Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC
Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 786-338-2900
- Fax: 786-338-2888
- E-Mail: msims@berklawfirm.com
- Website: www.berklawfirm.com
Established: 2005
Practice Areas
- Bad Faith
- First Party Matters
- Third Party
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Defense
- Property
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
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- ACE/Chubb
- A. F. Beazley & Ors
- American Coastal Insurance Company
- American Strategic Insurance Company
- Amlin Group
- ArgoGlobal
- Ark Syndicate Management
- AXIS
- Brit Insurance Limited
- Capacity Insurance Company
- Chaucer Syndicates at Lloyd's, London
- Hiscox
- Infinity Insurance Company
- Lexington Insurance Company
- Liberty Syndicate Management Limited
- Markel International, Ltd.
- MetLife Insurance Company
- MS Amlin
- Nationwide Insurance
- Pure Insurance
- QBE Insurance Corporation
- Tokio Marine Kiln Group Limited
- Travelers of Florida
- Universal Insurance Company
- XL Catlin
Personnel Information
Of Counsel
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
Members of the Firm
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
Partners
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
Associates
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
Jennifer A. Tolston
Coral Gables, FL
- Telephone: 786-338-2865
Years of Experience: 24
Admitted
- Florida, 1997
- New York, 2000
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1998
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York
Education:
- University of Florida, B.A., 1993
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 1997
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
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