017-2021; Top Up and Comers – Labor & Employment, 2015-2016
- Top 10 Florida Labor & Employment Lawyers to Follow in 2023, Business Today
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell