William F. “Chip” Merlin, Jr., Esq.

Biography

As founder and president of Merlin Law Group, Chip has dedicated his practice to the representation and advocacy of insurance policyholders in disputes with insurance companies nationwide.

Chip was noted as the “Babe Ruth of Hurricane lawyers” in the Asbury Park Press for his work on behalf of 23 municipalities and hundreds of policyholders following Superstorm Sandy. The Tampa Bay Times dubbed him “the Master of Disaster” for his nationwide catastrophe work and helping policy holders following Hurricane Katrina.

He was provided a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Florida Association of Public Adjusters for his advocacy on behalf of policyholders. He is on the Board of Directors of United Policyholders, has been a guest commentator on CNN and Fox News and is past Chair of the Insurance Bad Faith Litigation Group of the American Association of Justice. When the workday is over, Merlin goes the extra mile.

To learn more about insurance claim disputes from Chip, read his valuable contributions to the Merlin Law Group Blog here.

Awards

  • WIND Fellow, 2018
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters 2017
  • Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters Business, 2007–2017
  • Florida Trend Magazine: Florida’s Legal Elite, 2004–2017
  • AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rankings
  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubble since 2011
  • The National Law Journal® — Top Rated Lawyers 2011–2014
  • Tampa Bay Magazine, Tampa Bay’s best Lawyers, 2010
  • Lexis Nexis Insurance Law Center Person of the Year 2008 Policyholder Attorney of the Year, Honorable Mention, 2008
  • National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), Co-Person of the Year, 2007
  • Outstanding Amicus Brief of the Year, United Policyholders, 2002
  • Eagle Talon Award, The Florida Justice Association (formerly the academy of Florida Trial Lawyers), 1990

Highlights

  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Rated, 1999-present
  • Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, 2007-2017
  • Florida Trend Magazine: Florida’s Legal Elite, 2004-2017

Associations

  • Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters Board Member
  • United Policyholders Board Member
  • American Association for Justice, President’s Member
  • Citizen’s Property Insurance Corporation Mission Review Task Force 2008
  • National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) Associate Member
  • Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) Associate Member
  • Community Associations Institute (CAI) Associate Member
  • Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Associate Member
  • Windstorm Insurance Network President
  • American Association for Justice, 1996–1998, Chairman, Bad Faith Insurance Litigation Group
  • American Association for Justice, Fire and Property Insurance Litigation Group, 1993–1995 Secretary
  • American Bar Association, 1988–1998, Vice Chairman, Subcommittee on Property Insurance Law

Education

University of Florida College of Law
Gainesville, Florida
Juris Doctor

University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor of Science
Honors: Moot Court
Honors: Florida Blue Key
Honors: Omicron Delta Kappa
Law Review: University of Florida Law Review, Executive Editor