About Us

Eric has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar since 1993. He is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named as a “Florida Super Lawyer” in insurance law, one of only approximately 20 lawyers statewide to receive this recognition, in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014 – 2019.

Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith claims, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death claims, Insurance Agent Errors and Omissions claims, Insurance Fraud and Misrepresentation claims and Legal Malpractice claims.

The Florida Bar
Member Since: 1983

Palm Beach County Justice Association (formerly known as Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers)
Member Since: 1996
Past President: 1999

Florida Justice Association
Member Since: 1983
Member, Insurance Committee

American Association for Justice
Member Since: 1983

Palm Beach County Bar Association
Member Since: 1988
Member, Medical-Legal Committee: 1997-2001
Member, Professionalism Committee: 2011-2013

Florida Academy of Professional Mediators 2016

Juris Doctor, University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, FL, 1983
Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, in Politics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 1980

Florida State Courts, 1983
U.S. Southern District (Trial Bar), 1985
U.S. Middle District, 2003
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1990

Named as a “Florida Super Lawyer, 2008,2009,2011, 2014 by Law and Politics Magazine Recipient of the Bronze Patriot Award from the Florida Justice Association (formerly known as Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers).

Keen v. Florida Sheriff’s Self-Insurance Fund, 962 So.2d 1021, Fla.App. 4 Dist., August 08, 2007
Wellman v. GEICO General Ins. Co., 931 So.2d 1046, Fla.App. 4 Dist., June 21, 2006
Drew v. Mobile USA Ins. Co., 920 So.2d 832, Fla.App. 4 Dist., February 22, 2006
O’Malley v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 890 So.2d 1163, Fla.App. 4 Dist., December 22, 2004
Keen v. Florida Sheriffs’ Self-Insurance Fund, 854 So.2d 8444, Fla.App. 4 Dist., September 24, 2003
Herring v. Horace Mann Ins. Co., 795 So.2d 209, Fla.App. 4 Dist., September 26, 2001
U.S. Security Ins. Co., Inc. v. Doss, 764 So.2d 885, Fla App. 4 Dist.,August 9, 2000
McFadden v. Staley, 687 So.2d 357, Fla.App. 4 Dist., February 12, 1997
Villatoro v. Concepcion, 671 So.2d 216, Fla.App. 4 Dist., April 03, 1996
Riddell v. Jacobson & Cohen, P.A., 622 So.2d 140, Fla.App. 4 Dist., August 04, 1993
Jarrell v. Churm, 611 So.2d 69 Fla.App. 4 Dist., December 30, 1992 Allstate Ins. Co., Inc. v. Walker, 583 So.2d 356, Fla.App. 4 Dist., June 26, 1991

November, 2008. Palm Beach Justice Association. Strategies on Cross-Examining the Opposing Professional Examiners. Insurance Claims- Strategies That Have Worked, And Failed, Over The Last 25 Years.
October, 2000. Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association. How to Defeat the Defense Professional Independent Medical Practitioners.
September, 1993. Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Insurance and Other Consumer Issues Seminar. Insurance Agency Claims, Policy Cancellations & Premium Financing.
September, 1992. Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Across the Board Insurance Claims Seminar. Insurance Agency Claims, Policy Cancellations & Premium Financing.

When it comes to mediation, Phil’s mantra is pretty simple: Reasonable people do reasonable things. As Thomas Crum once said, “Resolving conflict is rarely about who is right. It is about acknowledgment and appreciation of differences.” When the parties can acknowledge and appreciate the views of their adversary, it is only then that they can act reasonably. Making this happen is Phil’s specialty. More often than not, mediation isn’t about finding a solution; it’s about identifying the problem. Once the problem is identified, the solution will present itself.

The Florida Bar
Member Since: 1983

Palm Beach County Justice Association (formerly known as Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers)
Member Since: 1996
Past President: 1999

Florida Justice Association
Member Since: 1983
Member, Insurance Committee

American Association for Justice
Member Since: 1983

Palm Beach County Bar Association
Member Since: 1988
Member, Medical-Legal Committee: 1997-2001
Member, Professionalism Committee: 2011-2013

Florida Academy of Professional Mediators 2016

Juris Doctor, University of Florida College of Law, 1995 (With Honors)
Bachelor of Arts, Auburn University, 1992 (Magna Cum Laude) (Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society)

Florida State Courts, 1996
U.S. Southern District of Florida, 1996
U.S. Middle District of Florida, 1998
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996

In 2017 Phil was honored by his peers in Florida Trend Magazine as a Florida Legal Elite, and for the last five years, Phil has been named by his peers as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers.

As an experienced litigator and appellate attorney, Donna understands the value of parties resolving their disputes themselves through mediation rather than by putting their fate in the hands of a judge or jury. Donna is a proactive mediator who understands and gets to the heart of the issues, is pragmatic, persistent, and patient, and deals effectively with sensitive issues and clients.

Donna has been rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for ethical standards and legal ability. Donna’s dual board certification by The Florida Bar means that she has been “evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.” She has also been named a “Florida Super Lawyer” featured in the Super Lawyers Business Edition.

The Florida Bar
The Florida Supreme Court’s Committee on Standard Jury Instructions-Contract and Business Cases
Business Litigation Certification Committee of The Florida Bar
Arbitrator for the Grievance Mediation Program of The Florida Bar
American Inns of Court
Florida Association for Women Lawyers, President of Palm Beach County Chapter, 2001
Palm Beach County Bar Association

Juris Doctor, Summa cum laude (top of class), Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1995;

Master of Business Administration in Finance, With Distinction, Lubin Graduate School of Business at Pace University, White Plains, NY, 1985;

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Magna cum laude, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 1979

The Florida Bar (1995);

United State Supreme Court (2005);

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1997);

United States District Court for the Southern (1998), Northern (1998) and Middle (1997), Districts of Florida, and Eastern District of Michigan (2014).

Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County “And Justice for All” Pro Bono Award;

Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Florida Supreme Court, and Florida Pro Bono Coordinators Association, Pro Bono Award;

AVDA and YWCA National Domestic Violence Awareness Award.

Ms. Dempsey brings her extensive experience as an in-house attorney at various Fortune 500 companies, such as Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., Burger King Corporation, the Dannon Company, Philip Morris/Kraft Foods and Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation, to her mediation practice. She specializes in trademark, copyright and other Intellectual Property disputes.

Advertising and Marketing Law
Co-branding and IP Licensing
Estate Planning
Franchising
General Corporate and Commercial Law
Guardianship
Intellectual Property – Copyright, Trademark & Domain Name Prosecution
Media Law and Rights Clearance Privacy and Data Security
Regulatory Compliance – FTC, FDA and Consumer Protection
Social Media

Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County
Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce
South Palm Beach County Bar Association
The Copyright Society of USA

Juris Doctorate, Fordham University School of Law
Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies, University of Notre Dame

Florida State Courts, 1983
U.S. Southern District (Trial Bar), 1985
U.S. Middle District, 2003
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1990

Florida
New York
Vermont
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York