Caryn L. Bellus is a shareholder at the law firm of Kubicki Draper, where she practices in the areas of civil appeals, civil litigation support and insurance coverage. She is a Board Certified Appellate Lawyer whose practice encompasses all areas of civil law. Her extensive appellate experience includes appearances before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Florida Supreme Court and all five Florida District Courts of Appeal. In addition, in the areas of insurance coverage and bad faith, Ms. Bellus is experienced in providing coverage analysis and litigating the interpretation of insurance policies.  Ms. Bellus has been elected Chair-Elect of The Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar and is the Chair of the FDLA’s Amicus Curiae Committee.  Ms. Bellus was voted a Florida Super Lawyer in Appellate Practice in 2006 through 2012, named one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Appellate Practice in 2009 through 2011, and selected as a top lawyer in Appellate and Insurance Coverage by South Florida Legal Guide each year since 2005.

Prior to joining Kubicki Draper, Ms. Bellus served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gisela Cardone-Ely at the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Areas of Practice:  

- Appellate and Insurance Coverage

- Claims Administration and Bad Faith

 

Bar Admissions:  

- 1995, State of Florida

- United States Supreme Court

- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit

Education:

- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, FL (J.D., 1995)
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (B.A., 1991)

Certifications/Specialties:

- Florida Bar Board Certified - Appellate Practice

- Certified Continuing Education Instructor, State of Florida

Special Awards and Recognitions: 

- 2009, 2011, FDLA's Annual Amicus Award
- 2006 - 2012, Named Florida "Super Lawyer" in Appellate Practice,

   Law & Politics Magazine - an honor awarded to only the top 5% of

   the attorneys in Florida

- 2009 - 2011, Listed Florida Trend Magazine, Florida Legal Elite,

   Appellate Practice Area

- 2006 - 2009, Top Lawyers in South Florida - Appellate and Insurance

   Coverage, South Florida Legal Guide

- 2011, Super Lawyers Business Edition

- 2012, Named Florida's "Best Lawyers", Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers Magazine

- Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale Hubbell

Professional Associations and Memberships:

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Chair-Elect (2012-2013)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section,

   Vice Chair (2011-2012)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section,

  Secretary/Treasurer (2010-2011)
- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Chair, Publications Committee (2006 - 2010)
- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Editor, The Guide (2002 - 2006)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Member, Publications Committee (2001 - Present)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Assistant Editor, The Guide (2001-2002)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Executive Council (2000 - Present)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Chair, Programs Committee (1999-2001)

- The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section

   Vice Chair, Programs Committee (1998 - 1999)

- The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, (1996 - Present)

- Dade County Bar Association (1995 - Present)

- Dade County Bar Association (2001 - Present)

   Dade County Appellate Court Committee

- Dade County Defense Bar (1995 - Present)

- Defense Research Institute

- Florida Defense Lawyer Association

   Chair, Amicus Curiae Committee (2007 - Present)

- Florida Defense Lawyers Association

- Junior Achievement, Dade County

   Board of Directors

- National Association of Women Judges, Friends Committee (Present)

- Temple Beth Am, Miami, Florida

   Committee of 100

- The Rosemary Barkett Appellate American Inn of Court 

Classes and Seminars Presented:

- "We've Got You Covered! Hot Topics in Florida Insurance Coverage Law", Kubicki Draper,

   Claims Management Conference, 2012

- "First Party Bad Faith, Ethics for the Insurance Claims Professionals, Spoliation, Insurance

   Coverage", First Protective Seminar, 2012

- "Investigating Staged Accidents, Liens & Set Offs", Geico Insurance, 2011

- "Claims Handling Mediation Strategy Issues", First Protective/Front Line Insurance, 2011

- "Coverage/Setting Aside Defaults", Kubicki Draper, Claims Management Conference, 2010

- "Adjuster Ethics: An Overview of Applicable Regulations and Relevant Considerations", Kubicki

   Draper, Claims Management Conference, 2009

- "Defending and Evaluating Mold Claims", Kubicki Draper, Claims Management Conference, 2008 

- "Premises Liability Law and Defenses", Kubicki Draper, Claims Management Conference, 2007

 

Past Employment Positions:

- Hon. Gisella Cardonne, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge

   Law Clerk

Caryn L. Bellus

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