Deborah Poore FitzGerald, Esq.

Overview

As General Counsel at Walton Lantaff, Deborah FitzGerald offers clients the perspective of a respected and seasoned trial lawyer, bringing decades of experience in professional liability, commercial litigation and appellate practice to the firm’s most complex matters.

A graduate of Morehead State University, she earned her Bachelor of Arts with the highest honors, before going on to receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky School of Law, where she competed on the Moot Court National Team. Since her admission to The Florida Bar in 1979, she has built a distinguished career defending professionals — including attorneys, accountants, realtors and appraisers — in malpractice and high-stakes litigation.

Ms. FitzGerald’s practice reflects a longstanding interest in professional liability, commercial disputes and insurance defense matters involving personal injury and property damage. Throughout her career, Ms. FitzGerald has taken on significant leadership and service roles within the legal community, including presidencies within local bar associations and ongoing participation in federal court committees and mediation initiatives. Her experience spans jury trials, arbitrations and appeals, as well as strategic defense in matters involving governmental entities and negligence claims.

As counsel, Ms. FitzGerald provides seasoned guidance, thoughtful strategy and a clear path forward in even the most demanding disputes.

Practice Areas:

• Professional Liability, including the defense of lawyers, certified public accountants, realtors and appraisers
• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Defense in Personal Injury and Property Damage Claims
• Appellate Practice
• Governmental Entities
• Medical/Professional Negligence

Admitted to Practice:

• Member of the Florida Bar, 1979
• Supreme Court of the State of Florida, 1979
• Fifth Circuit, Federal Appellate Court
• Southern and Northern Districts of Florida, Federal District Courts

Education:

• University of Kentucky School of Law — Juris Doctor
  • Moot Court National Team
• Morehead State University — Bachelor of Arts highest honors

Professional or Trade Affiliations:

• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
  • Ft. Lauderdale Chapter President, 2011
• Council on Litigation Management (CLM)
• Broward County Bar Association
  • President, (2012 – 2013)
• The Federal Bar Association
  • Ft. Lauderdale Chapter, Past President (1992)
• Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Court Annexed Mediation for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • Member (2000 – Present)
  • Chair (2013 – 2016)
• The Federal Court for the Southern District Florida Bench & Bar Conference Committee
  • Member (2010 and 2012)
• State of Florida Certified Arbitrator
• American Bar Association (including the Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability)
• American Bar Association

Honors & Awards:

• First recipient of the Judge Jose A. Gonzalez, Jr. Unsung Hero Award …
  • Voted upon by the Federal Judges of the Southern District – Broward Division (August 2009)
• AV-Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Co-Chair
  • Broward County Bar Association Legal Malpractice Summit (2014 and 2015)
• Served on the Florida Bar Grievance Committee
  • Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (including position of Vice-Chair)
• Nominated into The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation