Archives: Team Members

Michelle Smith Lambert is a graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2008. Michelle obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Michelle was an attorney at a prominent insurance defense firm wherein she specialized in insurance coverage analysis, determination and defense; first and third-party insurance defense, bad faith, and commercial general liability.

Michelle was previously in-house counsel at a large Florida homeowners insurance carrier wherein she handled the litigation of first and third-party insurance claims and bad faith.

Michelle currently concentrates her practice on first and third-party insurance defense.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the United States and abroad.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Arts in English

• First-Party Property Defense
• Third-Party Property Defense

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

Richard T. Freilich received his juris doctorate from New York Law School. He has more than 20 years of experience representing individuals and small businesses in cases ranging from simple small claim matters to complex product liability, construction liability, and insurance disputes.

Richard has extensive experience with personal injury litigation, commercial litigation, commercial transactions, and commercial leasing. Richard has taken cases from initial investigation through discovery, motions, trial, and appeal. Primarily a plaintiff’s attorney for much of his career, Richard is a strong negotiator, always looking for a strategy to bring about a settlement that is advantageous to his client.

• New York Law School – Juris Doctorate
• New York State University, Buffalo – Dual B.A. English and Philosophy

• Subrogation
• Product Liability
• Construction Liability
• Personal Injury
• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial Transactions
• Commercial Leasing

• New York State
• United States Southern District of New York
• United States Eastern District of New York

Tyler D. Hardy received his juris doctorate from Georgia State University, where he participated in the Refugee/Asylum clinic while also interning for United States Senator Johnny Isakson.  Prior to law school, Tyler worked for the Department of Defense in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Tyler has extensive trial experience and has represented clients through all stages of litigation.  He has been successful at trial obtaining judgments in all five New York City counties.  Through his work, he has gained the respect and confidence of court officials, judges, and his colleagues.

Tyler is an avid sports fan who enjoys soccer, football, snowboarding, and hiking.

• Georgia State University College of Law – Juris Doctorate
• University of Maryland, Heidelberg Germany – Bachelor of Arts

• Subrogation
• Commercial Real Estate
• Residential Real Estate

• New York
• New Jersey

While living in Germany, he was a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for time spent volunteering with the American Red Cross.

Doug received his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a member of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal and was named Best Oral Advocate for his section in Appellate Advocacy. Prior to joining DSB&C, Doug worked for the New Hampshire Department of Justice and several law firms. Doug started handling subrogation claims in 2018. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Patrick DeAlmeida, P.J., in the Tax Court of New Jersey. Prior to law school, Doug had a successful career as a Financial Advisor.

In his spare time Doug is a filmmaker and screenwriter.

• Seton Hall University – Juris Doctorate
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – Bachelor of Arts

• Subrogation

• New York
• New Jersey
• Washington, D.C.
• New Hampshire

Rebecca L. Rhew received her juris doctorate from Nova Southeastern School of Law, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 7% of her class.

Rebecca is an experienced litigation attorney and previously practiced as in house counsel with Bank of America’s mortgage litigation department for 9 years, prior to joining the firm.

Rebecca is a mom of 2 boys, and an active volunteer for the Cub Scouts of America. She enjoys camping and gardening, as well as yoga to keep a healthy mindset in the busy practice of law.

• Nova Southeastern University, J.D. Magna Cum Laude, 2010
• Florida International University, B.S., 2005

• Real Estate Litigation
• Insurance
• Construction
• Appellate Litigation

• Florida, 2010
• U.S. District for the Southern District of Florida, 2011
• U.S. District for the Middle District of Florida, 2011

• Den Leader – Cub Scouts of America
• Dean’s List & Dean’s Merit Scholarship
• Moot Court – Best Oralist & Best Written Brief
• Multiple Book Awards
• Law Review

Ana L. Cuyar is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English. Ana obtained her juris doctorate degree from St Thomas University. Prior to joining the firm, Ana worked as an associate attorney at a prominent insurance defense firm, wherein she specialized in first party insurance coverage analysis, determination, and defense.

Ana has also worked as a Senior Attorney in the healthcare industry, providing revenue cycle management support for healthcare organizations and large hospitals. Ana currently focuses on first and third-party property defense.

Ana loves cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

• University of Florida – B.A. Degree with a Major in English
• St Thomas University – Juris Doctorate

• First Party Property Defense
• Third Party Property Defense

• Florida

Robert received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics and completed the degree requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Union College. He was awarded a Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Robert was employed with various law enforcement and investigative entities (as a Guard, Patrol Officer, Agent/Special Agent and/or Officer), including the Department of the Treasury, United States Custom Service as an Inspector. Robert was also a licensed N.Y.S. Emergency Medical Technician.

Robert has been investigating and litigating insurance claims for more than 30 years. Robert began his legal career working on many reinsurance matters (including being the only associate handling the Unigard v. North River trial and appeals). As a coverage attorney, many of Robert’s motions to dismiss/summary judgment were granted, and he received several arbitration and trial victories in his clients’ favor. As a defense attorney, Robert successfully acquired many voluntary discontinuances, thus saving his clients litigation fees/expenses, and potential adverse judgments. The vast majority of Robert’s career has focused on subrogation. His first subrogation investigation was the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. As a subrogation attorney, Robert has investigated, mediated, arbitrated and/or tried thousands of claims.

Robert has an AV® rating with Martindale-Hubbell indicating the highest ranking in legal ability and ethical standards as determined by his peers in the legal community. He is a Certified Subrogation Recovery Professional. Robert is a member of NASP’s Board of Directors, its Executive Committee and serves as its Vice President following 4 years as Treasurer. He has been named a New York Super Lawyer every year since 2006. Robert was the 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Chair of the National Property Subrogation Strategies ExecuSummit; Co-Chair of the Property Track for NASP’s 2010 Litigation Skills and Management Conference; Co- Chair for NASP’s 2011 Litigation Skills and Management Conference; and was Co-Chair of the Product Liability Track for NASP’s 2012 and 2013 National Annual Conferences. He is also included on the New Jersey Courts’ Statewide Roster of court-approved mediators as an R. 1:40 qualified mediator. He is a Certified Property Subrogation Arbitrator and was listed as a member in the Global Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals. Robert has served as an Editor of NASP’s Subrogator, including one term as Editor-in-Chief.

Robert frequently presents seminars and articles of interest to insurers, including courses at various insurance forums, such as NASP (Annual and Spring Conferences) and PLRB/LIRB (Annual and Regionals). He received the New York County Lawyers Association’s Certificate of Appreciation for pro bono work from 1992 through the present; the New York State Bar

Association’s Certificate of Appreciation; and was awarded “Partner in Education” by the New York City Public Schools. He was also Co-Editor of the Youth Law Manual distributed in New York Public Schools and a legal research assistant for the treatise “Securitization.”

Robert created an educational video/DVD titled: “Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques and Preparation.” The 60-minute course addresses strategies and techniques in preparing for arbitration, mediation and negotiation. The course is available at http://www.researchandmarkets.com/. Robert was also a panel speaker for a CLE program: “Skills for Preparation & Effective Representation in Insurance Mediations. This course is available at http://www.lawline.com/.

Robert authored a chapter in the New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition, a LexisNexis publication considered to be the most comprehensive source for insurance law. Chapter 161, entitled “Limitations On Bringing Subrogation Claims,” addresses various subjects such as subrogating against an insured, actions impairing subrogation rights, waivers of subrogation, voluntary payment doctrine, estoppel, splitting causes of action, unclean hands, laches and invalidity of a tortfeasor’s insurance policy. The Chapter not only provides an analysis of recent case law, with citations, but also helpful hints from Robert. A copy of New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition is available by searching the publication at www.lexisnexis.com/store.

• Boston University, School of Law, 1990 – Juris Doctorate
• Union College, 1987 – B.A. in Political Science Economics & Economics. Completed requirements for B.S. in Psychology

• Appeals
• Admiralty/Aviation/Maritime Transportation
• Casualty/Liability
• Corporate Disability/Health/Life
• Fidelity/Surety
• Construction
• Environmental
• First Party Property
• Intellectual Property
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Real Estate
• Reinsurance
• Subrogation

• New York – U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• New Jersey – U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• Massachusetts – U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit – U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

• New York County Lawyers’ Association
• New York State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Martindale Hubbel AV® rating 2021-2022
• Super Lawyers® 2006-2019
• Spirit of NASP Award from the President of the National Association of Subrogation
• Professionals 2015 Annual Conference

KirSheng “Kirk” Chen is an associate out of the firm’s office in West Palm Beach, Florida. He practices in the areas of Commercial and Civil Litigation, with an emphasis on construction disputes. He has experience representing design professionals, contractors, owners, developers, inspectors, and associated business entities. Mr. Chen also has extensive experience representing large financial institutions, as he did so during the residential foreclosure crisis.

Mr. Chen was also previously an Assistant State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit, where he served as a division lead in the Misdemeanor Trial Unit.

As an actively serving officer in the Florida Army National Guard, Mr. Chen was deployed for domestic disaster relief for Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Irma. He has also served our nation overseas, in support of Counter-Terrorism missions.

• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Minor in Business Administration – 2008
• University of Maryland Carey School of Law – 2011

• Construction Defect Litigation
• Construction Law
• Professional Liability
• Premises Liability
• General Liability

• Florida Bar, 2011
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Florida)
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Florida)

Lauren was born and raised in Central Florida and received her bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Florida. Though history had always been a passion of hers, law school was always the goal. After completing her undergraduate degree at UF, Lauren continued her education at New England School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate.

While in Law School, Lauren interned at the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and was a judicial intern for the Honorable Kelly J. McKibben, a Circuit Judge for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in Brevard County, Florida. After law school, Lauren began her career working for a First Party Property Litigation firm, where she managed cases through all stages of litigation. Outside of her career, Lauren enjoys music, traveling, learning about new cultures, reading, playing the piano, and being outdoors.

• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in History
• New England School of Law – Juris Doctorate

• Insurance Defense
• Civil Litigation

• Florida

Meghan graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Florida in December of 2006 and has been admitted to the Florida Bar since April of 2007. Meghan joined the firm as a Partner in 2021.

Meghan is also admitted to the Southern and Northern Districts of Florida, and she has practiced in both State and Federal courts. Meghan has assisted both homeowners and insurers in pre-suit matters and litigation. Her practice areas include insurance defense, commercial and residential contracts, and bad-faith litigation.

• University of Florida – Juris Doctorate
• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in English (with honors)

• Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Contracts

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

• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• Legal Research, Writing, and Drafting Certificate
• Book Award in Advanced Legal Research and Writing