Sarah A. Gottlieb

Partner / Tampa

Sarah A. Gottlieb is a Partner in the Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Ms. Gottlieb was an Attorney at Freeborn & Peters, which combined with SGR in 2023.

  • Full Bio

    Ms. Gottlieb’s practice includes representing clients in connection with a variety of business and intellectual property disputes. Her experience includes pre-suit negotiations and litigation involving contract, trade secret, copyright, trademark infringement, and business torts. Ms. Gottlieb has litigated cases in federal courts throughout the United States.

    Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Gottlieb clerked for the Honorable Charlene E. Honeywell of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Ms. Gottlieb’s law school honors include the Williams F. Blews Award for exemplary pro bono service. She has continued to contribute her time to pro bono matters during her legal career. Ms. Gottlieb is also active in the community, serving on the Executive Committee of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

    Ms. Gottlieb earned her J.D. from the Stetson University College of Law, graduating cum laude. She was Notes and Comments Editor on the Stetson Law Review, a member of the Honors Program with a concentration in social justice advocacy, and was a research assistant. She graduated cum laude with her B.A. from the University of Tampa.

  • Representative Experience

    • Representation of music companies in copyright infringement dispute.
    • Representation of homeowners’ association in connection with trademark infringement disputes.
    • Representation of flavor base manufacturer in connection with trade secret litigation.
    • Representation of large staffing company in connection with breach of contract and trade secret litigation.
    • Representative of an online travel company in connection with copyright infringement dispute.
    • Representation of a regenerative aesthetic company in trade secret and business tort dispute related to the harvesting and use of mesenchymal stem cells.
    • Representation of an online travel company in connection with patent infringement litigation related to geolocation- and context-based searching in websites and mobile applications.
    • Representation of a supplement company in contract dispute with one of its social media influencers.
    • Representation of an educational software company in trade secret and contract dispute related to an inmate messaging solution.
    • Representation of an online travel company in connection with patent infringement litigation related to geolocation- and context-based searching in websites and mobile applications; the case settled following petition for writ of mandamus on venue.
    • Representation of company that uses a proprietary algorithmic solution to match legal services in trademark infringement and unfair competition dispute; worked on a team that obtained settlement following favorable ruling by the court as a matter of law.
    • Representation of an international manufacturing services company in multiple multi-million dollar contract disputes; worked on a team that obtained favorable settlements.

  • Bar Admissions

    Florida
    United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
    United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
    United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
    United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

  • Education

    Undergraduate
    • University of Tampa

    Law School
    • Stetson University College of Law

  • Memberships

    • Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter
      • Executive Committee, President, 2026
      • Executive Committee, President Elect, 2025
      • Executive Committee, Vice President, Treasurer, 2024
      • Executive Committee, Secretary, 2023
      • Board of Directors, Mentoring Program, Co-Chair, 2022
      • Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Division, Co-Chair, 2021
      • Board of Directors, Law School Liaison, Co-Chair, 2020
      • Board of Directors, Staying in the Game Committee, Co-Chair, 2020
      • Young Lawyers Division, Member, 2017-2020
    • Journey to Esquire
      • Secretary, 2025

  • Recognitions


    Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Commercial Litigation (2023, 2024, 2026); Litigation (2023, 2024); Litigation – Intellectual Property (2026)
    Federal Bar Association President's Award, Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA), 2020
    William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award, Stetson University College of Law, 2016
    Outstanding Associate Award, Stetson Law Review, 2015

  • Publications and Speaking Engagements


    • Webinar Presenter, Intellectual Property Rights – What They Are and How to Protect Your Business, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (2024).
    • Panelist, Path to Federal Practice, Federal Bar Association, Cooley Law School Student Division (2024).
    • Guest Speaker, Journey to Esquire Podcast, From Judicial Intern to Judicial Law Clerk (2020).
    • Florida’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws: Mitigating Florida’s Housing Woes Through State-Encouraged Expansion of ADU Permitting, 46:3 Stetson L. Rev. 627 (2017).

  • SGR Publications

  • Press