Independent lawyer rankingsEvery fact traceable to a sourcePayment never changes a ranking

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked insurance lawyers in Hollywood, Florida are Alex Tobias Barak (LexRank 80.00), Michael David Kaplan (80.00) and A Hinda Klein (79.00).

This ranking lists 25 insurance lawyers in Hollywood, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 11 to 45 years in practice. 8 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

    Alex Tobias Barak

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
  2. No change

    Michael David Kaplan

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
  3. No change

    A Hinda Klein

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Appellate · Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 79.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #2, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    1.00 points behind #2 (Michael David Kaplan): Practice-area relevance −5.

  4. No change

    James Alexander Stepan

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Insurance · Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 79.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
  5. No change

    Michael S. Takiff

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.40 points behind #4, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    0.40 points behind #4 (James Alexander Stepan): Reputation −4, Data quality −1.4.

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

  6. No change

    Stephan Michael Nitz “Stephan”

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

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

  7. No change

    Wendy Jill Stein Fulton

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

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

  8. No change

    Jorge Alberto Calil “GEORGE”

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Insurance · Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 75.40: strongest in Reputation (4/20) and Experience (26.4/30). 3.20 points behind #7, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 21)

    3.20 points behind #7 (Wendy Jill Stein Fulton): Practice-area relevance −5, Experience −3.6.

  9. No change

    David Louis Benjamin

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.20 points behind #8, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    0.20 points behind #8 (Jorge Alberto Calil “GEORGE”): Reputation −4, Experience −1.2.

  10. No change

    James Angelo DeMiles “Jimmy”

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
  11. No change

    Joshua Adam Blacksten

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Insurance · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.60 points behind #10, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    1.60 points behind #10 (James Angelo DeMiles “Jimmy”): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.

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

  12. No change

    David W Singer

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Insurance · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

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

  13. No change

    Rina Francis Kaplan

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 73.33: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 0.27 points behind #12, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    0.27 points behind #12 (David W Singer): Practice-area relevance −1.7.

  14. No change

    Steven M Willner

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Insurance · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 73.33: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  15. No change

    Donald Thomas Norton

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 73.33: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  16. No change

    Charles Michael Baron

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Civil Rights · Consumer Protection
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 72.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (12/20). 1.33 points behind #15, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 12/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    1.33 points behind #15 (Donald Thomas Norton): Practice-area relevance −1.3.

  17. No change

    Gabriel Manuel de las Salas

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 69.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 2.80 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 21)

    2.80 points behind #16 (Charles Michael Baron): Experience −10.8.

  18. No change

    Julian Serafino Geraci

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #18 with 68.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 1.20 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 21)

    1.20 points behind #17 (Gabriel Manuel de las Salas): Experience −1.2.

  19. No change

    Michael Alan Cassel

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #19 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 1.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 21)

    1.20 points behind #18 (Julian Serafino Geraci): Experience −1.2.

  20. No change

    Nicholas Adam Reeves “Nick”

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #20 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 21)
  21. No change

    Lesley Connolly Simms

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #21 with 66.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 0.20 points behind #20, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 21)

    0.20 points behind #20 (Nicholas Adam Reeves “Nick”): Data quality −1.4.

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

  22. No change

    Joseph Benjamin Goldglantz

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #22 with 65.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 1.00 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 21)

    1.00 points behind #21 (Lesley Connolly Simms): Experience −2.4.

  23. No change

    Thomas Witowski

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #23 with 65.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 0.20 points behind #22, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 21)

    0.20 points behind #22 (Joseph Benjamin Goldglantz): Data quality −1.4.

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

  24. No change

    Leer Dalia Thompson

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

    Verified
    • 11 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 63.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 2.20 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 21)

    2.20 points behind #23 (Thomas Witowski): Experience −3.6.

  25. No change

    Nicholas A. Ferreiro

    Independent practice · Hollywood, FL

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

    Ranks #25 with 63.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (14.4/30). 0.20 points behind #24, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 21)

    0.20 points behind #24 (Leer Dalia Thompson): Data quality −1.4.

    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 · 25 profile pages256 facts for 25 lawyers

Insurance market in Hollywood

LexRanked tracks 32 lawyers in insurance law in Hollywood, Florida. 32 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
32
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
32 of 32
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
18.5 years32 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 Hollywood

What sets these Hollywood 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 11 to 45 (median 26)
Languages besides English Spanish (8), Hebrew (3), Finnish (1), German (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law (7 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Hollywood 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 Hollywood?

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

Are there Spanish-speaking insurance lawyers in Hollywood?

Yes. 8 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: Alex Tobias Barak, Michael David Kaplan, A Hinda Klein, James Alexander Stepan and Michael S. Takiff and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

11 of the 32 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 11 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 Hollywood, 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.