Partner: Litigation Chair
After graduating from law school in Boston, Karen McManus Rich headed to her parents’ Florida beach condo to escape distractions and study for both the Massachusetts and Florida Bar Exams. She sat for both exams over three consecutive days and passed each on her first attempt. By the time she flew back to Boston for the third day of testing, Karen knew she wanted to return to Florida to begin her legal career. She did—and never looked back.
Karen began her career as a criminal prosecutor, gaining extensive courtroom and trial experience. Over the next twenty-five years, she built an extensive civil litigation practice representing healthcare providers and businesses in matters involving long-term care, wrongful death, negligence, premises liability, employment, regulatory defense, healthcare compliance, and business disputes.
Karen recently entered a new chapter in her career, becoming a Partner and Litigation Chair at Garbacz Zlotowitz Rich LLP, where she launched and leads the firm’s Florida litigation practice. Working alongside a multidisciplinary team, she provides clients access to comprehensive legal services ranging from mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions to complex litigation. Karen is also a certified mediator and serves as ADR Chair for the St. Petersburg Bar Association.
Karen combines her litigation skills and mediation expertise to develop cases early, meaningfully evaluate risk, and pursue alternative dispute resolution when appropriate—conserving client resources before shifting to zealous trial preparation when necessary.
Outside her practice, Karen serves on the Board of Directors of the Ali Spears Foundation, supporting families facing pediatric cancer, and was honored as a Tampa Bay Titan 100 in 2025 and 2026. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, paddleboarding, and yoga.
For Karen, the greatest measure of success came when longtime clients chose to continue with her as she launched GZR’s Florida litigation practice.
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