Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

William S. Berk

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2851

Years of Experience: 40

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

Evelyn M. Merchant

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2879

Years of Experience: 37

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

Melissa M. Sims

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2878

Years of Experience: 30

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

Patrick E. Betar

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2877

Years of Experience: 17

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

Jonathan Tobin

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2877

Years of Experience: 13

Admitted

• Florida, 2009

Education:

• College of the Holy Cross, B.A., 2005
• Northeastern University School of Law, J.D., 2009

Illon Kantro

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2879

Years of Experience: 16

Admitted

• Florida, 2006

Education:

• American University, B.A., 2003
• University of Miami, J.D., 2006

Ricardo J. Fernandez

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2884

Years of Experience: 8

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

Judith B. Goldstein

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2876

Years of Experience: 24

Admitted

• Florida, 2018
• Ohio

Education:

• The Ohio State University, B.S. (cum laude), 1995
• Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 1998

Laura C. Tapia

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2872

Years of Experience: 30

Admitted

• Florida, 1992

Education:

• University of Miami, B.A./B.B.A. (Dean's List), 1988
• Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 1992

Sarah B. Van Schoyck

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786.687.2353

Years of Experience: 13

Admitted

• Florida, 2009
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
• Florida Court of Appeals

Education:

• Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 2009

Perdita M. Martin

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2884

Years of Experience: 18

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

Austin J. North

Coral Gables, FL

Years of Experience: 8

Admitted

• Florida, 2014

Education:

• Boston University, B.A. Political Science, 2011
• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2014

Andrew S. Genden

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2876

Years of Experience: 9

Admitted

• Florida, 2013

Education:

• University of Miami, B.A. International Relations, 2008
• St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D. (Dean's List), 2013

Christopher J. Tracey

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2856

Years of Experience: 1

Admitted

• Florida, 2021

Education:

• Florida State University, B.S. Finance, 2010
• St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., 2021

Michael N. Pitsoulakis

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2868

Years of Experience: 3

Admitted

• Florida, 2019

Education:

• Florida International University, B.A. Political Science (cum laude, Dean's List), 2015
• Florida International University College of Law, J.D., 2018

Howard D. Brilliant

Coral Gables, FL

• Telephone: 786-338-2895

Years of Experience: 7

Admitted

• Florida, 2015
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Education:

• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2015

Kenneth B. Ejene

Coral Gables, FL

Years of Experience: 5

Admitted

• Florida, 2018

Education:

• Florida Atlantic University, B.A., 2010
• Barry University School of Law, J.D., 2016

Grant A. Chiappelli

Coral Gables, FL

Years of Experience: 1

Admitted

• Florida, 2024

Education:

• University of Florida, B.A. Political Science (Dean's List), 2020
• University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (Dean's List, Academic and Dean's Scholarships), 2023