Gunster Shareholders Alexis M. Buese, Traci H. Rollins and Gregor J. Schwinghammer Jr. were recently named as co-chairs for the firm's Class Action Defense team. Law360 spoke with Buese and Rollins about their vision for the team as well as their individual areas of practice.
Referring to the recent uptick in class actions, Buese noted that "Because businesses are now based here and selling products and doing all kinds of things here, consumers are being exposed to more direct interactions in Florida."
Rollins emphasized that often class claims can be resolved before litigation begins or in the early stages. "We love to defend class action lawsuits. That's what we do. But the other thing we do to bring value to our clients is counsel them before something matures into a class action," she stated.
Alexis M. Buese practices in all aspects of commercial litigation, including class action, contract disputes and real estate litigation. She has broadly defended the consumer products and services industries against the expanding array of class actions that challenge their products, methodologies and procedures. Her clients include numerous consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, including apparel, furniture, food, vitamin and dietary supplement companies, and e-commerce companies. She also works with clients to assess their product and service offerings, and mitigate litigation risk in connection therewith including by creating enforceable e-commerce agreements, including the drafting and implementation of effective terms and conditions.
Traci H. Rollins focuses her practice on representing public and private businesses, insurance companies, financial institutions and other nontraditional lenders in consumer regulatory, insurance, and securities litigation class actions. She offers decades of experience in Florida and other courts across the country. She has successfully resolved many threatened class claims before litigation is commenced or in early case dispositive motions.
Gregor J. Schwinghammer Jr.‘s practice involves complex business litigation, bankruptcy litigation, and toxic tort and environmental litigation. He represents clients throughout Florida and, when needed, around the country. He has tried cases at all levels — from local administrative hearings, to county court commercial evictions, to arbitration, to jury trials in circuit and federal courts. Prior to joining Gunster in 1996, he was a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany and Kuwait.
