Emma focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on life insurance and annuity disputes. She represents estates, families of insureds, and insurance companies in high-stakes litigation involving stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) schemes, fraud and racketeering (RICO) claims, civil conspiracy, breach of contract actions, and other business disputes in state and federal courts nationwide.
Before joining the firm, Emma represented clients in complex maritime product liability and general liability disputes, counseling vessel manufacturers and other maritime industry participants through all stages of litigation and arbitration. She has extensive experience managing discovery, motion practice, depositions, trial preparation, trial proceedings, and overall case strategy in high-exposure matters.
Prior to entering private practice, Emma served as an assistant state attorney in the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, where she tried more than 20 cases to verdict as first chair. In that role, she prosecuted a broad range of felony and misdemeanor matters and worked closely with law enforcement agencies on investigations involving gun violence, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
Emma earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she served as a note and comment editor for the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation. She served on the board of the Carolina Public Interest Law Organization and received an award for completing more than 100 hours of pro bono service. Emma received her B.A., with distinction, in Spanish literature and culture and global studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a member of the university's varsity women's swimming and diving team.