USA – FLORIDA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Melissa Sims and Patrick Betar Berk, Merchant & Sims Berk, Merchant & Sims is a boutique insurance cov- erage law firm representing domestic and foreign in- surers throughout Florida. The diversity of the firm’s clients matches the diversity of its attorneys and gives the team a unique advantage in looking at disputes from a global perspective. Berk, Merchant & Sims’ goal is to work with clients to achieve their goals in a practical, efficient manner. Being Florida-based, the team recognises and understands how unique the lo- cal insurance market is and help clients to navigate
Alabama
Georgia
Tallahassee
Atlantic Ocean
Florida
Gulf of Mexico
it. Since 2005, Berk, Merchant & Sims attorneys have tried more than 50 first-party property insurance cov- erage matters and argued more than 50 appeals in Florida’s state and federal courts. Still, the team rec- ognises the need for swift and prompt resolution of disputes and works hard to position each file to reach a maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time. Berk, Merchant & Sims offers a breadth of experience in first- and third-party coverage, third-party liability, trial practice, appeals, bad faith, and insurance fraud.
Authors
Melissa Sims is the managing partner of Berk, Merchant & Sims. Melissa received a BA from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor from St Thomas University. She is admitted to the Louisiana State Bar and the
Patrick Betar is a partner with Berk, Merchant & Sims, who holds a BA degree from Rhodes College and received his Juris Doctor and MA from Syracuse University. Patrick focuses on first-party coverage
Florida Bar, as well as to all federal courts in Louisiana and Florida. Melissa has tried cases throughout Florida − many of which resulted in defence verdicts for her clients − and has presented on several insurance-related topics. Melissa’s areas of practice include commercial insurance coverage and litigation, first- and third-party insurance coverage litigation, insurance bad faith litigation, pre-suit property claims investigation, and construction defect claims.
insurance coverage matters, as well as construction defect claims and premises liability. Further, he has argued appeals before Florida’s appellate courts and its Supreme Court, as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Patrick is certified by the State of Florida as an instructor for insurance adjuster training and presents on ethics and the law.
Berk, Merchant & Sims 2 Alhambra Plaza Suite 700 Coral Gables FL 33134 USA Tel: +1 786 338 2900 Fax: +1 786 338 2888 Email: msims@berklawfirm.com Web: www.berklawfirm.com
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