About
As General Counsel to the firm in Tampa, W. Douglas Berry joined Butler in 1989. From 2001 to 2014, he served as the firm’s Managing Partner. When not engaged in firm management, Doug practices in the Coverage department of Butler, where he is involved in the analysis and litigation of first and third party coverage disputes with policyholders. Other areas of his practice include Extra-Contractual claims, Appellate advocacy, Municipal Liability, and Reinsurance Coverage.
Doug graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in 1969. On a Marine Corps scholarship, he attended and graduated from Stetson College of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1977. He also received a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1974 and a Master of Laws degree from George Washington University in 1989.
Before joining Butler, Doug served for 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, he served as infantry officer in the Republic of Vietnam before attending law school on a Marine Corps scholarship. After graduating law school, among other assignments, he served as a defense counsel, chief prosecutor and as a special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Doug is a graduate of the National College of District Attorneys Career Prosecutor Course at the University of Houston, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy's national course at the University of Colorado and a Trial Advocacy Instructor course at Harvard University.
Throughout his prestigious career, Doug has lectured on coverage and law firm management topics for the American Bar Association, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Defense Research Institute and the Florida Windstorm Network.
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Florida
Education
- U.S. Naval Academy
Bachelor of Science - University of Southern California
Master of Science - Stetson University
Doctor of Jurisprudence - George Washington University
Master of Laws
Memberships
- American Bar Association (former Chair, Property Insurance Law Committee, TTIPS)
- Bars of the Courts of Military and Veterans Appeals
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
- Florida Bar Association (FBA)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA)
- The District of Columbia Bar
Courts
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- All Federal District Courts of Florida
- Courts of Military and Veterans Appeals
- Florida State Courts
Experience
Publications
May 01, 2007
PUBLICATIONHindsight vs. Foresight: The Adjustment of Business Income Claims
The hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 resulted in many claims for loss of business income. Applying this coverage, which is always tricky, can be even more problematic in the context of widespread devastation.
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