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Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC
2 Alhambra Plaza, Suite 700
Coral Gables, Florida 33134Locate in Google Maps
Telephone: 786-338-2900
Fax: 786-338-2888
E-Mail: wberk@berklawfirm.com
www.berklawfirm.com
Practice Areas
About Us
Client Information
Personnel
Established: 2005
Practice Areas
  • Bad Faith
  • First Party Matters
  • Third Party
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Defense
  • Property
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About Us
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 web site www.berklawfirm.com, or contact us at wberk@berklawfirm.com
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Client Information
Insurance Clients
ACE/ChubbA. F. Beazley & Ors
American Coastal Insurance CompanyAmerican Integrity Insurance Company
American Strategic Insurance CompanyAmlin Group
ArgoGlobalArgus Fire & Casualty Insurance Company
Ark Syndicate ManagementAXIS
Brit Insurance LimitedCapacity Insurance Company
Chaucer Syndicates at Lloyd's, LondonCitizens Property Insurance Corp.
Florida Intracoastal Underwriters, Ltd.Hiscox
Infinity Insurance CompanyLexington Insurance Company
Liberty Syndicate Management LimitedMarkel International, Ltd.
MetLife Insurance CompanyMS Amlin
Nationwide InsurancePure Insurance
QBE Insurance CorporationSouthern Fidelity Insurance Company
Tokio Marine Kiln Group LimitedTower Hill Insurance Company
Travelers of FloridaUniversal Insurance Company
Weston Insurance CompanyXL Catlin
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Personnel Information
Members of the Firm
William S. Berk
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 1982
  • U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
  • American (Torts and Insurance Practice Section) and Dade County Bar Associations
  • The Florida Bar
  • Dade County Defense Bar Association
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
Education:
  • Bowdoin College, A.B. (cum laude), 1979
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 1982
Born:1957
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Evelyn M. Merchant
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 1985
  • U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
  • American Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
  • Ft. Lauderdale Claims Association
  • Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Defense
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
Education:
  • Florida International University, B.S., 1978
  • Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., 1985
Born:1949
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Melissa M. Sims
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Louisiana, 1992
  • Florida, 1996
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
Memberships:
  • Federal, American (Torts and Insurance Practice Section) and Dade County Bar Associations
Education:
  • Louisiana State University, B.A., 1986
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D. (with honors), 1992
Born:1963
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Partners
Patrick E. Betar
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
Memberships:
  • American and Dade County Bar Associations
  • The Florida Bar
Education:
  • Rhodes College, B.A./B.A., 2001
  • Syracuse University College of Law, M.A., 2004
Born:1979
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Jonathan Tobin
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2009
Education:
  • College of the Holy Cross, B.A., 2005
  • Northeastern University School of Law, J.D., 2009
Born:1982
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Illon Kantro
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2006
Education:
  • American University, B.A., 2003
  • University of Miami, J.D., 2006
Born:1981
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Senior Attorney
William Xanttopoulos
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • New York, 1981
  • Florida, 1994
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second and Ninth Circuits
Memberships:
  • American Bar Association
Education:
  • University of the Pacific, B.A., 1976
  • The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1980
Born:1953
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Associates
Evan Brooks
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2009
Education:
  • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, B.A., 2005
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2009
Born:1982
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Perdita M. Martin
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
Education:
  • Florida International University, B.A., 1999
  • Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, J.D., 2004
Born:1972
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Steven J. Getman
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2009
Education:
  • Florida State University, B.S. Finance (Dean's List), 2004
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., 2008
Born:1983
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Ricardo J. Fernandez
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2014
Education:
  • University of Miami, B.A. Physiology (Dean's List), 2010
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2013
Born:1988
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Austin J. North
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2014
Education:
  • Boston University, B.A. Political Science, 2011
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2014
Born:1988
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Howard Brilliant
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2015
Education:
  • San Diego State University, B.A. Political Science, 2011
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2015
Born:1988
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Elizabeth Jimenez
Coral Gables, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2013
Education:
  • Florida International University, B.A. (cum laude), 2009
  • Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D. (Dean's List), 2013
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Joshua M. Salmon
Coral Gables, FL
Years of Experience:5
Admitted
  • Florida, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2015
Education:
  • Indiana State University, B.A., 2008
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2013
Born:1985
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Alan H. Swindoll
Coral Gables, FL
Years of Experience:3
Admitted
  • Florida, 2015
  • U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
Education:
  • Baylor University, B.A. Political Science (Dean's List), 2012
  • University of Florida, Levin College of Law, J.D. (Dean's List), 2015
Language:
  • Spanish
Born:1990
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Mark St. Vil
Coral Gables, FL
Years of Experience:4
Admitted
  • Florida, 2015
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2018
Education:
  • Florida A&M University, B.A. Political Science (magna cum laude), 2011
  • Florida A&M University College of Law, J.D., 2014
Language:
  • Haitian Creole
Born:1989
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Bruno A. Garofalo
Coral Gables, FL
Years of Experience:2
Admitted
  • Florida, 2016
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2017
Education:
  • Florida State University, B.A. Political Science (cum laude), 2011
  • American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 2015
Born:1989
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Andrew S. Genden
Coral Gables, FL
Years of Experience:5
Admitted
  • Florida, 2013
Education:
  • University of Miami, B.A. International Relations, 2008
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D. (Dean's List), 2013
Born:1985
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