Archives: Team Members

Kateem Ellis is a tenacious and passionate attorney who stands out as a committed and formidable advocate for his clients. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science from the University of North Florida, followed by a Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University, College of Law.  His career is marked by extensive experience in handling intricate litigation and achieving substantial results for his clients.

As a first-generation Jamaican-American, Kateem launched his career at one of the nation’s largest personal injury law firms, where he handled complex litigation matters and consistently achieved favorable results for his clients.

Kateem’s commitment to the legal profession is further demonstrated through his active involvement in the community. He is a proud member of the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association and is part of the inaugural cohort of the organization’s Young Lawyers Academy.

Although he was born in Manhattan, New York, Kateem has enjoyed spending most of his life in Florida. He also enjoys playing as well as watching basketball and football. But most importantly, Kateem loves to spend time with his dog and family.

• Florida A&M University, College of Law – Juris Doctorate
• University of North Florida – Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Political Science

• Subrogation
• Personal Injury

• Florida

• Florida Bar Association
• Paul C. Perkins Bar Association

Craig is a transformational leader who excels in leveraging data, embracing emerging technology, and upholding a people-first orientation. His proficiency in data-driven decision-making enables him to utilize data analytics for insightful trend identification and implementation of business strategies aligning with organizational goals. Craig’s self-driven nature and disciplined approach, honed through his military experience, form the bedrock of his professional resilience, focus and strong work ethic. These qualities are instrumental in his ability to tackle challenges, persevere in adversity and maintain excellence in both personal and professional spheres.

Prior to joining Derrevere, Stevens, Black & Cozad, Craig was the Vice President for the Recovery, Subrogation and Salvage Department at Chubb North America.  At Chubb, Craig led a large team of diverse and exceptional professionals across eleven business units and eight lines of business throughout the U.S. and Canada.  His approach intertwines transformational leadership strategies, cutting-edge technology and collaboration with Analytics, Optimization, and Business Intelligence partners to extract the most value from the subrogation practice for the client.

Prior to leading the Recovery Department, Craig was the Supervising Attorney for the Subrogation Practice Group at Eustace, Prezioso & Yapchanyk, Chubb’s House Counsel law firm in New York City.  Craig led a team that handled a high-volume, high-profile inventory while litigating complex losses; exemplifying his capability to interpret and apply policies, lead operations and conduct effective public relations. His extensive litigation and legal experience across various lines of business further underscore his ability to identify and analyze legal issues, assess and manage risk, effectively prioritize objectives and engage with stakeholders to communicate legal strategies and solutions.

Prior to joining Chubb’s House Counsel, Craig was a litigation attorney at Sheps Law Group, P.C. in New York specializing in property subrogation losses for some of the largest carriers in the industry.  His deep expertise is further exemplified by his critical work in landmark cases, such as the Con Edison steam pipe explosion and litigation following the events of 9/11. Craig brings over 18 years of litigation and legal expertise spanning areas including complex commercial litigation, product liability, construction negligence, recovery for auto, marine, fidelity, cyber, agriculture and environmental losses, as well as, arbitrations, contracts / service agreements / SOW development and analysis, crane collapse litigation and catastrophic (wildfire) losses.

Craig served in the United States Air Force where he was a Network Systems Administrator with secret security clearance from the DoD responsible for the secure communications of sensitive data, infrastructure functionality and deployment of operational system utilities as a member of the 439th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Westover Air Force Base. Craig’s outstanding service and leadership were recognized by his peers and senior leaders when he received the Air Force Achievement Medal to acknowledge his meritorious contributions to the unit.

In his spare time, Craig volunteers as a mentor through Hire Heroes USA to assist active-duty members of the military transitioning to the civilian workforce.

• Touro Law School – JD
• State University of Buffalo – Bachelor of Arts in English
• Cornell University – Data Analytics Certification
• Project Management Institute (PMI) – Project Management Certification
• Community College of the Air Force – Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology

• Insurance Subrogation
• Civil Litigation
• Product Liability

• New York
• Connecticut

• Air Force Achievement Medal
• Advisory Counsel to the Executive Board for the National Association of Subrogation Professionals

Adam Adler earned his bachelor’s degree from CUNY Queens College. Mr. Adler graduated from the South Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas bar in 2017. In 2022, Adam was admitted to the New York bar.

Prior to joining Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad, Mr. Adler served as in-house counsel for Allstate, Chubb, and GEICO. In those roles, Adam engaged in the defense of civil litigation, including claims for personal injury, property damage, and the prosecution of claims for subrogated interests in both Texas and New York. Mr. Adler represented the insurer as a corporation and the insured customers in thousands of claims. Mr. Adler was recently recognized for the highest accumulation of subrogation recovery nationwide for Allstate Insurance in 2022 with over $4 million recovered. Mr. Adler has extensive experience litigating cases and has performed litigation case management including mediations, arbitration, depositions, examinations under oath, handling various motion practices and hearings, and conducting general trial preparation and trial performance. He has taken more than a dozen cases to jury verdict, with positive results for his clients. His diverse skill sets, and experience enable him to form profound connections while affecting the best promising outcome through his service as a trusted advocate and guardian of his clients’ interests.

During his leisure time, Adam enjoys traveling abroad, skiing, acroyoga, soccer, dodgeball, and preparing for his next runner’s marathon.

• South Texas College of Law (Juris Doctorate)
• CUNY Queens College (Bachelor of Arts – Magna Cum Laude)

• Subrogation
• Insurance Defense

• Texas
• New York State

Matthew Loescher is a graduate of Stony Brook University in New York, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Matthew received his Juris Doctorate Degree, from Touro University School of Law – having graduated from its Honors Program – and is admitted to practice law in the state of New York. At Touro, Matthew simultaneously served as an Editor of the school’s Law Review and on the Executive Board of the school’s Moot Court.

Matthew has extensive experience in complex civil litigation cases, as well as experience across a wide variety of areas including, but not limited to, medical malpractice claims, insurance subrogation, insurance defense, personal injury, land use and zoning, and products liability. Since joining DSB&C in 2024, Matthew has become a valued addition to the firm’s expanding subrogation team in New York

• Touro University School of Law – Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude
• Stony Brook University in New York – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

• Civil Litigation
• Insurance Subrogation
• Insurance Defense
• Personal Injury
• Products Liability

• New York

Benjamin “Ben” Kaufman is a devoted attorney with a specialty in civil litigation. Hailing from South Florida, Mr. Kaufman relocated to Orlando, where he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida. Mr. Kaufman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Florida A&M University College of Law (“FAMU”) and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2022. In law school he also served as the Executive Editor of the FAMU Law Review, a prestigious academic organization.

Mr. Kaufman has a passion for personal injury law and contract litigation. Fresh out of law school, Mr. Kaufman joined a nationwide plaintiff personal injury firm where he evaluated and developed thousands of pre-suit personal injury cases before becoming a civil litigator. There, Mr. Kaufman represented and counseled personal injury clients during the beginning stages of their cases, working to investigate and amicably settle claims or transition them into litigation. In litigation, Mr. Kaufman prides himself in his ability to both identify the key issues in a lawsuit and explore them through discovery and depositions. He brought this unique perspective to DSB&C where he enthusiastically represents clients with an approach grounded in professionalism and client satisfaction.

Throughout law school, Mr. Kaufman balanced work and academia in pursuit of his dream of serving the people of Florida with their legal endeavors. He comes from a large family, enjoys mentoring students, and when Mr. Kaufman is not practicing law or spending time with his friends and family, you can find him playing electric guitar, lifting weights, or enjoying Florida’s beautiful coastline.

• Florida A&M University College of Law – Juris Doctorate Magna Cum Laude
• University of Central Florida – Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies

• Premise Liability
• Automobile Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Trip and Fall
• Negligent Security

• Florida

Paula Melo focuses her practice in first and third-party property insurance defense and general liability cases. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law and became a member of the Florida Bar in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, Paula was employed as in-house counsel at one of the largest homeowner’s insurance carriers in Florida. Since 1996, Paula is also a licensed attorney in Brazil where she practiced with emphasis in civil litigation, corporate law, and regulatory compliance.

Paula strongly believes in giving back to the community through volunteer work. She currently serves as a pro bono attorney with Lawyers For Children America, providing legal assistance to young adults transitioning out of the foster system. In her free time, Paula loves to travel with her son and daughter, and to spoil their dog Pingo.

• Nova Southeastern University (Juris Doctorate)
• Pontificia Universidade Catolica Sao Paulo, Brazil (Juris Doctorate)

• First Party Property Defense
• Third Party Property Defense
• General Liability
• Personal Injury
• Premises Liability

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla.)

• Portuguese
• Spanish

Ashley Morrison is an associate with the firm’s West Palm Beach office. Prior to joining the firm Ms. Morrison worked as an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida where she prosecuted hundreds of felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile delinquency cases and tried over 20 jury trials. After her time at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Morrison practiced at a prominent Miami insurance defense firm where she specialized in government liability and premise liability matters.

Ms. Morrison’s litigation experience also includes mortgage foreclosures, loss mitigation negotiations, real estate transactions and general litigation involving real property. In law school, Ms. Morrison was an active member of the Nova Trial Association. In addition to serving on the executive board of the Nova Trial Association, Ms. Morrison represented Nova Southeastern University in several trial advocacy competitions nationwide. Ms. Morrison was also on the executive board of the Black Law Student Association where Ms. Morrison participated regionally and nationally in the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. After graduating Ms. Morrison became a Trial Team Coach for the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition Team at Nova.

When she is not practicing law, Ms. Morrison enjoys spending time with her three sons and husband cheering on the Buffalo Bills.

• Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center – Juris Doctorate
• State University of New York at Buffalo – Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

• General Liability
• Premise Liability
• Professional Liability
• Personal Injury
• Complex Commercial Litigation

• State of Florida
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla. and M.D. Fla.)

Kathryn Rivers is a Florida native, born and raised in Palm Beach County. Kathryn has a double major in Psychology and Political Science and graduated Cum Laude from Florida State University. She then decided to continue her education and residency in Florida, attending Florida International University College of Law. It is there that she received her Juris Doctorate and graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 10 of her class. Kathryn has always had a passion for Real Estate and Property law and has practiced Property Insurance Law, with an emphasis on First Party Property Coverage, for the entirety of her career.

In her free time, Kathryn enjoys spending time with her son and husband, watching Florida State Football, and reading.

• Florida International University – Juris Doctorate, Magna Cum Laude
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude

• First and third-party property coverage

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla.)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)

Nicole Jennings is an associate attorney at our New York office. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from Marquette University Law School, where she also earned a Certificate in Litigation. During law school, Nicole excelled as the Chief Justice of the Moot Court Program and competed in the New York Bar Association’s National Moot Court Competition as well as the Marquette Jenkins Honors Moot Court Competition, arguing before Seventh Circuit Judge Michael B. Brennan. Nicole also gained valuable experience clerking for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Prior to joining DSBC, she worked for another law firm where she focused her practice on litigation, particularly in subrogation.

• Marquette University Law School – Juris Doctor
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Bachelor of Arts

• Civil litigation
• Insurance Subrogation
• Product Liability
• Premises Liability

• Wisconsin
• New York (Pending)

James Suarez is a graduate of Florida International University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, cum laude. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1999 and was admitted to practice law in the State of Florida in 1999. James is a skilled civil litigator who prides himself on a client centric approach to his practice. James’ law career began as a commercial litigator in a Miami boutique law firm. Always seeking to learn and grow, James moved on to a prominent South Florida law firm where his practice areas included insurance defense, professional liability, negligence, and third-party litigation. Thereafter, James represented various insurance carriers in First Party Litigation. His diverse background enhances his ability to be an effective Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator. James joined the firm as a Partner in 2024. He is fluent in Spanish and enjoys traveling to visit family in Spain.

• George Washington University Law School, JD, 1999
• Florida International University, B.A. English

• First Party Insurance Defense
• Mediation
• Third-Party Insurance Defense
• Professional Liability Defense
• Automobile Insurance Defense

• Florida (1999)

• Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
• Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator