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Address
2100 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Penthouse 1
Miami, Florida 33134 (Miami-Dade Co.)
Average Client Review Rating
Rating not available
Average Peer Review Rating
5.0
out of 5
(Main Office) Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC is a full service insurance firm providing assistance in coverage, liability and bad faith disputes. For additional information please visit our blog site, berklawfirm.blogspot.com, or contact us at wberk@berklawfirm.com. Statement of PracticeInsurance Coverage (1st and 3rd Party); Property Insurance; Bad Faith; Liability Defense; Commercial Litigation. Year Established: 2005
Firm Size: 13
Languages: Spanish.
Representative Clients:ACE European Group
ACE USA
AIG Domestic Claims
American Coastal Ins. Co.
American Integrity Insurance Group
American Strategic Insurance
Amlin Syndicates
Argenta Syndicates
Argus Fire & Casualty Insurance Co.
Assurant Group
ARI Insurance Company
Bankers Insurance Company
Beazley Syndicates
Brit Insurance
Canopius Syndicates
Capacity Insurance Company
Catlin Syndicate
Chaucer Syndicates
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
Clarendon Insurance Co.
FIGA
First Specialty Insurance Corporation
Florida Intracoastal Underwriters
General Star Management
Houston Casualty Ins. Co.
Indian Harbor Insurance Company
Kiln Syndicates
Landmark American Ins. Co.
Lexington Insurance Company
Liberty Syndicates
Limit Syndicates
MAP Syndicate
Markel International Insurance Company
Maxum Specialty Insurance Group
Mercury Insurance Company
MetLife Auto & Home
Munich Re
Nationwide Insurance Company
Novae Syndicates
One Beacon Insurance
Program Underwriters
QBE Insurance Corp.
St. Paul Syndicate Management
Southern Fidelity Ins. Co.
State Farm Insurance Company
Tower Hill Insurance Group
Travelers Property & Casualty
Travelers of Florida
Underwriters at Lloyds, London
USAA
Westchester Specialty Group
XL Insurance Company.
Address2100 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Penthouse 1
Miami, FL 33134, (Miami-Dade Co.)
PhonePhone: 786-338-2900
Fax: 786-338-2888
Website
http://www.berklawfirm.com
William S. Berk (Managing Member) born Miami Beach, Florida, December 1, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Bowdoin College (A.B., cum laude, 1979); University of Miami (J.D., 1982). Executive Editor, International Law Journal, University of Miami, 1982. Assistant State Attorney (Felony Division Chief), Dade County, Florida, 1982-1986. Certified Instructor, Florida Department of Financial Services. President, Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, 2002. Florida Windstorm Insurance Network 2007 Program Chair; Director, Florida Windstorm Insurance Network, 2007; Finalist, LexisNexis Insurance Law Center Insurer Attorney of the Year. Member: Dade County, Federal and American (Member, Torts and Insurance Practice Section) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Past Chairman, Grievance Committee; Past Chairman, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee); Florida Defense Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute; Dade County Defense Bar Association; Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Reported Cases: State Farm v. Gonzalez, 828 So. 2d 1021 (Fla. 2002); Banco Ficohsa v. Aseguradora, S.A. 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 11925 (Fla. App. 3 Dist. 2006); 224 W. Flagler Holdings, Inc. v. Terra Nova Ins. Co., 17 Fl. Law Weekly Fed. D444 (S.D. Fl. 2004); Saenz v. State Farm, 861 So. 2d 64 (Fla. App. 3 Dist. 2003); Solar Time Ltd. v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 142 Fed. Appx. 430 (11th Cir. 2005); Am. Reliance Ins. Co. v. Kiet, 703 So. 2d 1190 (Fla. App. 3 Dist. 1997); State Farm v. Middleton, 648 So. 2d 1200 (Fla. App. 3 Dist. 1995); Lopez v. Southern Coatings, 580 So. 2d 864 (Fla. App. 3 Dist. 1991); Quadomain Condominium Ass'n., Inc. v. QBE Insurance Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34972 (S.D. Fl. 2007); Tower 1515 Condominium Apts. Ass'n., Inc. v. QBE Insurance Corp., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 73401 (S.D. Fl. 2006); Hess v. Fidelity Nat'l Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2007 U.S. Dist LEXIS 10578 (N.D. Fl. 2007); Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Osting-Schwinn, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21844 (M.D. FL. 2006); Royal Marco Point 1 Condo Ass'n. v. QBE Insurance Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60940 (M.D. Fl. 2007); Chalfonte Condo. Apt. Ass'n. v. QBE Insurance Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91768 (S.D. Fl. 2007); Dorset House Condo. Ass'n. v. QBE Insurance Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62298 (S.D. Fl. 2007); Underwriters at Lloyd's v. El-Ad Villagio Condo. Ass'n., 2008 Fla. App. LEXIS 714 (4 DCA 2008); Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Osting-Schwinn, 545 F. Supp. 2d 1261 (M.D. FL. 2008); Bonafonte v. Lexington Ins. Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65794 (S.D. FL. 2008); Buckley Towers Condo. Ass'n. v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist. 56195 (S.D. FL. 2008); Mayfair House Condo. Ass'n. v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist. 66456 (S.D. FL. 2008); Vantage View, Inc. v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20938 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 3, 2009); Shaker Vill. Condo. Ass'n v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16483 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 18, 2009); Nirvana Condo. Ass'n v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100771 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 10, 2008); Underwriters at Lloyd's London v. Osting-Schwinn, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86786 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 30, 2008); Isola Condo. Ass'n v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101165 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 24, 2008); QBE Ins. Corp. v. Dome Condo. Ass'n, 577 F. Supp. 2d 1256 (S.D. Fla. 2008); Page v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34310 (S.D. Fla. April 15, 2009). Practice Areas: Property Insurance; First and Third Party Insurance Defense; First and Third Party Insurance Coverage; Insurance Bad Faith Litigation; Insurance Fraud; General Liability; Subrogation; Commercial Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance; Extra Contractual Insurance Claims; Fire Insurance; Insurance Contracts; Insurance Investigations; Insurance Litigation; Property Insurance Coverage.Email: William S. Berk
Evelyn M. Merchant (Member) born Rockland, Maine, June 19, 1949; admitted to bar, 1985, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Florida International University (B.S., 1978); Nova Southeastern University School of Law (J.D., 1985). Former Member, Board of Directors and Current Member, Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention; South Florida Claims Association; Former Member, Board of Directors, Children Genetic Disease Foundation; Board of Directors, Kids in Distress. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association; Florida Defense Lawyers Association; Ft. Lauderdale Claims Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Products Liability; Premises Liability; Arbitration; Appraisal.Email: Evelyn M. Merchant
Melissa M. Sims (Member) born Sulphur, Louisiana, October 28, 1963; admitted to bar, 1992, Louisiana; 1996, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida; 2006, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1986); St. Thomas University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1992). Member, Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention. Member: Dade County, Federal and American (Torts and Insurance Practice Section) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage Litigation; First Party Insurance; Insurance Bad Faith.
ASSOCIATESGilberto J. Barreto (Associate) born December 1, 1974; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Education: Valencia Community College (A.A., 1995); St. Thomas University (B.A., Sports Administration, 1997); University of Florida College of Law (J.D., 2002). Member: The Florida Bar. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Property Insurance Defense; General Liability Defense; Automobile Insurance Fraud Defense; Bad Faith; PIP (Personal Injury Protection); Automobile Defense.
Patrick Betar (Associate) born Glen Cove, New York, November 3, 1979; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida. Education: Rhodes College (B.A., International Relations and History, 2001); Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 2004); Syracuse University (M.A., Political Science, 2004). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association; Dade County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense(100%).
Seric J. Fallon (Associate) born Los Angeles, California, March 19, 1977; admitted to bar, 2007, Florida, U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 2008, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: Webster University (B.A., 1999); University of Miami (J.D., 2007). Member, International Moot Court Board. Member: Dade County, Coral Gables and American Bar Associations; American Society of International Law. Languages: Dutch. Practice Areas: Insurance; Commercial Law; Litigation.Email: Seric J. Fallon
Henrique Geigel (Associate) born Caracas, Venezuela; admitted to bar, 2008, Florida. Education: Universidad Catolica Andrés Bello (J.D., Abogado, 2004); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 2008). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance; First and Third Party Insurance; Insurance Coverage.
Melanie Grant (Associate) born Kingston, Jamaica, October 27, 1977; admitted to bar, 2006, Florida; 2007, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Education: Florida A. & M. University (B.S., cum laude, 1999); University of Miami (J.D., 2006). Phi Alpha Delta. International Moot Court Team. Recipient, Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton Litigation Skills Scholarship. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense.
Scott Janowitz (Associate) born Miami, Florida; admitted to bar, 2006, Florida; 2009, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: Carnegie Mellon University (B.S., 1999); University of Miami (J.D., 2005). Assistant State Attorney, Broward County, Florida, 2006-2009. Practice Areas: First and Third Party Insurance Defense(100%).Email: Scott Janowitz
Diana Carolina Lopez (Associate) born Medellin, Colombia, November 5, 1981; admitted to bar, 2008, Florida. Education: New York University (B.A., Political Science and History, 2003; A.A., Judaic History and Civilization, 2003); University of California, Hastings College of Law (J.D., 2007). Member, Moot Court. Honorable Mention for Oral Argument, 2005. Erasmus Scholar Exchange Program, Bocconi University, 2007. Member: The Florida Bar. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Insurance; Litigation; Commercial Law; International Law.
Maria Loredo (Associate) born Cuba, September 29, 1962; admitted to bar, 1995, Florida; 2001, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida and U. S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Miami School of Nursing (B.S.N., 1984); St. Thomas University School of Law (J.D., 1992). Registered Nurse, Florida, 1985. Licensed Health Care Risk Manager, 1996. Member: Dade County and Cuban American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Insurance Defense; Nursing Home Litigation.Email: Maria Loredo
Sorraya M. Solages (Associate) born 1978; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Education: University of Central Florida (B.A., 1999); Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center (J.D., 2002). Editor-in-Chief, Nova Law Review, 2001-2002. Judicial Clerk to the Hon. Robert M. Gross, Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. Co-Author, Cross Appeals in Civil Cases, Florida Bar Journal, June 2006. Member: Dade County Bar Association (Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Section); American Bar Association (Delegate to ABA/YLD Assembly, 2006-2007). Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Insurance.
Capri Trigo (Associate) born December 3, 1974; admitted to bar, 2001, New Jersey; 2002, New York; 2004, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 2006, Florida. Education: Lehigh University (B.A., 1997); Nova Southeastern University (J.D., 2001). Languages: Spanish.
Ratings Methodology
The following firm members have been rated by their peersDisclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Any result that the endorsed lawyer or law firm may achieve on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate that similar results can be obtained for other clients. Past success cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merits. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Martindale-Hubbell® does not undertake to develop a Client Review Rating or Peer Review Rating for all firms and/or lawyers. Therefore, the fact that a firm or lawyer has not been reviewed should not be construed as unfavorable. Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for and will not be liable for the content and accuracy of the individual Reviews and the aggregated Reviews.
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