Overview
Ingrid is a one-stop shop for all labor and employment issues and she is incredibly knowledgeable and service-oriented.
- Chambers USA 2023
Ingrid H. Ponce is a Shareholder in the Labor & Employment Department and a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors. Ingrid focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling, including wage & hour issues, collective or class actions, sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and whistleblower claims. She partners with her clients to develop innovative approaches to solving employee issues. She is a frequent speaker on issues such as investigating harassment/discrimination claims, religious discrimination and EEO compliance. She also provides training to managers and employees on preventing workplace harassment, EEO compliance, FMLA, ADA, workplace violence, and litigation prevention.
Ingrid is a regular contributor to the firm’s labor and employment law blog, BeLabor the Point.
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
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-Present
- Top 10 Florida Labor & Employment Lawyers to Follow in 2023, Business Today
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers in South Florida - Labor & Employment, 2017-2021; Top Up and Comers - Labor & Employment, 2015-2016
- Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2018-2022
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2022-Present; Rising Star, 2011-2013
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications & Presentations
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
Newsroom
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
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
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