Heather E. Ross

Biography:

An experienced trial and appellate lawyer, Heather Ross is a principal of the firm, which she joined in December 2016. Heather’s practice focuses on complex civil and criminal litigation, as well as guiding businesses and individuals through internal and government investigations. Heather is known for her strategic thinking and her creativity in achieving her clients’ goals. She has extensive experience in commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense, and employment disputes.

Since joining the firm, she has successfully represented medical practices facing health care fraud investigations, businesses in actions involving breach of contract, tortious interference and non-compete clauses, organizations and individuals in employment-related claims, and health care providers in professional regulation investigations. On the criminal side, Heather has obtained “no jail” sentences for clients accused of serious felonies and has achieved the dismissal of felonies with mandatory minimum sentences.

Prior to joining the firm, Heather spent fourteen years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont where she prosecuted numerous fraud and financial crimes, multi-state drug trafficking cases, and human trafficking cases from the investigation stage through trial, sentencing and appeal. Heather served as lead trial counsel in the only Vermont prosecution involving members of a Mexican drug cartel, successfully obtained the State’s first human trafficking conviction, and prosecuted the then-largest public sector fraud case in the Office. She oversaw the Asset Forfeiture Unit for five years and served as the Co-Chair of Vermont’s statewide Human Trafficking Task Force. Heather also trained law enforcement officers, health care providers, and other community stakeholders on using a trauma-informed approach in interviewing victims of sex trafficking and sexual assault.

Heather’s experience as a prosecutor, combined with her decades-long experience in employment law, makes her uniquely qualified to conduct sexual assault, sexual harassment, and race-based investigations for private and public institutions.

She began her career as the judicial clerk to the Honorable William K. Sessions III, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Vermont.

Heather is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for her work in Commercial Litigation. Additionally, she has been recognized since 2021 by the New England Super Lawyers for her work in Civil Litigation: Defense.