John S. Riordan

Partner

John S. Riordan Attorney Profile | Kelley Kronenberg

Overview

John Riordan is a Partner and Business Unit Leader in the firm’s West Palm Beach. John is an AV rated and highly experienced civil trial attorney who handles first-party property defense, premise liability defense, automobile liability, personal injury protection, and complex civil matters.

John assists insurance carriers in varying aspects of insurance coverage disputes, including civil remedy notices of insurer violations, Special Investigation Unit (“SIU”) investigations, pre-suit investigations and coverage evaluations, declaratory judgments, and bad faith litigation. John represents insurance carriers throughout Florida.

Prior to joining the firm, John was the Managing Partner of a West Palm Beach boutique law firm and focused his practice on civil litigation, and criminal defense. Prior to that, John proudly served as an Assistant State Attorney with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony crimes. John has tried more than 150 jury and non-jury trials in criminal and civil matters in both state and Federal court.

John has earned a reputation an excellent trial attorney. In 2012 and 2013, he was honored as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, and as a Super Lawyer in 2022, a prestigious distinction only awarded to the top 5% of lawyers in the state who are recognized for their skill, ethical services, and professional excellence.

John is a native of Miami, Florida, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami in 1997. Thereafter, he earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University School of Law where he graduated in 2001. John is licensed to practice law in Florida and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida.

  • Florida
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., 2002
  • University of Miami, B.A., 1997
  • Certified Water Damage Restoration Technician – Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)


Practice Areas




Accolades, Associations & News

  • Palm Beach Media, “Top Lawyers,” Insurance Law, 2023 
  • Palm Beach Illustrated, “Top Lawyer,” Insurance Law, 2023
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
    • Florida “Super Lawyers,” Insurance Coverage, 2022-2023
    • Florida “Rising Stars,” Insurance Coverage, 2012-2013
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent ™
  • South Florida Business Journal, Florida Top Young Lawyer, 2012

Professional Associations

  • Windstorm Insurance Network, Member
  • Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • Florida Association of Defense Lawyers, Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • South Florida Claims Association (SFCA), Member

Community

  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Palm Beach County Chapter
    • Board of Directors, 2021 – Present
  • Hanley Center, Former Board Member
  • CJ Foundation for Children in Need, Former Board Member
  • The Village of Royal Palm Beach, Chairman, Recreation Advisory Board
  • Speaker: “General First-Party Case Law Updates and the new MSJ Standard,” February 2024
  • Speaker: “The Future of Non-Binding and Binding Arbitration in First-Party Property Claims” January 2023
  • Speaker, “11th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp”, Pincus Professional Education Series, June 2022
  • Speaker, “Bad Faith Pitfalls and Handling EUP/SIU Pre-Suit Investigation,” February 2022
  • Speaker, “Adjusting Claims During COVID,” Wind Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2022
  • Speaker, “Changes in 1.510 Summary Judgment Standard,” May 2021
  • Speaker, “Introduction to Bad Faith, Pincus Professional Education Series, May 2021
  • Speaker, Law & Ethics: 2021 Case Law and Legislative Update, 2021 Annual Windstorm Conference, February 2021
  • Speaker, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2020
  • Speaker, “CSI Irma, Forensic Meteorology First-Party Property,” Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2019
  • Speaker, Catastrophic Construction Collapse: Critical Issues from an Adjusting, Engineering, and Legal Perspective, 2017 Windstorm Insurance Conference, January 2017
  • Speaker, “Litigating Catastrophic Construction Collapse Cases,” Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2017
  • Speaker, Coverage B, Indemnity, and Immunity, October 2016
  • Speaker, Law and Ethics Update, August 2016
  • Speaker, Juvenile Law Basics Recent Florida Bar Graduates, October 2014
  • Lecturer, “Basic Criminal Law” Seminar, Introduction to Juvenile Law Segment, Florida Bar, October 2014
  • Lecturer, “RICO from criminal defense attorney perspective,” Florida Atlantic University, 2010

Publications

  • Author, How Forensic Meteorologists are Assisting with Florida First-Party Property Cases, Insurance Journal, January 30, 2019
  • Author, Another Leg Cut from Fourth Amendment Table, Daily Business Review, October 4, 2013
  • Author, “DNA Can Be Taken Without a Warrant,” Daily Business Review, October 2013
  • Author, Expert advice when testifying as a witness in a criminal trial, Expert Beacon, July 12, 2013
  • Author, “Do’s and Don’ts When Testifying at Trial,” Expert Beacon, July 2013
  • Author, Computer Fraud Law’s Language encourages Abuse by Federal Government, Daily Business Review, June 7, 2013
  • Author, “Computer Fraud Laws Encourage Abuse By Federal Government,” Daily Business Review, June 2013
  • Author, Misconceptions about Criminal Defense Attorneys, Laws.com, May 23, 2013
  • Author, Know the basics of plea bargaining before you waive your right to a trial, Expert Beacon, May 3, 2013
  • Author, “Hoffa Found?” Nakedlaw.AVVO.com, October 2012
  • Author, “Police Fire 16 Shots Injuring 9 Bystanders,” Nakedlaw.AVVO.com, September 2012
  • Author, “Were James Holmes’ Actions Premeditated?” Nakedlaw.AVVO.com, July 2012

News & Insights