Ingrid H. Ponce | Stearns Weaver Miller

Overview

Ingrid's work is superior; she is concise, informative and pragmatic. I also appreciate her responsiveness and depth of knowledge.

- Chambers USA 2024

For over 25 years, Ingrid 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.

Representative 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.

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

Publications & Presentations

Events: Life Cycle Issues for Working Women
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2024 Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar|May 2024

Events: OK Boomers!
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2024 Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar|May 2024

Publications: Must an employee making more than $200k still be paid overtime? Definitely, maybe.
BeLabor the Point Blog|March 2023

Events: TikTok Time Bombs/Social Media, Offer Letters And Employment Agreements and I Need To Be An Independent Contractor
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2022 Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar|October 2022

Events: Offer Letters And Employment Agreements
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2022 Annual Miami Labor & Employment Law Seminar|October 2022

Labor & Employment News Update, Publications: And the OSHA Vax or Test Rule is Off (Again)
BeLabor the Point Blog |January 2022

Publications: SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE! OSHA’s Vaccinate or Test Rule is Back (at least for now).
BeLabor the Point Blog|December 2021

Publications: OSHA’s COVID Vaccination Rules – What You Need To Know
BeLabor the Point Blog|November 2021

Events, Firm Announcements, In the Media, Labor & Employment News Update, Publications: Breaking Through the Noise: Labor & Employment Issues Post-Pandemic
Stearns Weaver Miller News Program Special|June 2021

Events: COVID-19 Q&A Webinar
Physicians Health Center Webinar|August 2020

Publications: Top Takeaways from Our Back to Work Virtual Chat
BeLabor the Point Blog|June 2020

Events: Back to Work Virtual Chat
Stearns Weaver Miller Webinar|June 2020

COVID News Update, Labor & Employment News Update, Publications: DOL Provides More Guidance on the FFCRA
BeLabor The Point Blog|March 2020

COVID News Update, Labor & Employment News Update, Publications: DOL Issues New FFCRA Poster and Further Guidance
BeLabor The Point Blog|March 2020

COVID News Update, Labor & Employment News Update, Publications: Federal Paid Leave Law Signed by President Trump
BeLabor The Point Blog|March 2020

Events: The Applicant Dating Game
Stearns Weaver Miller's 29th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2019

Events: “5 Steps to Protecting Company Secrets and Customers”
Brightline Training Seminar|January 2019

Publications: You Fire Your HR Manager for Encouraging Employees to Sue. No Problem, right? Think Again
BeLabor the Point Blog|October 2018

Events: All Rise! Decisions that are Changing the Way You Do Business
Stearns Weaver Miller's 28th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|April 2018

Events: Back to the FLSA Drawing Board
Stearns Weaver Miller's 27th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2017

Publications: Email Restrictions: Good Idea But Don’t Hold Your Breath America
BeLabor The Point Blog|April 2017

Publications: New DOL Overtime Regulations On Hold – Now What????
BeLabor The Point Blog|November 2016

Events: Florida Advanced Skills for Wage and Hour Compliance
2016 FLSA Master Class|October 2016

Events: Full Steam Ahead: Keeping up with Title VII
Stearns Weaver Miller's 26th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2016

Events: Advanced FLSA for Hospitality
Stearns Weaver Miller's 26th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2016

Publications: The “Accidental” Termination?
BeLabor the Point Blog |February 2016

Events: Common Law Employment Claims
The Florida Bar’s 16th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review |January 2016

Publications: Don’t Fall Asleep Just Yet… A “New Test” to Decide When Interns Should be Paid
BeLabor the Point Blog |October 2015

Events: “La Oficina de mi Jefe” - Dealing with Workplace Telenovelas
Stearns Weaver Miller’s 25th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar |May 2015

Publications: Wait for It!…Wait for It! (But Don’t Expect to Get Paid for It.)
BeLabor the Point Blog |December 2014

Publications: Are Smartphone Breaks at Work a Good Idea?
BeLabor the Point Blog |July 2014

Events: Interactive “Employment Discrimination – Do Juries Carry A Full Set of Clubs?”
Stearns Weaver Miller’s 24th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2014

Publications: Florida Employment Law Manual
Florida Chamber of Commerce|January 2013

Events: Referees Aren’t the Only Whistleblowers
Stearns Weaver Miller’s 22nd Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2012

Events: A New Declaration of Independence: Consultants, Contingent Workers, Leased Employees and Independent Contractors
Stearns Weaver Miller’s 21st Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar|May 2011

Events: Social Networking Sites in Human Resources Screening
Association of Legal Administrators Conference|June 2010

Events: Crisis Management: When Bad Things Happen To Good Employers (and What HR Can Do About It)
Stearns Weaver Miller’s 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar|May 2010

Events: IWork In The Digital Village
Stearns Weaver Miller’s 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar |May 2009

Newsroom

In the Media: Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE: Labor & Employment Lawyers
Florida Trend: September 2024|September 2024

Firm Announcements: Three Stearns Weaver Miller Shareholders Selected as Florida Trend’s Legal Elite NOTABLE – Labor & Employment Lawyers
September 2024

Firm Announcements: 35 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers and 11 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2024
June 2024

In the Media: Top 10 Florida Labor & Employment Lawyers to Follow in 2023
Business Today|August 2023

Firm Announcements: 29 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 11 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2023
June 2023

Firm Announcements: 28 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2022
June 2022

In the Media: Hear from Marlins, Fisher Island and EEOC leaders about post-COVID labor issues
Miami Herald|June 2021

Firm Announcements: 29 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2021
May 2021

Firm Announcements: 24 Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers in 12 Practice Areas Ranked In Chambers USA 2020
April 2020

In the Media: Introducing the Class of 2016
South Florida Legal Guide|July 2016

Firm Announcements: Stearns Weaver Miller Presents 26th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar
March 2016

Firm Announcements: Stearns Weaver Miller Attorneys Recognized by South Florida Legal Guide 2016
January 2016

Firm Announcements: Stearns Weaver Miller Presents 25th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar
April 2015

Firm Announcements: Stearns Weaver Miller Attorneys Recognized by South Florida Legal Guide 2015
January 2015

Firm Announcements: Stearns Weaver Miller Presents 24th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar
April 2014

Practice Areas

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