Archives: Team Members

Bart Cozad graduated from Loyola University (New Orleans) in 1984 and Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, Michigan) in 1987. Mr. Cozad is admitted to all State and Federal Courts in South Florida and has tried over forty cases to jury verdict. Mr. Cozad’s practice area includes insurance defense, auto negligence, premises liability, toxic tort, products liability, construction litigation, insurance agent/broker errors and omissions, subrogation, libel/slander, bad faith litigation, wrongful death, corporate governance and compliance, commercial contracts and agreements, and corporate and business transactions.

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School – Juris Doctorate
• Loyola University (New Orleans) – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

• Litigation & Appeals
• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

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

• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Past Member – Defense Resource Institute (DRI)
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• Broward County Bar Association

Michael is the Managing Partner at Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad, where he also chairs the firm’s subrogation and real estate divisions. With a robust legal background, Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from The Florida State University College of Business in 2005, followed by his Juris Doctorate from the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in 2008.

Having joined the firm as an Associate in 2008, Michael quickly rose to Partner status in 2013, achieving this milestone just before his 30th birthday. In 2022, Michael was elected by his partners as its Managing Partner, succeeding the firm’s Founder, Jon D. Derrevere.

Michael is dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to clients across both Florida and New England. His practice spans a wide array of legal areas, including complex civil litigation, insurance subrogation, construction defects, family law, products liability, commercial and residential landlord-tenant disagreements, contract disputes, as well as premises liability.

With an emphasis on utilizing legal technology to provide better results for his clients and a better work/life balance for his co-workers, Michael devotes a portion of his practice to helping develop the next generation of legal technology. He also has a special place in his heart for preparing digital evidence presentations for hearings, mediations, and trials.

A Floridian at heart (and by birth), Michael proudly identifies as a Vermonter, even though he is not a third-generation Vermont resident. With both of his children coming into this world in Burlington, and having eloped with his soulmate in Winooski, nothing feels quite like home for Michael these days as does South Burlington.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Science in Accounting

• Digital Evidence Presentation
• Civil Litigation
• Insurance Subrogation
• Product Liability
• Premises Liability
• Complex Business Disputes
• Landlord Tenant Law

• Florida
• Massachusetts
• District of Columbia
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Maine
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (N.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (Vermont)
• U.S. District Court (Massachusetts)
• U.S. District Court (Connecticut)
• U.S. District Court (New Hampshire)

• Super Lawyer Rising Star 2012-2024

• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Palm Beach Bar Association
• Vermont Bar Association
• New Hampshire Bar Association
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• American Bar Association

• “Navigating The Hybrid Legal Workplace: Strategies for Success” – 2024 ILTACON Annual Conference
• “High Tech Persuasion: Elevating Legal Narratives With Technology” – 2024 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “The Evolution of Legal Timekeeping: From Quill to ZenCase’s Quantum Efficiency” – 2024 ILTACON Webinar Series
• “AI in Subrogation: Harnessing Potential & Recognizing Challenges and Limits​” – 2024 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Spring Conference
• “A Managing Partner’s Seamless Litigation Journey: Getting from Service to Settlement with the Perfect Litigation Workflow by NetDocuments, ZenCase, and ECFX”
• “We’ve Come Too Far to Go Back Now: Finding Happiness and Success Virtually Litigating and Subrogating Claims” – 2023 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “HR Workshop: Recruitment and Retention in Today’s Super Tight Job Market” – 2023 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Spring Conference
• “The Evidence is Gone – Now What” – 2022 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Battling Back Against the Implied Co-Insured Doctrine” – 2021 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Florida Worker’s Compensation Subrogation” – 2019 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Ethical Management: Meet the New Rules, Same as the Old Rules” – 2018 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Yes, but is it Classy (Ethical)?: A Year in Review of Effective/Ineffective Communications and How to Handle it with Class” – 2017 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Waivers of Subrogation and Subrogation Prohibitions in Florida” – 2014 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Florida Chapter Meeting

Stowe Aviation, LLC v. Agency of Com. & Cmty. Dev., 2024 VT 11 (Vt. Feb. 23, 2024)

Zurich American Insurance Company v. Puccini, LLC, 271 So.3d 1079 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)

14269 BT LLC v. Village of Wellington, 240 So.3d 1 2018 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Lapi West, LLC v. Village of Wellington, 4D17-2377 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2018)

Solonenko v. Georgia Notes 18, LLC, 257 So.3d 460 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Solonenko v. Georgia Notes 18, LLC, 246 So.3d 1248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Solonenko v. Georgia Notes 18, LLC, 182 So.3d 876 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016)

Gaspareto v. American Mortg. Inv., 195 So. 3d 375 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016)

Finer v. Naples Opportunity Fund, LLC, 175 So.3d 293 (Fla. 2d. DCA 2015)

Castle Key Ins. Co. v. Raymond H. Duke Enterprises, Inc., 135 So.3d 578 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014)

Derrevere v. Derrevere, 138 So.3d 1038 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)

Bryan W. Black is a third generation Floridian from Fort Myers, Florida. He is a graduate from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Law and a graduate of Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center. Mr. Black joined the firm as an Associate in 2005 and became a Partner in 2006. Mr. Black is admitted to the Middle and Southern Federal District Courts and the United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Black also acts as a private mediator. Mr. Black is a member of the American Institute of Architects (Allied member), and Florida East Coast Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. Mr. Black has experience in complex construction, civil litigation, professional liability insurance defense, premises liability, products liability, architectural and engineering defense, toxic tort, commercial contracts and agreements, corporate and business transactions, and insurance agent/broker errors and omissions cases in Florida Courts both State and Federal.  He also assists his clients with contract creation, review and enforcement.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Western Carolina University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

• Construction litigation
• Civil litigation
• Professional liability
• Insurance defense
• Premise liability
• Products liability
• Architectural and Engineering defense
• Toxic Tort
• Commercial contracts and agreements
• Corporate and business transactions
• Insurance agent/broker errors and omissions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)
• 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

• Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• American Institute of Architects (Allied Member)
• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Asphalt Contractors Association of South Florida
• Florida East Coast Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America

Jon Derrevere graduated from the University of Florida with Highest Honors in 1978 and earned his Juris Doctor from Cornell University in 1981. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar at age 23, Mr. Derrevere has tried more than 200 cases to jury verdict. Mr. Derrevere concentrates in complex litigation with an emphasis on construction, product liability, professional liability, and large-loss recovery claims. As regards Construction litigation, Mr. Derrevere has represented a wide variety of Clients including Design Professionals, Contractors, and Owners in claims involving alleged design defects, delays and cost over runs. Mr. Derrevere also serves as a mediator and as an arbitrator. Mr. Derrevere is admitted to practice before all State and Federal Courts in Florida and has represented clients throughout the United States. Mr. Derrevere is a member of the American Bar Association and has published articles relating to construction litigation.

• Cornell University – Juris Doctorate
• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

• Litigation & Appeals
• Commercial Transactions

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

• Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator
• Arbitrator
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• South Florida Associated General Contractors

Anne-Marie, a native Floridian, joined Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad in 2013 as a law clerk and remained with the firm after graduating law school. Prior to entering law school, Anne-Marie attended The University of North Florida where she received a Bachelor of Science in Communications specializing in Advertising, Marketing and Art History. Anne-Marie went on to receive her Juris Doctorate at Florida Coastal School of Law.

Anne-Marie focuses her practice on litigating all facets of the subrogation world, which include worker’s compensation, personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, contract disputes and product’s liability. Anne-Marie continues to concentrate on the ever-changing rule of law in Florida and how these changes will continue to impact the subrogation world and works towards maximizing recovery for her clients. Outside of work, Anne-Marie enjoys time with her family and exploring the world with her daughter.

• Florida Coastal School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• University of North Florida – Bachelor of Science in Communications

• Personal Injury
• Worker’s Compensation Subrogation
• Wrongful Death
• Products Liability
• Insurance Subrogation
• Insurance Defense

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

• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Chair – Marketing Committee for 2024
• Jacksonville Bar Association

• “Checklist in Hand – Are you ready for your Auto Subrogation Road Trip?” – 2023 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference