Dericka Burke

Dericka Y. Burke is a Partner in Butler’s Tampa office, where she focuses her practice on first‑party property coverage and extra‑contractual litigation. Over the course of her career, she has built a reputation for being a steady, strategic advocate for insurance carriers navigating residential and commercial property disputes. Her areas of work spans claims involving hurricanes, sinkholes, fires, water losses, and catastrophic flood events.

Dericka has represented carriers in mediations throughout Florida, consistently achieving strong settlement outcomes by combining deep subject‑matter knowledge with a solutions‑oriented presence. Her experience extends beyond litigation; she regularly advises insurance adjusters on best practices for presuit claim handling, helping them identify and mitigate exposure early in the process. She has presented at webinars and training sessions on adjusting standards, hurricane‑related issues, and emerging trends in property insurance disputes.

During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Dericka played a key role in defending carriers and adjusters in business‑income lawsuits filed by commercial insureds. Her work in this area helped shape the firm’s response to a wave of unprecedented claims and reinforced her reputation as a trusted counselor during periods of uncertainty.

Before joining Butler, Dericka represented insurers in hurricane, product liability, and subrogation disputes across Florida. She also served as a legal intern for the Honorable Charlene Honeywell in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where she conducted legal research and drafted bench memoranda on a wide range of federal matters.

Dericka earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of South Florida and graduated cum laude from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. While in law school, she served as an associate editor of the Practical and Clinical Journal of Law, competed in the Case Classic National Mock Trial Competition, and held leadership roles in the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society.

As a Partner, Dericka continues to expand her practice with the same commitment to excellence, integrity, and client service that has defined her career. She is dedicated to strengthening the firm’s presence in the property insurance space.