1996, State of Florida

2004, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

2007, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

University of Florida, Levin College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1995)

University of Florida (B.A., magna cum laude, 1992)

Viviana Varela

Viviana Varela joined Wicker Smith’s Miami office as a partner in 2025. Her practice is focused on the defense of complex medical malpractice matters and general liability cases for hospitals and a variety of other healthcare facilities.

Viviana has been a trial attorney for nearly 30 years. In her early career, she gained invaluable courtroom experience as a county prosecutor, where she tried more than 40 felony cases to verdict. She went on to a successful career as a civil defense litigator, working at several of the most prestigious firms in Miami in a variety of practice areas, including employment and worker’s compensation disputes, premises and general liability claims, and medical malpractice litigation.

Today, Viviana represents hospitals, allied health facilities, and medical providers in medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims. She is frequently called upon to handle cases with significant damages and potential exposure, and is adept at resolving these claims well in advance of trial. Additionally, Viviana has also represented clients in appellate matters pending in Florida’s First, Second, and Third District Courts of Appeal.

Viviana is dedicated to giving her time and attention to organizations within her community. At her previous firm, she served as the Co-Chair of the Women’s Committee, where she provided mentorship and support to the female lawyers in the firm. She is also a past Vice-Chair of The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Advertising, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association, and a past member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Legal Services.

When she isn’t working, Viviana is attending her teenage sons’ theatre productions and baseball games, trying new recipes for her family and friends, or travelling. She has visited 5 of the 7 continents and it is her dream to travel to all of them with her husband and sons.

The Florida Bar

Miami-Dade County Bar Association

Catholic Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami