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Top-Ranked Insurance Lawyers in Miami Beach, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.212 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked insurance lawyers in Miami Beach, Florida are Michael Shelley (LexRank 80.00), Howard Jerome Levine (75.00) and Kellie Peterson (73.65).

This ranking lists 12 insurance lawyers in Miami Beach, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 3 to 32 years in practice. 2 of the 12 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
12
Fully verified
12 of 12

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Michael Shelley

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 32 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.7)
  2. No change

    Howard Jerome Levine

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Insurance · Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 5.00 points behind #1, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 8.9)

    5.00 points behind #1 (Michael Shelley): Practice-area relevance −5.

  3. No change

    Kellie Peterson

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 73.65: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.35 points behind #2, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.7)

    1.35 points behind #2 (Howard Jerome Levine): Professional credentials −3.8, Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.

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

  4. No change

    Nicole Sophia Freedlander “Nicole”

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 71.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 1.72 points behind #3, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.7)

    1.72 points behind #3 (Kellie Peterson): Practice-area relevance −6.7.

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

  5. No change

    Max Gabriel Soren

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Civil Rights · Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 71.20: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.73 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    0.73 points behind #4 (Nicole Sophia Freedlander “Nicole”): Experience −2.4.

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

  6. No change

    Juan David Lopez

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 64.73: strongest in Experience (22.8/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 6.47 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.7)

    6.47 points behind #5 (Max Gabriel Soren): Experience −4.8, Practice-area relevance −1.7.

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

  7. No change

    Alan Palma

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Consumer Protection · Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 64.00: strongest in Experience (20.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.73 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    0.73 points behind #6 (Juan David Lopez): Experience −2.4.

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

  8. No change

    Ramsey Simon

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 12 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 56.33: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (14.4/30) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 7.67 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 18.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.7)

    7.67 points behind #7 (Alan Palma): Experience −6, Practice-area relevance −1.7.

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

  9. No change

    Tomas Robirosa

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 56.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (6/30). 0.33 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 8.9)

    Held back by

    • Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 18.7)

    0.33 points behind #8 (Ramsey Simon): Experience −8.4.

  10. No change

    Joel Aaron Thaler

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 53.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (4.8/30). 2.60 points behind #9, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 4.8/30 (ranking avg 18.7)

    2.60 points behind #9 (Tomas Robirosa): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.

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

  11. No change

    Eric Howard West

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 52.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (3.6/30). 1.20 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 3.6/30 (ranking avg 18.7)

    1.20 points behind #10 (Joel Aaron Thaler): Experience −1.2.

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

  12. No change

    Derek Grant Silver

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 5 years experience
    • Bankruptcy · Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 49.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (6/30). 2.60 points behind #11, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 18.7)

    2.60 points behind #11 (Eric Howard West): Practice-area relevance −5.

    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 · 12 profile pages113 facts for 12 lawyers

Insurance market in Miami Beach

LexRanked tracks 12 lawyers in insurance law in Miami Beach, Florida. 12 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
12
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
12 of 12
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
18 years12 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 Miami Beach

What sets these Miami Beach 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 12 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 3 to 32 (median 18)
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 (3 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Miami Beach office address and insurance as a practice area on record. It compares 12 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 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 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 Miami Beach?

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

Are there Spanish-speaking insurance lawyers in Miami Beach?

Yes. 2 of the 12 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?

12 of the 12 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Michael Shelley, Howard Jerome Levine, Kellie Peterson, Nicole Sophia Freedlander “Nicole” and Max Gabriel Soren and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Michael Shelley scores 80.00 and Howard Jerome Levine 75.00, a gap of 5.00 points, mostly in practice-area relevance. 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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