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Top-Ranked Maritime Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.26 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked maritime lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida are John H Hickey “Jack” (LexRank 88.00), Michelle Otero Valdes (84.00) and Jason Robert Margulies (84.00).

This ranking lists 6 maritime lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 6 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 24 to 50 years in practice. 2 of the 6 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
6
Fully verified
6 of 6

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    John H Hickey “Jack”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  2. No change

    Michelle Otero Valdes

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20). 4.00 points behind #1, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)

    4.00 points behind #1 (John H Hickey “Jack”): Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    Jason Robert Margulies

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
  4. No change

    Michael T Moore

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 50 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
  5. No change

    F David Famulari

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #4, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.8)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)

    1.40 points behind #4 (Michael T Moore): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  6. No change

    Mayte Concepcion Cabada

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 81.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)

    1.20 points behind #5 (F David Famulari): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 6 profile pages66 facts for 6 lawyers

Maritime market in Coral Gables

LexRanked tracks 6 lawyers in maritime law in Coral Gables, Florida. 6 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
6
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
6 of 6
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
34 years6 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Coral Gables

What sets these Coral Gables lawyers apart

All 6 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 6 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law 6 of 6
Years in practice 24 to 50 (median 34)
Languages besides English Spanish (2)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Miami School of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Coral Gables office address and maritime as a practice area on record. It compares 6 maritime lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Maritime injury claims are governed mostly by federal law: injured seamen can sue their employer under the Jones Act, and most maritime injury claims must be filed within 3 years.

Rule What it means
Injured seamen A seaman injured on the job may sue the employer, with a jury trial, under the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104)
Injury and death claims Within 3 years for personal injury or death from a maritime tort (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
Limiting a vessel owner's liability The owner must file in federal court within 6 months after a claimant gives written notice of a claim (46 U.S.C. § 30529)
Florida boating accidents The operator must file a written report for an injury, death, disappearance or at least $2,000 of damage (Fla. Stat. § 327.301)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Miami-Dade County is in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a maritime injury claim?

Generally 3 years after the cause of action arose for personal injury or death from a maritime tort, under 46 U.S.C. § 30106.

What is the Jones Act?

A federal law that lets a seaman injured in the course of employment, or the family of a seaman who dies, sue the employer in a civil action with the right to a jury trial.

Do I have to report a boating accident in Florida?

Yes, when it causes injury, death or a disappearance, or at least $2,000 of damage: the operator must send a written report to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission within the federal time limits.

Who certifies maritime lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Admiralty and Maritime Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 6 of the 6 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Coral Gables?

State court cases in Miami-Dade County are heard in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking maritime lawyers in Coral Gables?

Yes. 2 of the 6 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

6 of the 6 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: John H Hickey “Jack”, Michelle Otero Valdes, Jason Robert Margulies, Michael T Moore and F David Famulari and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

John H Hickey “Jack” scores 88.00 and Michelle Otero Valdes 84.00, a gap of 4.00 points, mostly in reputation. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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