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W. Douglas Berry

General Counsel to the Firm | Tampa

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As General Counsel to the firm in Tampa, W. Douglas Berry joined Butler in 1989. From 2001 through 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.

At its Annual Meeting in 2018, the Veterans Affairs Committee of the Defense Research Institute recognized Doug’s pro bono work before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims with its Veterans Network Meritorious Service Award.  Also in 2018, on behalf of the firm, Doug and John Garaffa accepted the Veterans Pro Bono Consortium Chairman’s Award for Organizational Leadership.

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

Media

Recognizing the Best Lawyers in America

Please join us in congratulating our Partners for being recognized on "The Best Lawyers in America" list for 2021. Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. For more than three decades, their publications have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most ...

Covid-19—When Civil Authorities Take Over, Are You Covered?

This article is originally a publication of International Risk Management Institute on March 2020. Legal opinions may vary when based on subtle factual differences. All rights reserved. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death. It is caused by a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans and easily spreads from person...

Doug Berry Awarded the Meritorious Service Award at the Dri Annual Meeting

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig is proud to announce that Partner Doug Berry earned the Meritorious Service Award at the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) Annual Meeting on October 20th. The recipient must be a DRI member who has served honorably as a member of the United States Armed Forces or the United States Coastguard and has distinguished him or herself by exemplary service to other veteran...

Butler Awarded the 2018 Tvc Chairman’s Award

Butler has been awarded the 2018 TVC Chairman's Award in recognition for our service provided to veterans and their families. For almost two decades, the Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP Pro Bono team has performed outreach for TVC National Volunteer Corps training events in Florida as well as directly serve veterans in need through the federal Veterans Pro Bono Program. Doug Berry and John Garaf...

The Veterans Consortium Recognizes a “Vip” – Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono Douglas Berry

This article is originally a publication of The Veterans Consortium. Legal opinions may vary when based on subtle factual differences. All rights reserved. Each month, The Veterans Consortium recognizes a “VIP” – Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono value all our volunteers and wish to recognize those who inspire others.  As an analyst and litigator of first and third-party coverage disputes w...

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All Insurance Adjuster Offices Now Need a Head Honcho!: Florida Legislature Addresses Adjusting and Public Adjusting Firms

Florida House Bill 911, “An Act Relating to Insurance Adjusters” became law on January 1, 2018. In large part, the new legislation deals with the internal operation of public adjusting firms. For example: A “public adjuster apprentice” must be bonded ($50,000, payable to the Department of Financial Services); A public adjusting firm cannot have more than four apprentices (formerly tw...

The 2018 Florida Best Lawyers Edition

The 2018 Florida Best Lawyers Edition is finally here! The Best Lawyers list is compiled by peer-review surveys that leading lawyers evaluate their professional peers. The process of this award is as follows: nomination, peer review, analysis of feedback, eligibility check, and then the release of the Best Lawyers in Florida....

Doug Berry | The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

In your most recent pro bono case, you were able to get the decision of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals reversed on behalf of your client. Is that correct? Yes. Case was remanded back to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (“BVA”) for further proceedings which are considered a victory; only on very rare occasions does the court actually award monetary benefits as part of a favorable decision....

Doug Berry Wins Appeal on Behalf of Veteran

Doug Berry won an appeal on behalf of a veteran in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims. The USCAVC hears appeals of denials of veterans' benefits. Before joining Butler, Doug served for 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, he served as an infantry officer in the Republic of Vietnam before attending law school on a Marine Corps scholarship. The case was ...

Doug Berry Honored at Lloyd’s

On 18 November 2014, Managing Partner Doug Berry was honored by numerous representatives of the leading Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, for his many years of superlative service to the London property insurance market. Charles Glaisher of Faraday Underwriting Ltd. presented Doug with a biography of Sir Winston Churchill and a compilation of Great Speeches, which were both signed by the many clien...

Seven Partners Listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2015

Butler is pleased to announce that seven of its Partners were listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2015, a highly regarded directory of attorneys, where inclusion is entirely peer-based and extremely selective. Fewer than 4% of the nation's attorneys are included. Jerry Albrecht, Paul Butler, Doug Berry, Bill Lewis, Kathy Maus, and John Weihmuller were selected for Insurance Law. Lewis Collins w...

For the Second Year in a Row, Florida Trend Magazine has Named Butler One of Florida’s Top Companies to Work For

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP was recently named one of Florida's Best Companies To Work For. One-hundred companies were recognized in small, medium and large company categories. The rankings – the second annual statewide Best Companies list – appear in the August issue Florida Trend and on FloridaTrend.com. The Best Companies To Work For In Florida program was created by Florida Trend a...

Butler Named One of the Best Companies to Work for in Florida

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP was recently named one of Florida's Best Companies To Work For. One-hundred companies were recognized in small, medium and large company categories. The rankings – the first statewide Best Companies list – appear in the August issue Florida Trend and on FloridaTrend.com. READ THE ARTICLE...

Governor Vetoes Condominium Insurance Bill

Governor Crist vetoes revisions to condominium insurance statute. The recent legislative session passed Senate Bill 714 which sought to clarify the insuring responsibilities between the unit owner and the association. For reasons outlined in his letter of June 1, the Governor vetoed the measure. LINK TO ARTICLE...

Hindsight Vs. Foresight: The Adjustment Of Business Income Claims

A Debate Renewed This article was originally published in For The Defense, May 2007, Vol. 49, No. 5.  Reprinted by permission. 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.   Business Income Loss Claim Variables There are two signific...

W. Douglas Berry