Vanessa Offutt

Vanessa Simpson

Senior Attorney
Miami
About

Vanessa Simpson is an experienced litigator with nearly a decade of practice managing high-stakes disputes for Fortune 500 companies and diverse organizations. Vanessa focuses on product liability litigation involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and environmental and toxic tort matters, and also handles complex business disputes and consumer product litigation. Her work spans state and federal courts, including multidistrict litigation (MDLs), mass torts, national litigation, and class actions.

Vanessa develops litigation strategies and manages all phases of pre-trial work—motion practice, discovery, briefs, and depositions—and serves on trial teams in cases with significant financial and reputational stakes. Her experience also intersects with regulatory considerations, enabling her to navigate litigation in highly regulated industries and advise clients on risk and compliance implications.

She brings a strong background in trial advocacy and courtroom practice, coupled with a deep commitment to client service and community engagement. Her approach combines real-world experience, discipline, and compassion to help clients navigate the challenges of litigation.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaMassachusetts

EXPERIENCE

Some of her experiences include:

  • In a four-week wrongful death case alleging Johnson & Johnson's talcum product was responsible for ovarian cancer, assisting first and second chair trial counsel with fact and expert witness direct and cross outlines, exhibits, legal memos, closing argument preparation, and the punitive damages phase. The jury returned a defense verdict on all counts, including negligent manufacturing, failure to warn, negligent misrepresentation, and conspiracy
  • In a product liability action against Stryker Corporation and Howmedica Osteonics Corp., successfully obtaining a dismissal of claims regarding a hip implant on personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens grounds. The dismissal ended the litigation, during which Vanessa conducted legal research and drafted the prevailing motion
  • Assisting a trial team with fact witness cross outlines, trial exhibits, legal research, and bench memos in a four-week jury trial for wrongful death matter involving Stryker Corporation's medical device, which resulted in a full defense verdict. She also aided with appellate defense, conducted research, and drafted arguments for issues on appeal; Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal ultimately affirmed the verdict and judgment and, in the process, established important precedent for medical device manufacturers

Pro Bono

Vanessa maintains a healthy pro bono practice, including family law and tenant rights. She has been recognized by Legal Services of Greater Miami for her "extraordinary" commitment to the community through pro bono service volunteerism in the pursuit of equal justice. She's advised pro bono clients who are facing eviction because of payment disputes or other issues. In a pro bono family law matter, she conducted a full evidentiary hearing on a petition for injunction for protection against domestic violence, which concluded in the client's favor.

Education
  • J.D., Howard University School of Law, 2016
    CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Writing II
    Corporate Scholars Program, Association of Corporate Counsel, 2015
    Captain, Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Team
    Student Attorney, Fair Housing Clinic
  • B.S., Criminal Justice; Communications Minor, Florida International University, 2011

Publications

  • Author, "The Ugly, the Bad, and the Good: How COVID-19 Restructures the Workplace and Careers of Women in the Law," The Voice, DRI, January 27, 2021
  • Co-author, "Tips for Navigating the Pro Bono Waters," American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, December 1, 2020
  • Co-author, "Five Tips for Conducting Remote Video Depositions, Practice Points," American Bar Association, July 31, 2020
  • Author, "Implications of Withdrawing an Already Deposed Expert," The Dade County Bar Association Bulletin, December 2018

Seminars

  • Moderator, "Generational gaps and the role that remote working has played in the advancement, or lack thereof, of minority and female attorneys," DRI Young Lawyers Seminar, Diversity and Women in the Law Luncheon, June 2022
  • "Giving Is Receiving: How to Enhance Your Skills by Taking on Pro Bono Cases," 2021 Young Lawyers Seminar, DRI, June 24, 2021

Clerk Experience

Vanessa served as clerk to the Honorable Zoe Bush, Senior Judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.

Prior Experience

Early in her career, Vanessa completed a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Zoe Bush, now a Senior Judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. Vanessa also is a veteran of the US Army, where she served as a military police officer.

Additional Experience
  • Intern, United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
  • Intern, The Honorable John M. Mott, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
  • Intern, Carey International, Inc.

Community Involvement

  • Pro Bono Volunteer, Tenants' Equal Justice Clinic – Miami
  • Volunteer Judge, Miami-Dade County Teen Court
  • Mentor, Judicial Intern Opportunity Program – Miami
  • Pro Bono Volunteer, Veterans Clinic – Miami

Memberships And Affiliations

  • The Florida Bar
  • Young Lawyers Committee, Defense Research Institute
  • American Bar Association
CallvCardLinkedInPrint

Connect

Phone

+1 305 423 8569
(Work, Miami)