Archives: Team Members

Kelly Wark Sharples earned her Juris Doctor degree in 2001 cum laude from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Studying English with a Concentration in Writing, Ms. Sharples received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida in 1999.

Ms. Sharples began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit. During her almost ten years as a prosecutor, Kelly Sharples specialized in the prosecution of sexually motivated offenses and crimes against children, but also prosecuted career criminal, firearm, homicide and domestic violence cases.  Kelly Sharples has tried over 75 felony jury trials to verdict.  In addition to
her vast experience in criminal law, Kelly Wark Sharples has also represented clients in all aspects of family law, from motion practice to trial.

Kelly Sharples has lectured at numerous national and state-wide conferences on the topics of sexually motivated crimes and crimes against children, domestic violence, human trafficking, internet crimes against children and DNA evidence collection.  While Kelly Sharples remains a fierce litigator on behalf of her clients, in her leisure time, Kelly enjoys spending time with her two daughters, swimming, practicing
yoga, and walking her dog on the beach.

• Stetson University School of Law- Juris Doctor
• Florida State University – English with a Concentration in Writing

• Construction litigation
• Civil litigation
• Insurance defense
• Premise liability
• Personal injury
• Criminal law
• Family law

• Florida

• Former Vice President – Volusia/Flagler Association for Women Lawyers
• Former Board Member – Volusia/Flagler Association for Women Lawyers
• Former President – Young Lawyer’s Division/Volusia County Bar Association
• Former Co-Chair – Flagler County Sex Crimes Task Force
• Former Committee Chair for Community Outreach – Rape Crisis Center of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida

• https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/local/2009/08/28/former-skynyrd-drummer-acquitted/985597007/
• https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2010/06/29/davis-guilty-all-counts/16229029007/
• https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2010/06/29/man-guilty-sexual-battery-woman-75/15940460007/
• https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2009/07/23/st-johns-man-convicted-of-sex-battery-on-juvenile/15978769007/
• https://www.baltimoresun.com/os-xpm-2006-10-21-cfbriefs21-9-story.html
• https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2006/12/23/man-gets-life-in-child-abuse/
• https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2011/03/25/nichols-appeal-punishment-2-life-sentences/16207336007/
• https://www.news4jax.com/news/2009/05/22/woman-convicted-in-daytona-beach-murder/
• http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-09-27/martinez-sentenced-life-prison-0
• http://www.news4jax.com/news/St-Johns-County-man-gets-life-for-raping-a-7-year-old-child/-/475880/16767700/-/wf01d9/-/index.html
• http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2012-09-27/story/st-johns-man-gets-2-life-sentences-sexually-battery-minor
• http://www.historiccity.com/2012/staugustine/news/florida/martinez-guilty-gets-two-life-plus-90-years-30732

Karina Acevedo is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She moved to Miami, Florida with her family as a child and later resided in Gran Canaria, Spain. Ms. Acevedo studied Political Science and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida International University. She decided to continue her education and study law. She received her Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Law Center in 2004. Ms. Acevedo began her legal career by advocating for the immigrant community by practicing Immigration and Naturalization Law. After many years of practicing immigration, she decided that she wanted to expand her horizons and explore other facets of law. Ms. Acevedo is excited to master First Party Property Litigation and become a productive member of the DSB&C Team.

When Karina is not practicing law, she enjoys bargain hunting, traveling, and reading.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Florida International University – Bachelor’s in Arts, Magna Cum Laude

• First and Third-Party Coverage and Defense

• Florida

Vicki A. Knapp began her career utilizing her political science background by working for a state senator in the West Virginia legislature. She decided to further her interest in law by attending Nova Southeastern University and obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 2008. While in law school, Ms. Knapp interned at the Everglades Law Center, where she found another passion in environmental and land use law. In recent years, Ms. Knapp has taught Business Law courses at Indian River State College. While her current focus is on subrogation recovery, she continues an interest in other areas of the law, such as public policy and estate planning.

• Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center – Juris Doctor
• West Virginia University  – Master of Arts in Political Science

• Insurance Subrogation

• Florida

Kristin Bianculli is an accomplished trial attorney who brings significant experience and unwavering dedication to the table. Her passion for justice has motivated her throughout her education and legal experience. Ms. Bianculli concentrates in complex litigation with an emphasis on products liability, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death. She has also handled class action cases and litigates in both State and Federal courts.

A native of New Jersey, Kristin attended the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where she graduated first in her class and Summa Cum Laude in 2004, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She then moved to Fort Lauderdale and attended law school at Nova Southeastern University. While at Nova, Kristin was accepted to the distinguished Moot Court Honor Society, where she competed in national tournaments. She also received a number of book awards and was a dedicated member of Nova Law Review, where she served as Associate Technical Editor and taught the Summer Candidacy Program. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree, Cum Laude, from Nova’s Shephard Broad Law Center in 2008, and was admitted into the Florida Bar that same year. Prior to joining the firm in 2022 as Trial Counsel for plaintiff cases, Kristin was a Partner at one of the country’s top civil trial law firms, where she obtained numerous multimillion dollar settlements and verdicts for her clients.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude
• Saint Joseph’s University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude

• Personal Injury
• Wrongful Death
• Products LiabilityPremises Liability
• Trucking and Aviation
• Medical Malpractice
• Professional Malpractice
• Plaintiff’s Subrogation

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

• Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2021 for work in Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation (Plaintiff’s Categories), with additional Best Lawyers honored awards as published in Yahoo Finance:
• “Lawyer of the Year: Products Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Fort Lauderdale,” 2021
• “Best Lawyers: Women in the Law – Top Peer Nominated Lawyers” 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• “Lawyers of the Year in America: Florida” 2017
• Best Lawyers in South Florida as published in The Wall Street Journal 2016-2019, with additional honored awards:
• “Lawyers of the Year in South Florida” 2017
• Lawyers of Distinction “5 Star Award: Civil Litigation,” 2021
• National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Attorneys in America – Civil Plaintiff,” 2020
• Super Lawyers® “Top Rated Plaintiff Personal Injury Attorney – Florida,” 2019, 2020
• Fort Lauderdale Illustrated “Top Lawyers Award,” 2020
• Lawyer Monthly Magazine’s winner of “Women in the Law Award”, 2019
• Top Verdict™ “Top 20 Truck Accident Jury Verdicts,” 2017 (Federal)
• Florida Justice Association Research and Education Foundation’s “Cy Pres Award,” 2017
• Daily Business Review’s “Professional Excellence Award: Top Attorneys to Watch & Rising Star,” 2016
• Top Attorneys in the Miami Area, as published in The SL, 2015
• Florida Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2015
• South Florida Business Journal’ “People on the Move” Award, 2014
• Daily Business Review’s award for “Most Effective Lawyers in Personal Injury,” 2013
• Best Lawyers Magazine, “One of the Best Attorneys in Florida – Young Lawyers,” 2012
• AVVO Rating: 10/10 Superb

• American Association for Justice
• Florida Justice Association
• Broward County Bar Association
• Membership Committee Chair 2019
• Broward County Trial Lawyers Association
• Executive Board: Secretary 2021-22, Treasurer 2020-21, Newsletter Editor 2019-20, Case Evaluator 2018
• Co-Chair of Women’s Caucus
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers
• Broward County Women Lawyers’ Association
• American Inns of Court, Stephen R. Booher Chapter
• Florida Bar Association; Trial Lawyers Section
• Dive Bar – The Underwater Bar Association

• Friends of Jack & Jill: Board Member, By-laws Committee Chair, Teacher and Administrative Appreciation Outreach Committee
• Legal Aid Service of Broward County
• Florida Justice Association Research and Education Foundation
• Cypress Run Education Center as part of KAPOW/Learning for Success (Kids and the Power of Work) MFIN (My Future is Now) Program
• POSSE Foundation, volunteer student counselor, writing coach and mentor

Jim, a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and undergraduate of Villanova University, is admitted to practice in New York and North Carolina.  During his over twenty years of practice, Jim has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in all phases of litigation through trial and is a graduate of the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Group Trial Academy.

Jim primarily pursues casualty subrogation recoveries on behalf of clients, and he is experienced in several areas of law: products liability, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, aviation, architects & engineers, workers’ compensation, and commercial disputes (contracted for goods & services).  Jim is mindful of the costs associated with litigation, and he regularly advises clients about the benefits and limitations of pursuing a pretrial recovery through negotiation, arbitration, and mediation.

Personally, Jim is married with two children, regularly performs as an acoustic musician at local venues, and is an avid college basketball and professional baseball fan.

• St. John’s University School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• Villanova University – B.A., Political Science

• Subrogation & Recovery

• New York
• North Carolina
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court
• New York (Southern & Eastern Districts)

• National Association of Subrogation Professionals

• Co-authored Products Liability Case Law Update (Defense Research Institute Products Liability Annual Meeting Materials, 2011).
• Co-authored “Current Observations of the Fair Use Doctrine” (Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting Materials, 2006).
• Co-authored “Grokster v. MGM: Why Is My Teenager Being Sued?” (Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting Materials, 2005).
• “Hand and Power Tools: Selected Cases” (DRI Products Liability Annual Meeting Materials, 2004).

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

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 the President of NASP’s Board of Directors, after serving 2 years as its Vice President and 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 and 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
• 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
• New Jersey
• Massachusetts
• U.S. District Court (E.D.N.Y.)
• U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
• U.S. District Court (New Jersey)
• U.S. District Court (Massachusetts)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

• 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® 2006-2022
• 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)

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