×
Go back to Martindale-Avvo ➔

Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional AssociationPartner
Bud Kirk
Pro

Bud Kirk

5.0
1 review

300 South Orange Avenue, P.O. Box 1873, Orlando, FL 32801

Commercial Litigation, Product Liability, Professional Liability and 3 more

About Bud Kirk

One of the firm’s founders, Bud Kirk concentrates his practice in the areas of product liability, commercial litigation and professional liability.

A significant portion of Bud’s practice is devoted to the representation of clients in commercial litigation matters. He represents clients in commercial cases including those involving claims of contract breach, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and professional malfeasance. Among his clients are local and nationally known companies in the fields of law, accounting, real estate development and communications.

A seasoned trial lawyer with a national reputation, Bud’s product liability practice centered on high profile cases in which plaintiffs seek recovery of millions of dollars. He represented domestic and foreign manufacturers of passenger cars and trucks throughout the United States, as well as manufacturers in the aviation and heavy equipment industry. Bud represented clients in hostile territory in Florida and throughout the United States including Louisiana, Wisconsin, Maine, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

Bud’s decades of defending professionals in the legal and accounting fields against malpractice claims earned him the moniker of the “Lawyer’s Lawyer.”

In 1996, Bud’s prowess in the courtroom was recognized by The National Law Journal in its annual edition of “Winning” which highlights ten top litigators in the country. Bud was asked to share his strategies for achieving success in the courtroom which he did in the article featuring him, “In Hostile Territory, Show You Trust the Jury.” In 1999, he was recognized by The National Law Journal again as being one of the “Top Litigators.” He has since been recognized for his advocacy skills in numerous articles and publications, including designation by Florida Trend magazine as one of the “Top Defense Counsel.” In 2010, Bud was named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Central Florida Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and as a “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of personal injury litigation-defendants for Orlando by Best Lawyers in America in 2013 and 2018.

Recognized for his successful trial career, Bud was inducted as a fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious by-invitation-only organization composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada.

In February of 1991, Bud was appointed by former President George H. W. Bush to the Board of Directors of the Legal Service Corporation which administers nearly a half billion dollars to programs throughout the United States rendering legal services to the poor. He served in that position for three years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and is a former member of the International Association of Defense Counsel.

Within the firm, Bud formerly served on the Executive Committee and as Managing Partner for thirteen years. In addition to his professional activities, Bud is active in the community in the After School Outreach program for Howard Middle School children. For many years, he served as a member of the Board of Directors for WMFE, the local public radio and television stations. He is also a member of Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

Following graduation from law school, Bud served as an assistant professor teaching courses in real property, legislation and water law.

Community

•WMFE Board of Directors

Former member, Board of Directors

•Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council
•University Club
•Board of Directors, 2007-Present

Certifications

•AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Awards & Honors

•Best Lawyers 'Lawyer of the Year' for Personal Injury- Defendants in Orlando, 2013, 2018, 2025
•Listed in Best Lawyers in America. Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants; Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance. 2010-2026
•Listed in Florida Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2006-2018, 2020
•Listed in Florida Trend Legal Elite 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013
•Listed in Who's Who Legal of Product Liability Defense Lawyers 2009, 2010
•2010 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Central Florida Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
•Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for General Commercial Litigation

Articles & Presentations

•Speaker, Orange County Bar Association Member Perks, November 2020
•Florida Trend article “Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite” - Spotlighted - July 2004 and July 2005
•Florida Trend article regarding the top defense litigators - Spotlighted - February 2004
•In Hostile Territory, Show You Trust Jury,” in The National Law Journal’s annual edition of “Winning,” which presents the top ten litigators in the nation and their strategies for success in the courtroom - Featured in article - May 1996
•Justice Holmes and the Trial Lawyer: Malicious Prosecution, Bad Faith and . . . Excellence,” - Co-author - 1981
•Public Finance: New Test for Public Purpose,” - Author - 1967

Bud's News and Insights

08.21.2025
Firm News

28 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America

Dan Gerber and Leonard Dietzen Named “Lawyer of the Year;”...

08.15.2024
Firm News

Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys

Two Named “Lawyer of the Year” and Two Named “Ones...

08.17.2023
Firm News

Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys with Managing Partner Frank Sheppard Named Lawyer of the Year

ORLANDO, FL - August 17, 2023 - Best Lawyers has...

03.01.2023
Beyond the Bio

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Honoring a Legend of Our Own

A Closer Look at RumbergerKirk’s First Female Attorney - Lori...

08.19.2022
Firm News

23 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2023

Orlando, Fla., August 18, 2022 - RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

08.19.2021
Firm News

Eighteen RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2022

ORLANDO - August 19, 2021 - RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

06.24.2021
Firm News

Florida Super Lawyers Names RumbergerKirk Attorneys to 2021 List

Three Attorneys Named “Rising Stars” RumbergerKirk is pleased to announce...

11.04.2020
Events

Bud Kirk Speaks at Orange County Bar Association Member Perks Virtual Event

One of the firm’s founders and Board Certified Civil Trial...

08.20.2020
Firm News

18 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2021

ORLANDO, FL - August 20, 2020 - Eighteen RumbergerKirk attorneys...

06.04.2020
Firm News

Florida Super Lawyers Names RumbergerKirk Attorneys to 2020 List

FLORIDA - June 4, 2020 - RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

 

Bud Kirk (Orlando, 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.

Bud Kirk 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 Bud Kirk

This lawyer does not have any client reviews on Lawyers.com yet

Write a Review

Services

Areas of Law

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Professional Liability
  • Other 4
    • Product Liability
    • Aviation and Aerospace
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Manufacturing

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Partner
    Firm Name
    Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional Association

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1968, Florida
    U.S. District Courts of Florida (Northern, Middle, Southern)
    Memberships

    Professional

    •American College of Trial Lawyers
    •Florida State Committee Member
    •Orange County Bar Association
    •Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel
    •American Board of Trial Advocates
    •Society of Automotive Engineers
    •Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
    •Legal Services Corporation - Board of Directors (1991-1993)
    •Federal Defense Lawyers Association, Committee on Equal Justice - Chairman, Board of Directors (1991-1992)
    •Defense Research Institute - Florida State Chairman (1986-1988)
    •Florida Defense Lawyers Association - Board of Directors, (1982-1989)
    •Lawyers for Equal Justice - Past Chairman of Board of Directors

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    University of Florida, College of Law
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Stetson University
    B.A.
    Social Science

Email Bud Kirk

Case type is required.
I am is required.
First name is required.
Last name is required.
A valid zip code is required.
Country is required.
State is required.
A valid city is required.
A valid email address is required.
A valid phone number is required.
Message is required.
0/1000 characters

By clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Lawyers.com and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. See Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Thank you! Your message has been successfully sent.

For your records, a copy of this email has been sent to test@test.com.

Summary of Your Message
Case Type:
I am a/an:
First Name:
Last Name:
City:
Zip Code or Postal Code:
State:
Country:
Phone Number:
Message:
Return to Profile Reset Form

Attorneys FAQs

  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional Association has 87 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Bud Kirk attended University of Florida, College of Law.
  • Does this attorney maintain any other responsibilities in the firm outside of legal work?
    Bud Kirk is the Managing Partner of the firm.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional Association was established in 1978.

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.

These FAQs include information about a lawyer's background, but do not evaluate their knowledge of the law, past performance on individual cases, personality, or communication skills.

It is solely the responsibility of lawyers and law firms to ensure that any information they provide complies with all applicable laws and rules of professional conduct.

You should be aware that the information we rely upon may not be comprehensive, or frequently updated.

Always research the lawyer further to get a better understanding of their license credentials, disciplinary status, background, and experience.

Lawyers.com Client Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.

The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.

Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page

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.

Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.

For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™, please visit our Ratings Page on Martindale.com and our Frequently Asked Questions