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Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLCManaging Member/ Founding Partner
Melissa M. Sims
Pro

Melissa M. Sims

5.0
11 reviews

2 Alhambra Plaza, Suite 700, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Insurance Defense, Insurance Coverage Litigation, First Party Insurance and 1 more

About Melissa M. Sims

Member, Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, Windstorm Insurance Network.

Melissa M. Sims (Coral Gables, Florida) View website

Awards

AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Melissa M. Sims got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for Melissa

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Overall Rating
5.0
See All Reviews
11
Lawyers.com
Not yet reviewed
5.0
Martindale
11
Avvo
Not yet reviewed

Services

Areas of Law

  • Insurance Defense
  • Insurance 1
    • Insurance Bad Faith
  • Other 2
    • Insurance Coverage Litigation
    • First Party Insurance

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Managing Member/ Founding Partner
    Firm Name
    Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Solar Time Ltd. v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 142 Fed. Appx. 430 (11th Cir. 2005)
    Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Osting-Schwinn, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21844 (M.D. FL. 2006)
    Royal Marco Point 1 Condo Assn. v. QBE Insurance Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS (M.D. Fl. 2007)
    Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Osting-Schwinn, 545 F. Supp. 2d 1261 (M.D. FL. 2008)
    Buckley Towers Condo. Assn. v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist. 56195 (S.D. FL. 2008)
    Nirvana Condo. Assn. 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. Assn. v. QBE Ins. Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101165 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 24, 2008).
  • Additional Links
    http://www.berklawfirm.com

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1992, Louisiana
    1996, Florida
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Louisiana
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
    U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    2006, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
    Memberships
    Dade County, Federal and American (Torts and Insurance Practice Section) Bar Associations.
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    St. Thomas University School of Law
    Class of 1992
    J.D.
    with honors
    Other Education
    Louisiana State University
    Class of 1986
    B.A.

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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    Melissa M. Sims was admitted in 1992 to the State of Louisiana.
  • Is this attorney admitted to the bar in more than one state?
    Yes, Melissa M. Sims is admitted to practice in Florida and Louisiana.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rated?
    Yes, Melissa M. Sims has a 5.0 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Melissa M. Sims attended St. Thomas University School of Law.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC was established in 2005.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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Martindale Peer Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.

What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*

• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.

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