Reed Smith today announced that a four-person team has joined its Insurance Recovery Practice in Miami, led by partners R. Hugh Lumpkin and Matthew B. Weaver. Before joining Reed Smith, Lumpkin and Weaver were shareholders and Camilla J. Cohen and Christopher T. Kuleba were associates in the Miami firm of Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin, which Lumpkin joined in 1999.
“Hugh is the leading insurance recovery lawyer in Florida who has focused his practice on a range of insurance issues over his stellar career,” said David M. Halbreich, Chair of Reed Smith’s Insurance Recovery Practice Group. “This represents a strategic expansion of our marquee insurance recovery practice reaching into Miami and beyond to the south. Florida has a history of issues arising out of hurricanes, and having this capability on the ground will be a real plus for our clients.”
With nearly 40 years of legal experience, Lumpkin focuses his practice on representing policyholders in evaluating, settling, and litigating coverage and extra contractual claims in both state and federal courts. He has extensive trial and appellate experience, and he regularly publishes and lectures on insurance coverage issues and controversies. A native of Venezuela, Lumpkin is a 1980 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.
“Joining Reed Smith is an opportunity for us to work on a significantly expanded U.S. platform, and it provides us with enhanced resources from which to continue to develop and build our practice,” Lumpkin said. “Over the years, we have co-counseled on many complex cases with Reed Smith. They share our commitment to client service, and we are delighted to join forces with this talented group of experienced insurance recovery lawyers.”
Weaver is a 2007 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law whose practice focuses on insurance coverage, unfair insurance practices, and insurer bad faith. His experience includes seeking recovery for policyholders, including in commercial general liability, directors and officers liability, professional liability, commercial and residential property and commercial criminal matters. He has prosecuted insurer bad faith cases on behalf of policyholders, including those seeking punitive damages for an insurer’s wrongful general business practices. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee and serves as a Vice Chair of its Property Insurance Law Committee.
Cohen is a 2013 cum laude graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Before joining Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin in 2015, she was a litigation associate at GrayRobinson in Fort Lauderdale. Kuleba is 2013 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law. He was a summer associate at Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin before joining the firm five years ago. Both have experience litigating insurance disputes on behalf of policyholders in state and federal courts.
“It feels as if we have added longtime friends with the arrival of this accomplished team,” said Ed Mullins, Reed Smith’s Miami Managing Partner. “The firm has made a substantial commitment to and investment into the Miami market. Hugh and Matt’s well-established connections throughout the community and region will be of great benefit as we continue to expand our litigation presence and influence in the Southeast.”
Source: www.reedsmith.com
