Anitra Raiford
Partner – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Description of field of expertise

Anitra Raiford is a Partner in the Global Product Liability and the Class Action and Complex Litigation practice groups at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP. She is a client-facing attorney in industries like automotive, consumer goods, insurance, and pharmaceutical.

Anitra spends significant time in federal courts nationwide defending individual, class action, and MDL lawsuits. She is often designated as the lead attorney especially in the Middle District of Florida where she resides. As a former judicial law clerk to two federal judges, Anitra draws upon her clerkship experiences to customize legal strategies that fit client values. Her experiences include defending consumer protection, contract, copyright, personal injury, product liability, tort, trade secrets, unfair trade practice, warranty, and wrongful death disputes in state and federal courts. She also frequently prosecutes non-compete agreements.

Anitra routinely takes key depositions, advocates for clients at hearings, drafts dispositive motions, and serves on trial teams. She leads small teams and co-leads large teams that manage dockets of litigation. Her hard work is peer-recognized as evident by her listings in Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch; Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star; and Florida Trends, Legal Elite Up & Comer. The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently acknowledged Anitra as one of 25 lawyers to know.

Anitra is passionate about service within her community. Anitra serves as Vice Chair of the Florida Bar Federal Court Practice Committee (a position appointed by the Florida Bar President), Treasurer of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels of Tampa, and a long-standing active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Anitra graduated from the University of Florida and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Anitra loves spending time with her husband, playing tennis, and celebrating the fabulous women in her life.

 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

I recommend that new attorneys entering the product liability, class actions, and complex litigation fields approach this kind of challenging litigation with long-term dedication, hard work, and patience. The new lawyers in these fields are not given the most glamorous assignments at first. Instead, newer lawyers are asked to draft pleadings and memorandums, analyze discovery, conduct legal research, and help prepare other lawyers for hearings, depositions, and trials because so much is at stake for the clients. In light of this, it takes a little more time, especially in comparison to peers in other practice groups, to obtain the higher profile assignments. In the meantime, do excellent work and master the tasks that you are given because the details matter. Over time, you will have the skills and experiences needed for the more glamorous roles.

 

Final thoughts…

We work in a relationship-based business. Do your best to stay connected with your law school peers, current and past work colleagues, and non-attorney friends in an authentic way. Grab coffee, break bread, and have fun with the people around you. The by-product of sincere relationships may result in excellent life opportunities.