Best Lawyers in Florida, United States for Admiralty and Maritime Law
The practice-area specific knowledge and professionalism of Florida’s admiralty and maritime lawyers reflects the state’s position as one of the most maritime-driven economies in the country. Lawyers in this field work across extensive coastlines, international shipping lanes, cruise terminals and offshore waters, handling a wide range of litigation and commercial matters tied to marine activity. Their practices commonly involve marine casualties, vessel operations, cargo disputes, cruise ship injuries, insurance disputes and complex commercial relationships connected to shipping, tourism and offshore industries. Florida’s maritime legal work is shaped by year-round port activity, heavy passenger traffic and constant interaction with international trade routes. That's why Florida has some of the best maritime lawyers in the world.
Lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers for Maritime Law in Florida have earned recognition through our Purely Peer Review® process, which identifies practitioners respected by their peers for legal ability, experience and professional judgment. This statewide listing highlights leading maritime lawyers practicing in and around Florida’s major port cities, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Jacksonville.
About Admiralty and Maritime Law
The admiralty and maritime practice involves all aspects of legal work relating to marine activities. This includes litigation, commercial transactions, and non-litigation counseling, as well as regulatory work before federal and state agencies. Firms with litigation caseloads generally represent clients in matters involving collision, personal injury, cargo loss, workers' compensation, maritime commercial disputes and insurance coverage relating to inland marine vessels, oceangoing vessels, passenger vessels, drill rigs, and other offshore equipment.
Frequently, these firms also handle marine related issues involving mass disasters, major pollution incidents, toxic torts, and class actions. Due to the nature of when and where clients' needs arise, attorneys in this practice frequently are on call 24 hours and travel to distant and sometimes remote locations. In the areas of commercial and counseling, maritime attorneys handle issues relating to vessel sales, shipyard contracts, maritime insurance counseling and evaluation, contract and charter drafting and negotiations, and maritime finance advice. In the context of the regulatory arena, attorneys typically appear before the United States Coast Guard, Federal Maritime Commission, United States Department of Labor, and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Charles R. Lipcon earned his J.D. from the University of Miami in 1971 and has spent decades representing individuals and families in Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs matters. Based in Miami, Florida, Mr. Lipcon is a founding partner of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman PA , where his practice includes claims involving cruise ship incidents, maritime injuries, wrongful death cases , and other serious personal injury matters. Throughout his career, Mr. Lip...
Carol L. Finklehoffe is a partner at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman , P.A. in Miami, Florida. She has practiced law for more than 30 years in state and federal courts throughout Florida, California, and Massachusetts. Ms. Finklehoffe is AV-rated and board certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law . Her practice focuses on Admiralty and Maritime Law, complex personal injury claims, wrongful death, resort liability , sexual assault cases , and medical malpractice matters . Ms. Finklehoffe repr...
John H. Hickey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John H. practices law in Miami, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized John H. Hickey since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John H. Hickey is held by o...
Born and raised in a small town in Northeast Ohio, Pete learned from an early age that hard work pays off. Never the most intelligent student or the most gifted athlete, he excelled at both because he worked harder than everyone else. His beautiful and talented Wife is a fellow trial lawyer. Together, they have 3 children and 2 Beagles. Pete attended the University of Dayton where he received his Bachelors degree in Marketing. He later moved to Florida shortly after graduation and worked a co...
Jason R. Margulies is a board-certified admiralty and maritime lawyer and co-managing partner of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. in Miami, Florida. Since joining the firm as a law clerk in 1992 and later becoming an attorney, Mr. Margulies has represented clients in admiralty and maritime law matters , personal injury litigation, and wrongful death claims arising on cruise ships, commercial vessels, and recreational boats. Mr. Margulies handles a wide range of maritime and personal in...
Christopher M. Drury is an attorney with Drury Law Firm in Coral Gables, Florida. He graduated with honors from Davidson College and the University of Miami School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Florida and South Carolina and is also a member of the Law Society of England and Wales. Mr. Drury currently serves as President of the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association. His practice includes Admiralty and Maritime Law, serious personal injury litigation, wrongful death matters, and com...
Jacqueline Garcell is a partner and trial attorney at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. in Miami, Florida. Her practice focuses on Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, with an emphasis on representing cruise ship passengers, crew members, and individuals injured in maritime and non-maritime accidents. She handles cases involving cruise ship injuries , sexual assault claims , wrongful death matters , shore excursion accidents , and other complex persona...
Michael A. Winkleman is an active trial and appellate attorney at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. Mr. Winkleman has been featured on dozens of national television segments due to his expertise in maritime and cruise ship law related matters. This includes appearances on the Today Show, 20/20, Inside Edition, Fox News and many more. Mr. Winkleman has also won several awards including ‘Top 20 under 40 Professional’ by Brickell Magazine, “Superlawyer” for numerous...
Richard D. Rusak is a partner in the Miami office of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A and Board Certified in Marine/Admiralty Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Education and Specialization since 2010. He is an accomplished trial lawyer with two decades of litigation and appellate experience in federal and state courts and primarily represents major insurance companies, ship owners and marinas in marine/admiralty defense cases. Mr. Rusak also practices in the areas of hospitality defense, tr...
David C. Rash is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David C. practices law in Weston, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized David C. Rash since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional ...
Luis Llamas is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation, admiralty disputes, trade secret and non-compete disputes, and international law. Luis co-leads the firm's Latin America working group and is the head of the firm’s Miami office. Luis is a highly respected litigator. Luis has handled cases across the United States involving marine casualties, trade secret and non-compete agreements, breach of contract, unfair trade pra...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
