Rachel C.G. Walters is highly regarded as a Complex Trial Counsel serving on Wilson Elser’s National Trial Team, which offers a distinctly powerful combination of benefits that contribute to the development of compelling and innovative defenses that can optimize clients’ chances of success. When it becomes evident a case will not settle or otherwise be resolved, Rachel is among those called in to assume even the most technical and challenging cases, tapping into the firm’s deep bench and dedicated support to make an immediate impact regardless of jurisdiction.

Rachel is recognized as a consummate trial lawyer with 20 years of experience and a lifetime trial record of nearly 90 percent favorable outcomes. Her practice includes products liability, auto negligence, negligent security, premises liability and trucking negligence. Rachel has tried more than 20 civil jury trials to verdict as lead counsel in federal and state court and has argued before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals. A Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Rachel has been evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise by the Florida Bar to achieve that certification.  Less than 1 percent of attorneys in the State of Florida have achieved this certification.

Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Rachel spent 10 years as an Assistant County Attorney at the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s office, and before that was an Assistant State Attorney in the State Attorney's Office, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida in Miami for nine years. At the County Attorney’s office, she was assigned to the Torts Section, where her cases included wrongful death, negligent security, premises liability, automobile accidents, and police and corrections department matters. At the State Attorney’s Office, Rachel was a Division Chief, handling homicide, death penalty and gang-related cases. She has tried more than 100 criminal cases.

Rachel is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates and was named to the Florida Bar Civil Trial Board Certification Committee. She also serves on the Executive Council for the Trial Lawyer Section of the Florida Bar. On a personal note, Rachel is committed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and for many years has chaired the Student Visionary of the Year Campaign, in which candidates raise funds in honor of a young, local patient hero who is battling a blood cancer or in remission.

Areas of Focus

National Trial Team
Wilson Elser’s National Trial Team (NTT) attorneys have garnered the respect and admiration of innumerable federal, state and local judges. Our attorneys avail themselves of a robust brief bank of trial and arbitration documents from analogous cases and draw on the experience of colleagues throughout the firm, each with distinct experience and credentials that can be valuable in formulating a particular client’s defense.

Acknowledging the importance of impartiality and credibility in mounting an effective defense, Rachel and the team maintain strong, long-standing relationships with experts from respected universities and consulting firms, in addition to medical doctors, toxicologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, engineers and accident reconstructionists. They are adept at cross-examining and challenging the testimony of experts presented by plaintiffs’ law firms and excel in relating to jurors during the voir dire process and ensuing trial − an “intangible” that can significantly enhance outcomes. Building on established credibility, Rachel reduces complex narratives to their most fundamental elements so that judges, juries and arbitrators better understand her arguments and are more likely to regard them favorably.

Trucking Negligence
Wilson Elser’s Transportation Practice has broad experience representing and defending U.S. and Canadian trucking companies, including all types of first- and third-party liability matters, personal injury and accident claims, regulatory compliance issues, environmental concerns, cargo shortages, damages and theft, cargo securement and packaging claims, recovery of stolen trailers or containers, products/manufacturing claims, and subrogation claims.

    Education

    • University of Miami (J.D., 2004)
    • Tulane University (B.S. Political Science, 2000)

    Bar Admissions

    • Florida

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
    • Cochair, Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition, 2024-–2025
    • Florida Bar Civil Trial Board Certification Committee, 2022–2025
    • Executive Council for the Trial Lawyer Section of the Florida Bar, 2022–2025
    • Advanced Trial Advocacy Faculty, 2022–2024
    • Scoring Juror, Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition, 2022-–2024
    • Faculty, Miami-Dade FAWL Litigation Skills Program, 2021–2024
    • Assistant Coach, St. Thomas Aquinas High School Mock Trial team 2023–2024
    • Trial Lawyer Section Advanced Trial Advocacy Program Faculty Member, 2022–2023

Events

Rachel C.G. Walters is highly regarded as a Complex Trial Counsel serving on Wilson Elser’s National Trial Team, which offers a distinctly powerful combination of benefits that contribute to the development of compelling and innovative defenses that can optimize clients’ chances of success. When it becomes evident a case will not settle or otherwise be resolved, Rachel is among those called in to assume even the most technical and challenging cases, tapping into the firm’s deep bench and dedicated support to make an immediate impact regardless of jurisdiction.

Rachel is recognized as a consummate trial lawyer with 20 years of experience and a lifetime trial record of nearly 90 percent favorable outcomes. Her practice includes products liability, auto negligence, negligent security, premises liability and trucking negligence. Rachel has tried more than 20 civil jury trials to verdict as lead counsel in federal and state court and has argued before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals. A Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Rachel has been evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise by the Florida Bar to achieve that certification.  Less than 1 percent of attorneys in the State of Florida have achieved this certification.

Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Rachel spent 10 years as an Assistant County Attorney at the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s office, and before that was an Assistant State Attorney in the State Attorney's Office, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida in Miami for nine years. At the County Attorney’s office, she was assigned to the Torts Section, where her cases included wrongful death, negligent security, premises liability, automobile accidents, and police and corrections department matters. At the State Attorney’s Office, Rachel was a Division Chief, handling homicide, death penalty and gang-related cases. She has tried more than 100 criminal cases.

Rachel is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates and was named to the Florida Bar Civil Trial Board Certification Committee. She also serves on the Executive Council for the Trial Lawyer Section of the Florida Bar. On a personal note, Rachel is committed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and for many years has chaired the Student Visionary of the Year Campaign, in which candidates raise funds in honor of a young, local patient hero who is battling a blood cancer or in remission.

Rachel C.G. Walters

Kloss, Walters & Turtle Defeat Premises Liability Claim Based on the Plain Language of Our Client’s Contract

James Kloss (Partner-Orlando, FL), Rachel Walters (Of Counsel-Miami, FL) and Claire Turtle (Associate-Orlando, FL) were brought into a slip/trip-and-fall case on the eve of trial to represent the janitorial services company at a mall. While the court recognized it was unfair to have a trial on such short notice, the case was on the Florida Supreme Court’s list and, as such, the court did not have the freedom to continue the case. The team was unable to retain experts (but did share experts already retained by the co-defendant) or depose the plaintiff due to the limited time frame before trial. The plaintiff’s most recent demand to our client was $1.2 million. The plaintiff alleged he tripped and fell over an outlet in the carpet flooring of the mall premises. The plaintiff claimed our client owed a duty to notify the mall of a dangerous condition, and to reasonably maintain the area. The team filed a motion for summary judgment on lack of duty, arguing our client owed no duty based on its contract language and the scope of janitorial services. Per the limited contractual services, our client was under no duty to reasonably maintain the premises. The motion was heard less than a month before trial, and the judge granted the motion finding “based on the plain language of the contract, [the janitorial service] was under no duty to reasonably maintain the premises.” 

James M. Kloss, Rachel C.G. Walters and Caroline Claire Turtle

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