Editorial: Insurance and Reinsurance in Florida
01 November 2007
This chapter identifies 20 lawyers, from 11 firms, with a proven track record representing clients on a wide variety of issues relating to insurance and reinsurance law. The majority practise in Tallahassee, the state capital and centre for regulatory and lobbying activity. A number of these practitioners also concentrate on insurance defence and dispute resolution. They are similar, however, in the regard in which they are held by clients and competitors alike.
Akerman Senterfitt is one of only two firms with four individuals listed. Bruce Culpepper is an administrative and regulatory lawyer in Tallahassee with strong litigation credentials. He is joined there by Allan Katz and Edward Kutter, who both practised at Katz Kutter Alderman & Bryant PA before joining Akerman. Katz served as assistant insurance commissioner and general counsel for the State of Florida Department of Insurance (DoI) and brings his “excellent pedigree” to private practice. Rated as a “top regulatory lawyer”, he is on the board of directors of Florida’s largest property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance. Kutter also has a background within the DoI and is another “top-tier regulatory lawyer”, according to rivals. He draws his clients from national property and casualty insurers, health insurers, life insurers, HMOs, reinsurers and brokers, third-party administrators, and managing general agents. Marcy Levine Aldrich is in the Miami office and possesses an “exceptional legal mind”, sources say. She co-chairs the firm’s insurance practice and is hailed as an “outstanding trial lawyer”, Aldrich is said to be particularly knowledgeable on class action defence.
Radey Thomas Yon and Clark is the only other firm with four featured practitioners, all based in Tallahassee. Sources “think the world of” David Yon, an “outstanding insurance regulatory lawyer and administrative litigator”. Yon started his career with the state treasurer and insurance commissioner’soffice and in private practice has given advice on compliance, product
development, residual market issues, reinsurance transactions, formation and acquisitions of companies and rate filings – an area in which he is particularly active.
John Radey is also highly rated on the regulatory side and praised as a “good, hands-on lawyer, excellent and not flashy”. Radey is also considered a “top-tier litigator” by a number of prominent figures in the industry. Harry Thomas possesses “excellent litigation skills” and is joined here by fellow shareholder Travis Miller, a “young, up-and-coming regulatory lawyer”.
Carlton Fields PA also features prominently here with two high-profile listings. The “fantastic” Daniel Brown is co-leader of the firm’s insurance litigation and regulation practice. Brown is “well known” for insurance litigation and regulation, one source noting that “when it gets hot and heated, he is an excellent litigator”. Brown has represented and counselled HMOs, insurance producers and administrators, as well as life, health, property and casualty insurers. He is joined here by Kelly Cruz-Brown, a former senior attorney with the Florida DoI. Cruz-Brown’s regulatory and administrative practice was lauded, and she is described as a “top-flight litigator”. The featured duo from Pennington Moore Wilkinson Bell & Dunbar PA were also consistently recommended. Mark Delegal “does a great job for his clients”, respondents giving him “very high marks”. Delegal is a “leader on the regulatory and lobbying side” and represents clients before the Florida legislature. He is also active at the intersection between health-care and insurance, working for clients in the health care and managed care arenas. Fellow shareholder Steven Malono was called a “quality practitioner”, particularly for administrative and insurance regulatory law.
Butler Pappas Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP is a civil litigation defence firm with offices in Florida, Alabama and North Carolina. Tampa-based Paul Butler is founder of what is widely regarded as an “excellent insurance defence firm”, currently serving as of counsel. “Well known and respected in the field”, he concentrates on first and third-party insurance coverage, punitive damage claims and bad-faith litigation. John Pappas is another “outstanding litigator” and, like Butler, received a raft of nominations from some of the practice area’s leading lights.
Douglas Mang practises out of his own firm in Tallahassee and is one of the most nominated figures. He is “vastly experienced”, one respectful rival dubbing him “an excellent regulatory lawyer”, another highlighting his expertise on surplus lines. Timothy Meenan at Blank & Meenan PA has a “good regulatory and political dimension to his practice” and is “very well known in insurance regulatory circles”. Meenan “clearly knows the market”, has assisted insurers obtain licensure and represented life and health insurers and HMOs with regulatory problems. He has further represented property and casualty companies before the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Office of Insurance Regulation. Thomas Maida is managing partner of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Tallahassee office, with clients in the property and casualty arena. An “experienced” practitioner, his regulatory and lobbying expertise was repeatedly noted. Thomas Jones at Holland & Knight LLP is another “very smart regulatory lawyer” and “top-notch litigator”. Jones is “well respected” in the field, having worked for HMOs and life care retirement communities. Michael Colodny at Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky & Abate PA is another heavy hitter. He boasts an “extensive insurance practice”, according to one prominent respondent, and represents clients before government agencies, quasi-judicial boards and commissions. Donald Cox at Fowler White Boggs Banker has an “excellent reputation as an insurance litigator”, particularly on the regulatory side.