Carlton Fields Adds Two Property and Casualty Insurance Attorneys

Carlton Fields continues to grow its nationally recognized Property and Casualty Insurance Practice with the addition of two attorneys, Michael J. Martelo and Miguel A. Rodriguez.

Martelo is based in the firm’s New Jersey office and focuses his practice on insurance coverage litigation, with additional experience providing coverage advice to insurers and defending policyholders in complex matters. He also has experience representing corporations, public entities, and individuals in a broad range of civil actions in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels.

Martelo previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jose L. Linares, former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Rutgers University.

Rodriguez is based in the firm’s Orlando office and defends claims involving insurance services and coverage issues. He represents clients in all phases of litigation and is experienced in alternate dispute resolution matters and defending clients at trial. Prior to joining Carlton Fields he was litigated an array of first- and third-party homeowners’ and commercial property insurance cases. He has successfully represented numerous domestic and foreign corporate clients in high-exposure insurance defense litigation, as well as matters involving bad faith exposure, fraud investigations, catastrophe claims, and windstorm and water damage coverage issues.

Outside of private practice, Rodriguez has served as a trial attorney with the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, where he successfully defended hundreds of clients facing criminal prosecution in all phases of litigation and at trial. He also honorably served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to starting his legal career. He earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. from Fordham University.

Carlton Fields’ Property and Casualty Insurance Practice has been recognized by corporate counsel as one of only 21 law firms nationally with the best insurance industry client relationships in BTI Consulting's Power Rankings. The firm has received top rankings in insurance for more than 16 consecutive years by Chambers USA. Additionally, for five consecutive years, Carlton Fields has ranked as the Top Law Firm for insurance thought leadership, according to JD Supra’s Readers Choice Awards.