Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys

General Defense

Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC

• Telephone: 786-338-2900
• Fax: 786-338-2888
• E-Mail: wberk@berklawfirm.com
• Website: www.berklawfirm.com

Established: 2005

• Practice Areas
• About Us
• Client Information
• Personnel

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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

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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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