Giovanna “Gia” Abreu O’Connor is a Shareholder in Fowler White’s Miami office, where she concentrates her practice on complex probate, trust, and guardianship litigation. She represents fiduciaries, beneficiaries, heirs, creditors, healthcare institutions, and interested parties in contested and uncontested proceedings throughout Florida at the trial and appellate court levels

Gia’s work includes trust and will contests, incapacity and guardianship proceedings, breach of fiduciary duty claims, removal and surcharge actions, and elder exploitation litigation. She is often sought out for matters involving blended families and high-conflict estates. In addition to her litigation practice, Gia advises clients on estate planning and on probate, trust, and guardianship administration matters.

With more than a decade of litigation experience in both state and federal courts, Gia’s practice also spans commercial and real estate disputes. Known for her collaborative style and outcome-driven approach, she works closely with clients to resolve sensitive matters with clarity and strategic precision.

Gia is a frequent speaker and author on probate litigation topics, including Florida’s “Slayer Statute,” blended family disputes, and fiduciary obligations. She is also active in the community, holding leadership positions with the Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers and Chapman Partnership’s NextGen Council.

Representative Matters

• Obtained final order enforcing post-marital agreement and recovering estate assets from a surviving spouse who had waived inheritance rights.
• Achieved dismissal with prejudice and successful appeal in annuity dispute brought by siblings challenging a wrongful death settlement.
• Secured declaratory judgment in favor of a surviving spouse in a dispute with stepchildren over interpretation of prior trust settlement.
• Represented hospitals in guardianship proceedings, securing court-appointed guardians for incapacitated patients.
• Achieved favorable settlements for surviving spouse in undue influence dispute against step-children.
• Represented hospitals in proceedings to enforce living will against family member acting contrary to the patient’s wishes.
• Resolved estate claims for creditors involving past-due medical expenses.
• Achieved resolution in multiple high-conflict trust contests involving capacity challenges, disinheritance, and alleged breaches of trust.
• Obtained a jury verdict in a negligent security matter against a nightclub and security staff.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Director, Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers (MDFAWL)
• Co-Chair, Women’s Initiatives Committee, MDFAWL
• Chair, 11th Judicial Circuit Screening Committee for Court Appointments in Mental Health Proceedings and Extraordinary Guardianships
• Chair-Elect, Chapman Partnership NextGen Council
• Host, ProVisors – Miami 1 Group
• Former Director at Large, Coral Gables Estate Planning Council
• Former Adjunct Professor, Legal Skills & Values III, FIU College of Law
• Former Instructor/Supervisor, FIU Wills Project
• Former Community Outreach Chair, FIU Law Alumni Board
• Past Committee Co-Chair, Table for Eight, MDFAWL

In the News

• Daily Business Review, “Florida Expands 'Slayer Statute' to Protect Elderly and Disabled Adults,” October 28, 2021
• Featured Guest, The Practice Podcast, “Family Feud – Life as a Probate Litigator,” August 29, 2022

Publications

• “Florida Expands ‘Slayer Statute’ to Protect Elderly and Disabled Adults,” Daily Business Review, October 28, 2021

Events & Speaking Engagements

• Presenter, Hillsborough Bar Association, “Inheritance Issues and Spousal Rights in Blended Families,” January 18, 2023
• Presenter, BNY Mellon’s Probate & Pumpernickle, “Inheritance Issues & Spousal Rights in Blended Families,” September 12, 2022
• CLE Presenter, West LegalEdcenter, “Slayer Statute CLE,” July 20, 2022
• CLE Presenter, West LegalEdcenter, “Trustees’ Use of Funds: Dos, Don’ts, and Maybes,” October 14, 2021
• Panelist, FIU College of Law, “Women in the Legal Profession,” June 21, 2021
• Panelist, FAWL St. Thomas University Chapter, “RBG & Her Legacy,” 2021
• Presenter, “An Introduction to Probate for Legal Aid Lawyers,” September 14, 2022