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Maritime

Top-Ranked Maritime Lawyers in Miami, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.217 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked maritime lawyers in Miami, Florida are Jerry Dean Hamilton (LexRank 88.00), Richard James McAlpin (88.00) and Michael Charles Black (84.00).

This ranking lists 17 maritime lawyers in Miami, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 17 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 16 to 47 years in practice. 6 of the 17 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
17
Fully verified
17 of 17

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Jerry Dean Hamilton

    Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  2. No change

    Richard James McAlpin

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  3. No change

    Michael Charles Black

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 4.00 points behind #2, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    4.00 points behind #2 (Richard James McAlpin): Reputation −4.

  4. No change

    Andrew Douglas Craven

    Chartwell Law · Miami, FL

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

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

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  5. No change

    Robert Louis Gardana

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  6. No change

    David Avellar Neblett

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  7. No change

    Jennifer Patricia Brooks

    Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  8. No change

    Raul Julio Chacon Jr.

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  9. No change

    Allan Richard Kelley

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  10. No change

    Frank Joseph Sioli Jr.

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

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

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  11. No change

    James Norford Hurley

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #10, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    1.40 points behind #10 (Frank Joseph Sioli Jr.): Data quality −1.4.

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

  12. No change

    Gustavo A. Martínez-Tristani

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 81.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    1.00 points behind #11 (James Norford Hurley): Experience −2.4.

  13. No change

    Tonya J. Meister

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 81.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  14. No change

    Richard Dennis Rusak

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 81.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  15. No change

    Kassandra Cecilia Doyle Taylor “Kassie”

    Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Maritime
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 74.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 7.20 points behind #14, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

    7.20 points behind #14 (Richard Dennis Rusak): Experience −7.2.

  16. No change

    Victor Jose Pelaez

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 73.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 1.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

    1.20 points behind #15 (Kassandra Cecilia Doyle Taylor “Kassie”): Experience −1.2.

  17. No change

    Tyler Jon Tanner

    Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 73.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (19.2/30).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

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 · 17 profile pages193 facts for 17 lawyers

Maritime market in Miami

LexRanked tracks 17 lawyers and 2 law firms in maritime law in Miami, Florida. 17 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
17
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
17 of 17
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
28 years17 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

What sets these Miami lawyers apart

All 17 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 17 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law 17 of 17
Years in practice 16 to 47 (median 28)
Languages besides English Spanish (6), German (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 Miami office address and maritime as a practice area on record. It compares 17 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. 17 of the 17 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Miami?

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

Are there Spanish-speaking maritime lawyers in Miami?

Yes. 6 of the 17 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?

17 of the 17 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Jerry Dean Hamilton, Richard James McAlpin, Michael Charles Black, Andrew Douglas Craven and Robert Louis Gardana and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

6 of the 17 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 6 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Maritime Lawyers in Miami, 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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