Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts



Marshall Dennehey, P.C.

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense


2400 East Commercial Boulevard, Suite 1100, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308

Established: 2002

Practice Areas

  • Accountants' Professional Liability
  • Affordable Care Act
  • Amusements, Sports and Recreation Liability
  • Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Aviation and Complex Litigation
  • Behavioral Health Risk and Liability
  • Birth and Catastrophic Injury Litigation
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Consumer Financial Services Litigation & Compliance
  • COVID-19/Coronavirus
  • Disciplinary Board Representation
  • Electronic Medical Record and Audit Trail Litigation
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation
  • Fraud/Special Investigation
  • General Liability
  • Health Care Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
  • Intellectual Property, Technology and Media Litigation
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Long-Term Care Liability
  • Maritime Litigation
  • Medicare Set-Aside
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • New York Construction and Labor Law
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Litigation
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Product Liability
  • Property Litigation
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Rideshare Liability
  • School Leaders' Liability
  • Securities and Investments Professional Liability
  • Social Services & Human Services Liability
  • Telehealth and Telemedicine
  • Trucking and Transportation Liability
  • White Collar Crime
  • Workers' Compensation

Video Profile


About Us

Unparalleled Growth

Marshall Dennehey, P.C., was founded in 1962. We are very gratified that our growth, much of which has been client-driven, enables us to make available to our clients more than 500 lawyers working out of 20 offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Florida and New York.

Exclusively Defense

We are exclusively a defense litigation firm with our professional practices encompassing a broad spectrum of litigation matters.

Complex Litigation Experience

Members of our firm have considerable experience handling high-profile and complex litigation, including class actions and mass tort matters.

Regional Presence

The regional presence of our firm affords many advantages to our clients. One client detailed some of these advantages in the publication Of Counsel, where he expressed appreciation of our firm's strategic locations in areas where his company has stores. He praised our ability to handle a wide variety of claims, ranging from fall downs and car damage claims to complex product liability matters. In addition to the six states in which we maintain our offices, we handle many litigation matters in West Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky.

Regional Office Statistics

Nearly 60 percent of our attorneys work in our 19 satellite offices. This statistic underscores the importance of our regional offices to our clients, as well as to our firm. Clients report to us that they are comfortable entering into region-wide arrangements for our representation knowing that we are well staffed in these offices. All of our offices are linked via an Intranet and a firm-wide file management system and library. The attorneys at these locations are native to the area, have a good rapport with and knowledge of local judges and opposing attorneys, and are familiar with the population of potential jurors.

Attorneys Selected by Clients

With more than 500 attorneys on staff, clients have a great deal of legal talent from which to choose. As one of the firm's clients said in Of Counsel, "Their attitude is tremendous. If I say I want a particular attorney on a matter, I have that attorney. If I say I want a conference with the attorney, a conference is arranged."

Minority Hiring

In surveys conducted by The National Law Journal and The Legal Intelligencer, our firm was identified, both on a national and a regional level, as one of the leading large law firms in the categories of minority hiring and advancement. We are especially proud of our minority shareholders and their vitally important roles in the management of our firm.

Peer Ratings

The experience of our firm and our attorneys has been recognized by our peers. At the present time, we have a significantly large number of peer-review rated attorneys as recognized by Martindale-Hubbell, a LexisNexis company. The lawyers of our firm are also recognized in Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys, as published by AM Best Company. We also have in our ranks lawyers who have been elected as Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers and Fellows of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. In addition, many of our lawyers appear in the Super Lawyers publications in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, New York and Florida. As well, a number of our lawyers have also been listed in Best Lawyers in America.

Regional & National Coordinating Counsel

We are privileged to serve as Regional Coordinating Counsel and National Coordinating Counsel for a number of major corporations.

Internal Auditing

In 1985, the firm started an internal auditing program that draws upon the expertise of former claims managers and senior attorneys. This program received national attention in an article about innovative law firm management practices appearing in The National Law Journal.

Successful Business Model

In an article appearing in The Legal Intelligencer dealing with the challenges and opportunities for insurance defense firms, it was stated that our firm has clearly dominated the Philadelphia marketplace. In support of that statement, it was noted that the firm has grown dramatically in the past decade and has maintained a healthy shareholder-associate ratio. It was further discussed that major insurance carriers are attracted to our firm through its extensive use of technology as well as the numerous offices we have established throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and Florida. A noted legal consultant with Altman Weil, recommended in this article that some other defense litigation law firms "need to adopt the Marshall Dennehey model" in response to the changing needs and expectations of the insurance industry.

Central Diary System

All of the litigation files entrusted to us are on an electronic diary system that is designed to ensure that action has been taken by the handling attorney on all of his or her files within the past 90 days. Our monthly monitoring of this program discloses a 97-percent compliance rate, and any need for updated attorney reporting or action is immediately addressed. We have further refined this system o provide alerts to our attorneys when a certain percentage of the agreed-to litigation budget has been reached, affording the client and the handling attorney the opportunity to consider the options open to them at that juncture.

Legal Research Supervision

We have a very focused and cost-efficient approach to legal research. Our Manager of Legal Research and Legal Information Services is a practicing attorney well-versed in law firm technology and efficient research techniques.

Measured Performance

It is significant to note that our firm's Case Disposition Program enables us to develop statistics reflecting levels of performance in such areas as case cycle times, indemnity payments made, litigation expenses and case outcomes, which can be broken down by law type and jurisdiction.

Breaking Legal Developments

Since 1992, we have provided our clients with our firm's comprehensive newsletter, Defense Digest. During that time, we have never missed a deadline, ensuring that our clients can consistently rely upon us for advice about legal developments, as well as giving them the benefit of our analysis and practical recommendations. We also advise our clients of breaking legal developments through our quarterly electronic newsletter Law Alerts, and provide our workers' compensation clients with a monthly update, What's Hot in Workers' Comp.

ADR Commitment

We are strongly committed to alternative dispute resolution vehicles. We are an original signatory to the Law Firm Policy Statement of the Center for Public Resources, Inc.'s Initiatives on Alternatives to Litigation.

Published Works

The expertise and professional commitment of our attorneys is evidenced by the fact that they have had hundreds of articles published in such publications as For The Defense, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly, The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, The PLUS Journal, Pennsylvania CPA Journal, The Florida Bar News, New Jersey Law Journal, Hospital & Healthcare News, Daily Business Review, Financial Advisor Magazine, Litigation Management, New Jersey Defense, National Law Journal, New York Law Journal, Ohio Lawyer, Orlando Medical News, The Florida Defender, Risk & Insurance and Risk Management. To see more of our published articles, visit our Publications page.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

Significantly, the several large annual contract fee and global contract fee arrangements into which we have entered with some of our larger clients have been renewed on an annual basis, clearly evidencing that these arrangements are beneficial to our clients and sufficiently profitable for our firm. Other forms of alternative pricing are also available.


Additional Locations

  • New Haven, Connecticut
  • Granite Square, Suite 303
  • 700 State Street
  • New Haven, Connecticut 06511
    • Telephone: 203-714-4560
  • Wilmington, Delaware
  • Nemours Building
  • 1007 North Orange Street, Suite 600
  • P.O. Box 8888 (19801)
  • Wilmington, Delaware 19801
    • Telephone: 302-552-4300
    • Fax: 302-552-4340
  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • 200 West Forsyth Street, Suite 1400
  • Jacksonville, Florida 32202
    • Telephone: 904-358-4200
    • Fax: 904-355-0019
  • Orlando, Florida
  • Landmark Center One
  • 315 East Robinson Street, Suite 550
  • Orlando, Florida 32801-1948
    • Telephone: 407-420-4380
    • Fax: 407-839-3008
  • Tampa, Florida
  • 201 East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1100
  • Tampa, Florida 33602
    • Telephone: 813-898-1800
    • Fax: 813-221-5026
  • Mount Laurel, New Jersey
  • 15000 Midlantic Drive, Suite 200
  • P.O. Box 5429 (08054)
  • Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
    • Telephone: 856-414-6000
    • Fax: 856-414-6077
  • Roseland, New Jersey
  • 425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 302
  • Roseland, New Jersey 07068
    • Telephone: 973-618-4100
    • Fax: 973-618-0685
  • Melville, New York
  • 175 Pinelawn Road, Suite 250
  • Melville, New York 11747
    • Telephone: 631-232-6130
    • Fax: 631-232-6184
  • New York, New York
  • Wall Street Plaza
  • 88 Pine Street, 21st Floor
  • New York, New York 10005-1801
    • Telephone: 212-376-6400
    • Fax: 212-376-6490
  • Westchester, New York
  • 287 Bowman Avenue, Suite 404
  • Purchase, New York 10577
    • Telephone: 914-977-7300
    • Fax: 914-977-7301
  • Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 312 Elm Street, Suite 1850
  • Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
    • Telephone: 513-372-6800
    • Fax: 513-372-6801
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • 127 Public Square, Suite 3510
  • Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1291
    • Telephone: 216-912-3800
    • Fax: 216-344-9006
  • Erie, Pennsylvania
  • 717 State Street, Suite 701
  • Erie, Pennsylvania 16501
    • Telephone: 814-480-7800
    • Fax: 814-455-3603
  • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • 100 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 201
  • Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
    • Telephone: 717-651-3500
    • Fax: 717-651-9630
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • The Union Trust Building
  • 501 Grant Street, Suite 700
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
    • Telephone: 412-803-1140
    • Fax: 412-803-1188
  • Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • 50 Glenmaura National Boulevard
  • Moosic, Pennsylvania 18507
    • Telephone: 570-496-4600
    • Fax: 570-496-0567

Personnel Information

Managing Attorney


Michael A. Packer

Co-Chair, Insurance Services Practice Group

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • COVID-19/Coronavirus
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice
Admitted
  • Florida, 1997
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2007
Additional Biographical Details:

AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®; South Florida Legal Guide (Top Lawyers in Insurance Litigation Defense, 2016-2017, 2019-2021; Top Lawyers in Insurance Litigation, 2014; Top Lawyers, 2013); Florida Trend's Legal Elite - Top Up and Comer, 2012; American Conference Institute Bad Faith Litigation Conference, Co-Chair and Lecturer, 2012; American Conference Institute Litigation Conference Lecturer, 2011; Classes/Seminars Taught: "Investigating a Claim Under a Reservation of Rights - Strategies for Managing Claims that May Not be Covered," Florida Defense Lawyers Association’s Florida Liability Claims Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL, June 16, 2022; "What You Need to Know After you Go - Parts 1 and 2," CLM Claims College School of Property - Level 1 - Coverage and "Current Issues and Case Law Affecting the Property Claims Arena," CLM Claims College School of Property - Level 3, Virtual 2021; "Covid 19: To Be Property Damage or Not to Be Property Damage," CLM, January 2021; "Insurance Coverage and Bad-Faith Insurance Issues Under Florida Law," Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - The Best Defense is a Good Offense, Orlando, FL, September 17, 2014; "Protecting Your Clients' Interest During Settlement," WIND Conference, 2013

Memberships:
  • American Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
  • Florida WIND (2012-2013)
  • Defense Research Institute
Publications:
  • Author: "What Florida's 'Omnibus Insurance Bill' Means for the Duty to Defend, Appraisal Process," Insurance Journal, June 17, 2019
  • "Relief in Sight for Florida's Assignment of Benefits Crisis," Daily Business Review, May 7, 2019
  • "Constant or Repeated Seepage Over a Period of 14 Days or More," Defense Digest, Vol. 24, No. 2, June 2018
  • "Solving One of the Greatest Mysteries of Florida Property Law-Florida's Valued Policy Law," Defense Digest, Vol. 22, No. 1, March 2016
  • "Bill Would Change How Mitigation Companies Do Business," Daily Business Review, March 3, 2015
  • "Make Effective Mediation Your New Year's Resolution," Claims Journal, Windstorm Conference Edition, January 2015
  • "Why Insurers Shouldn't Produce Claims Files in Florida," Claims Journal, September 2014
  • Regular Contributor: Case Law Alerts, 2015-Present
Education:
  • State University of New York at Albany, B.A., 1994
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1997

Born: 1972


Special Counsel


Karene L. Tygenhof

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Employment Law
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
Admitted
  • Florida, 2004
  • Colorado, 2019
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:
  • Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County and Denver Bar Associations
Education:
  • Florida Atlantic University, B.A. (cum laude), 1996
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2004

Of Counsel


Stephen J. Poljak

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
Admitted
  • Florida, 2010
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1989
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2010
Memberships:
  • Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations
Publications:
  • Author: "Bad Faith Statute Extended to Insurer's Conduct Before, During, or After Litigation," Defense Digest, Dec. Vol. 5, No. 6, 1999
  • "Failure to Defend May Not Bind Insurer to Pay Claim," Defense Digest, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1999
  • "Third Party Permitted to Sue Insured Despite the Absence of an 'Actual Trial'," Defense Digest, Vol. 4, No. 5, 1998
  • "The Rights of Innocent Co-Insureds Under a Joint Policy," Pennsylvania Law Weekly, July 7, 1998
  • "Sustaining Quality of Life for Patients with Terminal Illness," (Dr. Cyril Wecht, Editor), Legal Medicine, 1986
Education:
  • Duquesne University, B.A., 1979
  • Duquesne University, M.A., 1980
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1987

Resident Shareholders


Kimberly Kanoff Berman

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice
Admitted
  • Florida, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2011
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2013
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2019
Additional Biographical Details:

Florida Supreme Court Historical Society (Board of Trustees, 2017-Present); Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society (2007-Present; Past President, 2015-2016); Adjunct Faculty: Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad College of Law (2014-2015); Ave Maria School of Law (2009-2013); Adjunct Faculty/Mock Trial Team Coach, St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami Gardens, FL (2008-2011); AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®; Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2015-2019-2020; South Florida Legal Guide: Top Up and Comers, 2020; Top Lawyer, Appellate Law, 2021; Classes/Seminars Taught: "Insurer Malpractice Claims Against Defense Counsel: Recognizing, Defending, and Preventing Potential Claims - Common Errors and Strategies for Avoiding Them," Panelist, Strafford CLE Webinar, January 24, 2023; "Brief Writing for the Third DCA," Moderator, Florida Bar's Appellate Practice Section's Practicing Before the Florida Third District Court of Appeal 2022 CLE Seminar, Miami, FL, October 28, 2022; "Preventing Defective Jury Instructions In Personal Injury Trials: Leveraging Errors on Appeal - Part III Common Objections," Panelist, Strafford CLE Webinar, September 7, 2022; "UNprecedented, Summarily: A Podcast for Busy Lawyers," June 23, 2022; "Punitive Damages and Interlocutory Appeals," Panelist, Miami-Dade Bar Miami Law Con, April 22, 2022; "Everything Old is New Again Series - A Conversation with the Judiciary: Challenges and Opportunities in the Changing Landscape of Appellate Practice," Co-Host/Moderator, Florida Bar Winter Meeting Virtual CLE, Guardian ad Litem Program and Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, January 26, 2022; "56 Feds are Coming: Strategies Using the Upcoming Florida Summary Judgment Standard," Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, January 15, 2021; "The Great Font Debate," Issues on Appeal Podcast, January 2021; "Hidden Essentials of Appellate Law," Co-Chair, Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, West Palm Beach, FL, February 2019; "Understanding Hearsay and Keeping Evidence Out (Pre and Post Trial)," The Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit, National Business Institute, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2017

Memberships:
  • The Florida Bar (Appellate Practice Section; Pro Bono Committee Chair, 2021; Executive Council 2016-Present; Legislative Committee Vice Chair, 2018-2020; Programs Committee Chair, 2015-2018)
  • Broward County and Dade County Bar Associations
  • Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2009-2013)
  • Rosemary Barkett American Appellate Inn of Court
Publications:
  • Author: "A Not-So-Little Problem With Precedent: Intra-District Conflict in Florida District Courts of Appeal," Florida Bar Journal, December 15, 2022
  • "Punitive Damage Amendments Soon Subject to Immediate Interlocutory Appeal," Daily Business Review, February 9, 2022
  • "How I Made Partner: I Opened the Door to Partnership by Becoming an Appellate Specialist, Says Kimberly Berman of Marshall Dennehey," Law.com, May 4, 2021
  • "Senate Bill 72 May Be Effective 'Vaccine' Against COVID-19-Related Claims," Orlando Medical News, April 7, 2021
  • "Commentary: Florida Adoption of Federal Judgment Standard a Win For Insurers," Insurance Journal, January 6, 2021
  • "Florida Supreme Court Hosts Historic Remote Oral Arguments During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Florida Supreme Court Historical Society's Historical Review Magazine, Spring/Summer 2020
  • "Transitioning From In-Person to Remote Oral Arguments in Fla. Appellate Courts," Daily Business Review, April 28, 2020
  • "Justice Alan Lawson's Commitment to Service Runs Deep," Florida Supreme Court Historical Society Historical Review Magazine, Fall/Winter 2019
  • "Justice R. Fred Lewis Returns to Miami for a Celebration of His Legal and Judicial Career," Florida Supreme Court Historical Society Historical Review Magazine, Summer/Fall 2019
  • "Drafting Jury Instructions That Win Appeals," Certworthy, the newsletter of the DRI's Appellate Advocacy Committee, Vol. 19, Issue 1, June 29, 2018
  • "A Cure for 'Acute Motion Sickness': A Practitioner's Guide to Motion Practice in Florida's Appellate Courts," FIU Law Review, Vol. 12, Number 2, Spring 2017
  • "Is That Claim Covered?," Claims Magazine, January 2017
  • "How to Confuse Your Read Effectively," For the Defense, DRI:The Voice of the Defense Bar, December 2012
  • "Common Mistakes Students Make at Oral Argument," The Gavel, Ave Maria School of Law Moot Court Newsletter, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Fall 2011
  • "The Butler Tetralogy: The Tipsy Coachman Doctrine Revisited," 85 Fla. B.J. 7, July/August 2011
  • "Upstairs at the Third DCA: The Specific Duties of an Appellate Law Clerk, Part II," The Bulletin, Dade County Bar Assocation, June 2011
  • "Upstairs at the Third DCA: The General Duties of an Appellate Law Clerk, Part I," The Bulletin, Dade County Bar Association, January 2011
  • "A Day in the Life of a Third DCA Law Clerk: The Arms of An Appellate Judge," The Record, Journal of the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar, Vol. XVIII, No. 1, Fall 2010
Certifications:
  • Board Certified in Appellate Practice, The Florida Bar
Education:
  • University of Florida, B.S. (with high honors), 2002
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2005

Ryan D. Burns

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Product Liability
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • Trucking and Transportation Liability
  • General Liability
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Maritime Litigation
  • Fraud/Special Investigation
  • Construction Injury Litigation
Admitted
  • Florida, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2019
Additional Biographical Details:

Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2013-2020; Classes/Seminars Taught: "56 Feds are Coming: Strategies Using the Upcoming Florida Summary Judgment Standard," Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, January 15, 2021; "When Lithium Batteries Fail and What to do About It," Panel, 2019 CLM Southeast Conference, Orlando, FL, October 2019; "ETHICS: The Tripartite Relationship and Bad Faith Claims," Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - Casino Royale, Tampa, FL, September 20, 2018; "Discussions of Recent Florida Case Law Developments Regarding EUO Methodology and Limitations," FIFEC - Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee, Orlando, FL, June 2012; "Florida Premises Liability Law and the Affect of Medicare Liens on Settlements," Client Seminar, October 2011

Memberships:
  • American Bar Association
Publications:
  • Author: "Understanding Florida's Sweeping New Immunity Law for COVID-19 Claims," Insurance Journal, April 15, 2021
  • "Commentary: Navigating Florida's Comparative Fault Statute," Insurance Journal, April 20, 2016
  • "Board of Contributors: Florida Supreme Court Sets Settlement Ground Rules," Daily Business Review, April 23, 2015
  • "GEICO Case Opens Door to Depose Plaintiff's Physician," Daily Business Review, April 1, 2013
Certifications:
  • Certified Instructor in Adjuster Law and Policy by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Licensing
Education:
  • University of Florida, B.S., 2003
  • Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, J.D. (cum laude), 2006
Honors:
Moot Court Finalist; Moot Court External Team; Trial Competition Team

Patrick M. DeLong

Co-Chair, Rideshare Litigation Practice Group

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Rideshare Liability
  • General Liability
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Trucking and Transportation Liability
  • Consumer Financial Services Litigation & Compliance
Admitted
  • Florida, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1994
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida, 2000
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2010
Additional Biographical Details:

Classes/Seminars Taught: "The Complexity of Rideshare Claims," AM Best Insurance Law Podcast, June 2021; "Preserving Evidence and Avoiding Spoliation in Florida, Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - The Best Defense is a Good Offense," Orlando, FL, September 17, 2014

Memberships:
  • ACA International (The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals)
  • NCBA (The National Creditors Bar Association)
Publications:
  • Author: "Defending Ride-Hailing and Car-Sharing Claims: Handling Accident-Related Lawsuits in a Sharing Economy," CLM Magazine, January 2022
Education:
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A. (cum laude), 1990
  • University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1993

Craig S. Hudson

Director, Professional Liability Practice Group; Executive Committee

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Employment Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1985
  • Florida, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
Additional Biographical Details:

AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®; South Florida Legal Guide - Top Lawyers in Professional Liability Defense, 2016-2017, 2019-2021; Classes/Seminars Taught: "Understanding the Sub-Prime Credit and Housing Crises," MG, 2008; "Sub-Prime Market Collapse and Its Impact on Claims Against Professionals Involved in Real Estate Transactions," Gen Star, 2008; "Defending Construction Defect Litigation Claims in Florida," Liberty International, 2007; "Claims Against the Board of Directors of Condominium and Homeowner Associations," USLI, 2006

Memberships:
  • The Florida Bar
  • Broward County and Palm Beach County Bar Associations
  • Defense Research Institute
Publications:
  • Author: "Career Spotlight: Leading the Success of Others," South Florida Sun Sentinel, August 12, 2018
  • "Communication With Clients Key to Avoiding Professional Liability Claims," InsuranceJournal.com, April 17, 2017
  • "How Insurance Agents Can Mitigate Malpractice Risk: Do the Right Thing," Property Casualty 360, January 27, 2016
  • "To Reduce Malpractice Risk, Improve Client Communications," Daily Business Review, January 7, 2015
  • "Did the Florida Supreme Court Greatly Expand Tort Law At a Cost to Florida's Contract Law?," Defense Digest, Vol. 19, No. 3, September 2013
  • "Fear The Next Hurricane More Than Florida Supreme Court's Ruling on Tiara," Claims Journal, June 2013
  • "Jury Verdict Value of Emotional Damages Caused by Age Discrimination," Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2011
  • "Third Circuit Confirms That All Claims Concerning Medical Devices, Other Than Breach of Express Warranty Claims, Are Barred,: Defense Digest, January, 1996
Education:
  • Villanova University, B.A., 1982
  • Rutgers University School of Law-Camden, J.D., 1985
Honors:
Moot Court Board

Born: 1960


Jonathan E. Kanov

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Intellectual Property, Technology and Media Litigation
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Accountants' Professional Liability
  • Disciplinary Board Representation
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • School Leaders' Liability
Admitted
  • Florida, 1996
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida, 1997
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1999
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2001
Additional Biographical Details:

Who's Who In American Law - Top Lawyers; Classes/Seminars Taught: "Anatomy of a Real Estate Transaction: How Actions of Participants Give Rise to Claims," Client Presentation, July 2019; "FDIC Actions Against Appraisers," 2012-2013; "Trends in Florida Real Estate E&O Claims," 2010-2013; "Subprime Lending Crisis and the Growing Litigation Claims Against Real Estate Professionals: Understanding How This Happened and Planning for Actionable Defense Strategies," 2008; "Internet Research for Florida Legal Counsel and Staff," CLE Speaker Series, 2000-2008; "Accounting Malpractice Pre- and Post Sarbanes-Oxley and When It Is Appropriate To Withdraw From A Public Audit," 2005-2006

Memberships:
  • American and Miami-Dade County Bar Associations
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Publications:
  • Regular Contributor: "Case Law Alerts," 2010-2018
  • Author: "Developer Scores Big Victory in Federal Court in Miami Concerning Condo Deposit Recovery Cases," Defense Digest, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2009
  • "Subprime Woes May Lead To More Regulations And Duties Placed On Mortgage Brokers," Florida Professional Liability and Ethics Law Letter, Vol. 4, No. 4, April 2008
Education:
  • The University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A., Finance (Golden Key Honor Society), 1992
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1996
Law Review:
Articles and Comments Editor, Entertainment and Sports Law Review
Honors:
Dean's Honor Academic Scholar, University of Miami School of Law

Harris B. Kirsch

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • General Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Property Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Fraud/Special Investigation
Admitted
  • Florida, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2020
Publications:
  • Author: "Attorneys Offer Tips to Insurers Who Receive Personal Injury Protection Demand Letters," Florida Record, April 20, 2016
  • "10 Commandments for Insurers Responding to Florida PIP Demand Letters," Claims Journal, February 24, 2016
Education:
  • University of Florida, B.S. (cum laude), 2003
  • University of Florida College of Law, J.D., 2006

Jeannie A. Liebegott

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Employment Law
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • General Liability
Admitted
  • Florida, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2010
Additional Biographical Details:

South Florida Legal Guide: Up & Comers Condominium Law, 2019; Top Lawyer, Condo & Planned Development Law, 2021

Memberships:
  • The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section)
  • Broward County Bar Association
Publications:
  • Author: "Five Common Hiring Errors Every Employer Should Know," Tampa Bay Business Journal, January 2021
  • "Good News for HOAs: Courts Clarify Deadline for Governing Document Lawsuits," Daily Business Review, January 13, 2017
  • "Associations Rejoice: Florida Appellate Courts Breathe New Life into Controlling Documents for Community Associations," Defense Digest, Vol. 22, No. 4, December 2016
  • "Florida Supreme Court to Rule on Pregnant Employees," Daily Business Review, March 19, 2014
  • "Patiently Waiting for the Florida Supreme Court to Decide Whether Pregnant Women Are Protected Under the Florida Civil Rights Act," Defense Digest, Vol. 20, No. 1, March 2014
  • "At-Will Employees - How Can the Florida Employer Protect Itself From the Time and Expense of Unwarranted Litigation?," Defense Digest, September 2011
  • Regular Contributor: Case Law Alerts, 2014-Present
Education:
  • Florida State University, B.S., 2001
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., 2004
Honors:
Top 20%, St. Thomas University School of Law

Andrew J. Marchese

Chair, Non-Profit D&O Practice Group

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Employment Law
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Disciplinary Board Representation
  • Non-Profit D&O
Admitted
  • Florida, 1995
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1996
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1998
Additional Biographical Details:

Classes/Seminars Taught: "Community Associations - Exposures Close to Home," Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, September 2020; "Contemporary Litigation Issues for the Claims Professional," Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, September 21, 2015

Memberships:
  • The Florida Bar
  • Dade County Bar Association
  • Aviation Insurance Association
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Publications:
  • Author: "Article III Standing Does Not Come from Violation of Statute Alone," Defense Digest, Vol. 28, No. 12, December 2022
  • "Florida Appeal Court Finds Assignment of Legal Malpractice Claim Permissible in Commercial Setting," PLUS Magazine, October 2006
  • Regular Contributor, Case Law Alerts, 2010-Present
Certifications:
  • Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development, The Florida Bar
Education:
  • University of Maryland, B.A., 1990
  • Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 1995
Law Review:
Senior Associate, Thomas Cooley Law Review (1993-1995)

Born: 1966


Alan C. Nash

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Property Litigation
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • General Liability
Admitted
  • Florida, 2007
  • U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida, 2008
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:

Paralegal Program - Professor of Contracts, Legal Research/Writing and Constitutional Law, Brown Mackie College, 2009-2010; "Best Mentors Award" by the Daily Business Review, 2022; AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®; Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star-Civil Litigation Defense, 2012-2018, Florida Super Lawyer, 2019-2022; Lead Counsel Rated for Civil Litigation by Lead Counsel in 2015; "2014 Rising Star" by the Daily Business Review, 2014; Florida Legal Elite, 2010 and 2012; Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Grievance Committee "H" Chair, 2018-Present; Professionalism Panel, 2017); South Florida Legal Guide, Top Up and Comers, 2018-2021; Florida Sheriffs Association; Classes/Seminars Taught: "Talkin' Bout My Generations," RIMS - Broward County Chapter Meeting & Presentation, October 19, 2022 and 2022 Florida RIMS Educational Conference, Naples, FL, July 27, 2022; "Successful Strategies for Effective Mediation," Marshall Dennehey Client Seminar, July 20, 2022; "Roundtable Discussion: Civil Litigation and Nailing On-Campus Interviews," FSU College of Law - Black Law Students Association, November 8, 2021; "Litigation & Trial Considerations When Representing/Defending Law Enforcement," NAPO's Annual 2021 Legal Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL, October 4, 2021; "Anti-Social Practical Strategies Insurers Can Implement," Panel Member 2021 DRI-IADC Virtual Roundtable, September 2021; "Civil Litigation State of Affairs - The Impact of COVID-19 in Florida & What's Next," Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, June 2021; "Negligent Security: Foreseeable Crime - Believable Risk," ILG Virtual Conference, March 22, 2021; "56 Feds are Coming: Strategies Using the Upcoming Florida Summary Judgment Standard," Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, January 15, 2021; "Negligence 101 - A Pennsylvania and Florida Legal Overview," Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, December 15, 2020; "Negligent Tenants Expose Negligent Landlords," Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - Casino Royale, Tampa, FL, September 20, 2018; "In-House Counsel Roundtable," Moderator, DRI Retail & Hospitality Conference, Chicago, IL, May 2018; Panelist: Broward County Bar Association Young Lawyer's Section Boot Camp, June 6, 2017; "Making The Career Decision That Is Best For You," Featured Speaker/Panelist: Atlantic Technical College 2017 College & Career Summit, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, January 26, 2017; "Defending Negligent Security Claims," RIMKUS' 9th Annual CLE/CE Seminar, October 21, 2016; "Negligent Security Claims: If the Crime is Foreseeable, the Risk is Believable," RIMS - Central Florida Chapter, November 19, 2015; "Using Crime Grids in Negligent Security Claims," Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - The Best Defense is a Good Offense, Orlando, FL, September 17, 2014; "Diversity for Success Seminar," DRI, Moderator, 2013; "Stand Your Ground Forum," Nova Law School, Moderator, 2012

Memberships:
  • The Florida Bar (Student Education/Admissions to The Bar Committee; Leadership Academy, Fellow, 2013-2014)
  • Risk & Insurance Management Society Broward County Chapter (Board of Directors, 2021)
  • T.J. Reddick Bar Association (Executive Board, 2012-2013)
  • Defense Research Institute (Retail and Hospitality Seminar, Committee, 2016-Present; Diversity for Success Seminar and Expo: Chair, 2016-2018; Marketing Chair, 2013-2015; Diversity Committee: Chair, Marketing Subcommittee; Liaison, Aviation Law Committee)
  • Florida Association of Police Attorneys, 2010
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association (Board Member, 2017-2019)
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Publications:
  • Author: "Best Mentors: Alan Carroll 'A.C.' Nash Learns the Motivations of his Mentees Before Guiding Them," the Daily Business Review, May 9, 2022
  • "Removing That Slip and Fall Case to Federal Court," For The Defense, February 2016
  • "Negligent Tenants Leave Room for Exposed Landlords," Daily Business Review, Personal Injury Special Report, July 27, 2015
  • "You Slip. You Fall. You Lose. Florida's Updated Transient Foreign Substance Statute," Defense Digest, Vol. 19, No. 4, December 2013
  • Co-Author: "Let's Have A Look At The Footage," Law Enforcement Technology, March 2014
Education:
  • University of Florida, B.S., 2003
  • Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 2007
Honors:
Florida State Mock Trial Team (Coach); Dean's Cabinet; Distinguished Pro Bono Award

Danielle N. Robinson

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Practice Areas
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
Admitted
  • Florida, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Additional Biographical Details:

AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®; Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star-Insurance Coverage and Civil Litigation Defense, 2014-2015; South Florida Legal Guide Up & Comers, Insurance Litigation Defense, 2019-2021; Classes/Seminars Taught: "Mediation and Pre-Suit Claims Handling - Best Practices," Client Seminar, August 2016; "Insurance Coverage and Bad-Faith Insurance Issues Under Florida Law," Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - "The Best Defense is a Good Offense," Orlando, FL, September 17, 2014

Memberships:
  • Miami-Dade County and Bankruptcy (Young Lawyers Division) Bar Associations
Publications:
  • Author: "Decision Requiring Strict Compliance with § 627.7152 Provides Insurance Carriers with Another Tool to Combat Litigation of Assignment of Benefit Claims," Defense Digest, Vol. 28, No. 12, December 2022
  • "Enforceability of Proposals for Settlement in Actions Requesting Declaratory Relief," Defense Digest, Vol. 22, No. 4, December 2016
Education:
  • Florida State University, B.S. (Dean's List), 2002
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., 2005

Resident Associates


  • Seth B. Altman
  • Rochelle Bailey
  • Karen G. Brown
  • Evan S. Dubow
  • Jessica A. Giesen
  • Holly M. Hamilton
  • Alexia L. Hudson
  • Racquel C. Hylton
  • Joselyn Johnson
  • Oner J. Kiziltan
  • Alexander J. Mendez
  • Joanne I. Nachio
  • Maria F. Pero
  • Joslyn Restivo
  • Joelle J. Vogel
  • Matthew J. Wildner




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