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Top-Ranked Insurance Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked insurance lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are Jamie J Finizio-Bascombe (LexRank 80.00), Jay Kim (80.00) and Michael David Leader (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 insurance lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 21 to 49 years in practice. 6 of the 25 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Jamie J Finizio-Bascombe

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  2. No change

    Jay Kim

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  3. No change

    Michael David Leader

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  4. No change

    Sean Moore “Sean”

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 48 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  5. No change

    Christopher James O’Toole

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  6. No change

    Jose R Riguera

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  7. No change

    Michael I. Santucci

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  8. No change

    Robert Frederick Tacher

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 49 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  9. No change

    Anne R Bloom

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  10. No change

    Kelly Haze Kolb

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  11. No change

    Paula Levy-Parkes

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  12. No change

    Dayra J Morales

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.40 points behind #11, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    1.40 points behind #11 (Paula Levy-Parkes): Data quality −1.4.

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

  13. No change

    C Richard Penalta

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  14. No change

    Ralph Oliver Anderson

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  15. No change

    Barbara Ann Nohrr

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  16. No change

    Lorraine Brennan O’Neil

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  17. No change

    Anthony Quinn Peyton “Tony”

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  18. No change

    Melissa Ann Schlutow

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  19. No change

    Ronald Robert Torres

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

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

  20. No change

    Alicia M. Paulino-Grisham

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 77.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #19, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.00 points behind #19 (Ronald Robert Torres): Experience −2.4.

  21. No change

    Ryan C. Ratliff

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.20 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.20 points behind #20 (Alicia M. Paulino-Grisham): Experience −1.2.

  22. No change

    Anna Lizette Flores

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.20 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.20 points behind #21 (Ryan C. Ratliff): Experience −1.2.

  23. No change

    Joanne Colbert Stanley “Jo”

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  24. No change

    Mark Murray Heinish

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Consumer Protection · Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 0.20 points behind #23, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    0.20 points behind #23 (Joanne Colbert Stanley “Jo”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  25. No change

    Jeffrey Neil Golant

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.00 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    0.00 points behind #24 (Mark Murray Heinish): Experience −3.6, Data quality −1.4.

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

Insurance market in Fort Lauderdale

LexRanked tracks 103 lawyers in insurance law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 103 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
103
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
103 of 103
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
14 years103 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 Fort Lauderdale

What sets these Fort Lauderdale lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 21 to 49 (median 31)
Languages besides English Spanish (6), Italian (1), Korean (1), Portuguese (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Miami School of Law (7 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Fort Lauderdale office address and insurance as a practice area on record. It compares 25 insurance lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in insurance, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

A Florida homeowner must give the insurer notice of a property insurance claim within 1 year after the date of loss, and a lawsuit for breach of the policy must be filed within 5 years of the loss.

Rule What it means
Notice of a property claim A new or reopened claim is barred unless notice reaches the insurer within 1 year after the date of loss; a supplemental claim within 18 months (Fla. Stat. § 627.70132(2))
Hurricane date of loss For hurricanes and other weather events, the date of loss is the landfall date or the date NOAA verifies the event (§ 627.70132(3))
Insurer response The insurer must acknowledge a claim communication within 7 days and pay or deny a property claim within 60 days after notice (§ 627.70131(1) and (7))
Lawsuit deadline 5 years from the date of loss for breach of a property insurance contract (§ 95.11(2)(e))
Bad faith An insured may sue an insurer that did not attempt in good faith to settle a claim, after 60 days written notice to the Department of Financial Services and the insurer (§ 624.155)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Broward County is in Florida's Seventeenth 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 report a property insurance claim in Florida?

1 year after the date of loss for a new or reopened claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim (section 627.70132). For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date it made landfall.

How long does my insurer have to pay or deny a claim?

60 days after it receives notice of the claim, unless factors beyond its control prevent it (section 627.70131(7)).

What is a civil remedy notice?

A written notice on a Department of Financial Services form that must be filed 60 days before a bad-faith lawsuit under section 624.155. No suit lies if the insurer pays or corrects the problem within those 60 days.

How long do I have to sue my insurance company?

5 years from the date of loss for breach of a property insurance contract (section 95.11(2)(e)), but the claim itself must first be reported within 1 year.

Which court handles cases in Fort Lauderdale?

State court cases in Broward County are heard in Florida's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking insurance lawyers in Fort Lauderdale?

Yes. 6 of the 25 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?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Jamie J Finizio-Bascombe, Jay Kim, Michael David Leader, Sean Moore “Sean” and Christopher James O’Toole and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

17 of the 103 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 17 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Insurance Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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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