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Top-Ranked Maritime Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked maritime lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Jacob John Munch (LexRank 88.00), Eric Christopher Thiel (79.20) and Anthony John Cuva (78.85).

This ranking lists 6 maritime lawyers in Tampa, 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 11 to 42 years in practice.

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

    Jacob John Munch

    Munch and Munch, P.A. · Tampa, FL

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

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

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.4)
    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
  2. No change

    Eric Christopher Thiel

    Banker Lopez Gassler P.A. · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 79.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 8.80 points behind #1, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 22.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)

    8.80 points behind #1 (Jacob John Munch): Experience −4.8, Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    Anthony John Cuva

    Turkel Cuva Barrios, P.A. · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 78.85: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.35 points behind #2, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)

    0.35 points behind #2 (Eric Christopher Thiel): Professional credentials −3.8, Data quality −1.4.

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

  4. No change

    Samuel Carlson Higginbottom

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 73.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 5.65 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.4)

    5.65 points behind #3 (Anthony John Cuva): Experience −10.8.

  5. No change

    Elbert Lelland Martin IV “LB”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 70.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 2.40 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 22.4)

    2.40 points behind #4 (Samuel Carlson Higginbottom): Experience −2.4.

  6. No change

    Catherine Munch Saylor “Casey”

    Munch and Munch, P.A. · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 67.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 3.60 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.7)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 22.4)

    3.60 points behind #5 (Elbert Lelland Martin IV “LB”): Experience −3.6.

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 pages64 facts for 6 lawyers

Maritime market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 6 lawyers and 3 law firms in maritime law in Tampa, Florida. 6 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
6
Law firms
3
Verified professional data
6 of 6
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
18.5 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 Tampa

What sets these Tampa 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 11 to 42 (median 18.5)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa 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 Hillsborough County is in Florida's Thirteenth 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.

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 Tampa?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

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: Jacob John Munch, Eric Christopher Thiel, Anthony John Cuva, Samuel Carlson Higginbottom and Elbert Lelland Martin IV “LB” and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Jacob John Munch scores 88.00 and Eric Christopher Thiel 79.20, a gap of 8.80 points, mostly in experience and 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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