Amy E. Furness

Amy Furness is a trial lawyer who has dedicated her career to defending diverse clients, including both domestic and foreign corporations, in complex civil litigation, particularly product liability and commercial litigation. She defends product manufacturers in all forms of cases in the pharmaceutical, aviation, chemical, tobacco, and consumer product industries. In addition to her extensive pharmaceutical and medical device litigation defense experience, she has defended manufacturers of cigarettes, yacht engines, automobile and aircraft engines, and propane tanks.

Amy has served as national coordinating counsel on numerous mass tort matters, including a significant litigation for a pharmaceutical company involving nearly 14,000 plaintiffs, with over 10,000 cases pending in federal courts and nearly 4,000 cases pending in state courts. She also has served as regional counsel on a variety of complex civil matters and has lectured on product liability and professional liability matters.

Prior to joining Carlton Fields, Amy served as in-house counsel with the environmental claims division of a national insurance company. That experience offered her unique insight into the corporate demands of an in-house legal department, and she remains mindful of the needs and pressures clients face daily.

Before entering law school, Amy was a research engineer. Her scientific education and technical experience inform her law practice today.

Experience

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices

Tried Coloplast's first pelvic mesh trial in the country, involving product liability claims arising out of pelvic floor reconstructive surgery augmented with a surgical implant to treat pelvic organ prolapse. Bayless v. Boston Scientific Corp. & Coloplast Corp., U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.

Defending a manufacturer of hernia repair product in litigation alleging personal injuries resulting from product defects.

Defending manufacturers of FDA-approved prescription opioid medications in suits filed by state and local governments as well as third-party payors across the state of Florida.

Defending a manufacturer of prescription medicine used to treat advanced-stage lung cancer in wrongful death lawsuit.

National coordinating counsel representing a pharmaceutical company in diet drug litigation. Defended client and coordinated counsel in nearly every state.

Defended a manufacturer of a surgically implanted Class III medical device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pursuant to the rigorous product development protocol process and obtained dismissal based on express preemption.

Defended a pharmaceutical company and sponsor of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in wrongful death lawsuit.

Children's Products

Representing a manufacturer of recalled products in personal injury and wrongful death litigation pending in coordinated state court proceedings in California and Delaware.

Speaking Engagements

"'Betting' on Collaboration Tools and Navigating the Discovery Challenges they Present," 12th Annual CLE Conference, Association of Corporate Counsel South Florida, Hollywood, FL (September 16, 2022)

"Health Related Research and Effectiveness of CBD" and "Failure to Warn and Class Action Claims," CBD Seminar, Product Liability Advisory Council, Miami, FL (January 15, 2020)

"Data Breaches and Cybersecurity Planning: Best Practices in Managing the Risk," Product Liability Advisory Council Fall Conference, Irving, TX (October 18, 2017)

"Products Liability Year in Review," American Bar Association Environmental, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Joint CLE (January 2016)

"The Ethics and Business of Law," Dade County Defense Bar Association Annual Ethics Symposium (October 2015)

"Law Firm Marketing and Management," Miami-Dade Bar Bench and Bar Conference (February 2015)

"The Extraordinary Case of Chevron Corp. v. Steve Donziger," Product Liability Advisory Council (October 2014)

"The Business Case for Diversity and Flexibility," Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association, Caribbean Bar Association, The Florida Bar, and Diversity and Flexibility Alliance (July 2014)

"Recent Applications of the General Aviation Revitalization Act," National Institute on Aviation Litigation (June 2014)

"Opening Statements — No Second Chances: How to Make Your Best First Impression With a Skeptical Jury," American Bar Association and National Institute on Aviation Litigation Seminar, New York, NY (2012)

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"Evaluating Cause and Effect of Certain Chemicals," American Conference Institute Chemical Products Liability Litigation Seminar, Chicago, IL (2006)

"Networking and Client Development 101: It's Easier Than You Think," American Bar Association Women's Interest Network, Miami, FL (2006)

"The Growing Role of Mediation in the Americas," American Bar Association International Law Section Fall Meeting, Miami, FL (2006)

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Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America (2019–2027)

Legal Elite Notable Managing Partners, Florida Trend (2025–2026)

Power Leaders in Law and Accounting, South Florida Business Journal (2025)

Who's Who Legal (2023–2024)

South Florida Power Leaders, South Florida Business Journal (2019–2022)

Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide (2021–2022)

Influential Business Women, South Florida Business Journal (2020)

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.

Professional & Community Involvement

Amy is a member of the American Bar Association's Litigation Section, DRI, and the Florida Bar. She is a past chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where she also served as chair-elect and co-chaired the Senior Executive Orientation Program. She previously served on the board of directors of the Product Liability Advisory Council, including as vice president – sustaining and as secretary/treasurer, and on the faculty of the American Bar Association's Trial Advocacy Program for Legal Services Attorneys.

Amy is a member of Election Protection and is a past chair of the Legal Command Center for the Miami-Dade County Election Protection Coalition.

Amy is co-managing shareholder of the firm's Miami office and has spent her career trying cases for product manufacturers, from pharmaceutical companies to the makers of yacht engines and propane tanks. Her trial work was the subject of a Florida Trend cover story, "For the Defense."