Sarah Van Schoyck is a Partner at Berk, Merchant & Sims. She has practiced in the area of insurance and reinsurance since 2009. Her litigation experience encompasses a range of insurance coverage matters. She represents admitted and surplus lines insurers regarding complex first-party coverage matters arising under homeowners, commercial property, builders risk, catastrophe, boiler and machinery, umbrella and other property insurance policies, including but not limited to hurricane claims and claims involving suspected intentional fires, suspected fraud, vandalism, theft, business interruption, condominium losses, collapse, COVID-19, and appraisal.

She also represents insurance clients in state and federal court in Florida in third-party coverage matters arising under commercial general liability, commercial auto, premises liability, motor truck and cargo, and personal liability policies. She provides advice and litigates liability coverage matters for insurers involving issues such as the “duty to defend,” malpractice, errors and omissions and liability coverage for work-related injuries, assault and battery claims, construction defects claims, defamation claims and products liability claims. She also advises liability insurers regarding demands by claimants for policy limits, including in multiple claimant situations, where the available insurance coverage is limited.

Additionally, Sarah represents surplus lines insurers and their managing general agents in regulatory and compliance matters and Florida surplus lines insurance issues. She represents insurers in subrogation matters.

She lived in London in 2016 as part of the secondee program run by Markel International Syndicate 3000 at Lloyd’s. She worked as in-house counsel with the marine, energy and property claims team and underwriting personnel, and also spent time training with other Underwriting Syndicates at Lloyd’s.

Education

· Stetson University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, Stetson Honors Program, 2009

· Western Michigan University, B.A., Political Science and Organizational Communication, cum laude, 2004

Credentials

· Florida

· U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

· U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

· U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Memberships and Affiliations

· Florida Bar

· Hillsborough County Bar Association

· Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers

Experience

· Representations in numerous first-party insurance losses involving windstorm, suspected arson, fire, fraud, theft, collapse, and business interruption.

· Representations in complex coverage declaratory judgments.

· Coverage counsel for various commercial general liability, auto liability, and professional liability insurers in lawsuits filed by third-party claimants.