William F Merlin Jr.

As founder and president of Merlin Law Group, Mr. Merlin has dedicated his practice to the representation and advocacy of insurance policyholders in disputes with insurance companies in California, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, and nationwide. Mr. Merlin also aids in the preparation of First Party Property Insurance Claims for submission to insurance companies for payment of various - and often very unique - insurance claims. Indeed, if an insurer refuses to honor an insurance policy by paying a claim, Mr. Merlin proceeds to the "litigation" phase of the claim on behalf of his clients - the policyholders. Mr. Merlin also practices bad faith insurance law, with a focus on Commercial & Residential Property Insurance Claim Disputes and Bad Faith litigation.

Mr. Merlin is a renowned Speaker and noted national expert on Bad Faith insurance law. He frequently lectures to national trade groups and has published numerous papers and articles on insurance-related topics and law for organizations such as The American Association for Justice, The Florida Justice Association, The Florida Windstorm Conference, and Trial Magazine. Because of the breadth and depth of his knowledge and experience, Mr. Merlin is frequently sought to provide comment and insight into current legal issues on the stage of the national media. He has appeared on Fox News, ABC News, CNN, and MSNBC on topics as diverse as freedom of speech, employee’s and property owners’ rights to privacy and slander and emotional distress.

Mr. Merlin served as Chair for the Bad Faith Insurance Litigation Group and Secretary for the Fire and Property Insurance Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice (formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America). He is routinely invited to be a featured speaker on insurance law at some of the nation’s most prestigious conferences and seminars. He has addressed his peers at the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Florida Justice Association. He has also presented before members of such organizations as the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA), the Community Associations Institute, and the Windstorm Network.