Gary J. Guzzi

Gary J. Guzzi

Miami, FL recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013
Akerman LLP

241 Best Lawyers awards

Akerman LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Insurance Law Litigation - Insurance

Biography

Gary Guzzi serves as chair of Akerman’s Insurance Litigation Practice, a national team of 45 lawyers representing leading domestic and foreign carriers, self-insured corporations, municipalities, and related entities in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. He protects the interests of national and international insurance carriers in bad faith disputes, coverage claims, rescissions and ERISA-governed policies.

With comprehensive experience in insurance disputes, Gary litigates life, disability, commercial general liability, directors and officers, errors and omissions, homeowner, business interruption, and auto claims. His bad faith experience includes both first-party claims such as wrongful denial, delay, improper appraisal invocation, and lowballing, as well as third-party claims such as failure to tender limits, failure to proactively negotiate, and improper settlement communications.

Gary also represents carriers in litigation pertaining to carriers’ rescissions of policies, including misrepresentations in applications, failure to update applications, and Stranger-Owned Life Insurance. Gary litigates cases involving life, disability, and similar policies governed by ERISA, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and claims for benefits. Additionally, Gary advises carriers on proper techniques for claim handling, rescissions, and other aspects of carriers’ businesses.

Akerman LLP

241 Best Lawyers awards

Akerman LLP logo

Overview

  • Boston College Law School, J.D., graduated 1998
  • Boston College, BS, summa cum laude, graduated 1992

  • Florida, The Florida Bar
  • Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Bar

  • Dade County Bar Association - Member
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • The Florida Bar - Member

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
  • Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Bar
  • Dade County Bar Association - Member
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • The Florida Bar - Member
  • Boston College Law School, J.D., graduated 1998
  • Boston College, BS, summa cum laude, graduated 1992
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Insurance Law
  • Litigation - Insurance
Awards:
  • South Florida Legal Guide 2008-2012, Recognized as an "Up and Comer" for Insurance and Commercial Litigation; 2013, Listed for Insurance Litigation; 2014-2015 Recognized as a "Top Lawyer" for Insurance, Corporate, and Business Litigation

Additional Information

  • Published Work and Lectures
  • Presents in-house seminars to insurers on litigation landscape, trends and bad faith issues.
  • Western Claims Conference, Lecturer, "Life Beneficiary Designations and Complex Issues That Can Arise," California, 2009
  • "Breaking Up the Local Telephone Monopolies: The Local Competition Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996", 39 B.C.L.R. 151 (1997).
  • Representative Experience
  • Representation of carrier in automobile bad faith claim alleging that carrier failed to obtain proper settlement documentation and failed to properly communicate with insured as part of settlement demand to resolve wrongful death liability claim. Maldonado v. First Liberty Insurance Company
  • Representation of property insurance carrier in bad faith litigation stemming from allegations of "low-balling" and delay in adjusting hurricane damage claim. Trafalgar at Greenacres, Ltd. v. Zurich American Ins. Co.
  • Representation of carrier in dispute regarding group disability benefits claimed by purportedly disabled physician. Tobkin v. The United States Life Ins. Co.
  • Representation of carrier in rescission of life insurance policy due to material misrepresentations of insured's health history. Hynes v. American General Life Ins. Co.

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