Peggy Smith Bush

Perhaps one the main reasons I enjoy my practice defending businesses is that law is not my first “career.”  In fact, law wasn’t even the second.  Before I decided to become an attorney, I had already worked in and for businesses for almost a dozen years.  I’ve heard people say they “enjoyed law school” – although, frankly, it is not something I have heard that all that often.  After spending years in the work force handling leadership roles, teambuilding, solving problems, and making decisions, going “back to school” was different and, at times, humbling.  While I am glad that law school is far behind me now, I enjoyed serving as Managing Editor of Law Review and am still proud that I received various awards, such as Outstanding Oral Advocacy.

I have spent the last almost 14 years defending lawsuits brought against manufacturers, insurance companies, and other businesses.  Most of these cases involved allegations of product liability, personal injury, and/or premises liability.  Along the way, I have drawn upon my background of  leadership, service, and teamwork.  I have attained awards, such as being selected as a Rising Star by Florida Super Lawyers three consecutive years.  I have been inducted into the International Association of Defense Counsel, which according to its website is comprised of a worldwide membership of 2,500 invitation-only peer-reviewed  leading corporate and insurance lawyers.  I was selected as a Florida Legal Elite in 2013.  I was recently appointed to The Florida Bar’s Senior Lawyers Committee.  I am also an active member of the Transportation Lawyers Association, where I enjoy my work as Chair of the Diversity Sub-Committee.

Our firm is, by design, a small boutique firm in downtown Orlando, Florida.  Our firm practices throughout Florida, in every federal district, as well as major (and minor) metropolitan areas.  I am licensed to practice before the Courts of Florida, all three U.S. Districts in Florida, the 11th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.  I am a Certified Litigation Management Professional, certified by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance after a focused program at Columbia Law School.

It is suggested that I include something about myself in addition to my education, experience, awards, and such.  I am often told by clients and colleagues on both sides of the little “v” that I am good at what I do – perhaps that is because after over 30 years of working in and for businesses I have the experience and comfort level to enjoy what I do.  The shelves in my office are filled some awards – but mostly with pictures of people I love, my pets, some select books, and one plaque I was awarded over 20 years ago which, while simple, still inspires me:  “Leadership:  Leaders are like eagles. They don’t flock; you find them one at a time.”  I have learned that leadership is not often easy but the reward is, indeed, worth it.