ORLANDO
MIAMI
TALLAHASSEE
TAMPA
“ Never
underestimate
the use of
imagination
and creativity
to get the job
done.”
— W. L. “Bud” Kirk
Succeed
We believe in treating a
client’s business as if it were
our own.
Whether we are involved in litigation or serving in a general counsel role, we provide each attorney or team of attorneys with the necessary human and state-of-the-art technological resources necessary to best serve our clients. In addition, further assistance is always available in the forms of legal research, complex motions and other
We Believe
preparation from our regional offices. We staff each matter with the necessary team (partner, associate and paralegal depending upon the complexity of the case) to provide the best suited services for the client. Our commitment to providing service to our clients is unparalleled.
Our goal is to solve the client’s problem and help achieve the client’s objectives. We do not waste time or money engaging in practices with little chance of success. This strategy
Appellate
With strong written and oral argument skills, we are well equipped to advocate legal and policy positions on behalf of trade and industry associations, private and public companies, and
governmental entities in significant legal cases before state and federal appellate courts.
Aviation Law and Litigation
We defend commercial airlines and aviation component manufacturers in general commercial litigation, as well as in product liability lawsuits stemming from aviation accidents. We also represent vendors, including major rental car companies, in disputes with airport governing authorities.
Casualty Defense
Our Casualty Defense Group
represents hotels, restaurants, retailers and theme parks, as well as public housing authorities in matters ranging from slip and falls to negligent security, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution claims. We represent companies directly, as well as through insurance companies, third party administrators and adjusting firms.
Chemicals, Asbestos and
Toxic Torts
Anchored by seasoned trial attorneys, we have significant experience in this distinct specialty involving pest control, agricultural, other chemical products and products once manufactured with asbestos. We defend claims of direct and indirect exposure to toxic substances and have gained substantial technical and scientific knowledge from deposing experts in these areas.
Commercial Litigation
Our attorneys represent clients in cases ranging from simple contract disputes to complex commercial matters. We help clients reach their objectives, whether through negotiation and mediation, or by undertaking
aggressive discovery, motion practice, and defending the case vigorously through trial or arbitration.
Construction
We represent a variety of construction-related clients, including owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and design professionals in contractual and litigation matters. Our attorneys work with these clients through all phases of the construction process – from project design, contract negotiation, construction and
administration, through final closeout.
Criminal Defense
Our criminal defense attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in criminal matters in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels.
Employment and Labor
Companies and governmental entities turn to Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell when faced with employment-related disputes. Our attorneys represent national, regional and local employers in a wide range of labor and employment issues. In addition to litigation matters, we also counsel clients on day-to-day issues, helping to resolve problems before they develop.
Environmental Law
RKC represents corporations and other organizations in environmental issues including both litigation and regulatory matters. Environmental litigation experience includes clean-up actions under state and federal statutes and contribution lawsuits. Regulatory work encompasses permitting and
developments of regional impact.
Governmental and
Administrative
RKC represents a number of major corporations and not-for-profits in our dealings with the State of Florida. We also represent private and public institutions and individuals facing administrative and regulatory proceedings before state and local agencies including professional licensure and disciplinary hearings.
Insurance Coverage and
Bad Faith
RKC has established a team of professionals to address a myriad of issues that clients, including many of the nation’s largest insurance carriers, face in the realm of insurance coverage and bad faith matters. We have
extensive experience in coverage and bad faith litigation, as well as coverage analysis, claims handling advice and training for our clients.
Maritime
We are actively involved in defense of maritime personal injury and wrongful death claims including those involving multiple plaintiffs and catastrophic injuries. We also handle commercial disputes relating to the sale, purchase and seaworthiness of vessels. The firm’s trial lawyers have experience defending claims relating to general maritime law and the defense of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of a variety of commercial and
recreational products.
Mediation
Our Mediation Practice Group includes attorneys who have received special training and certification by the
governing courts to serve as mediators. They possess the special skills required to facilitate negotiations between opposing parties.
Pharmaceuticals and
Medical Devices
Lawsuits that allege injury from widely-used pharmaceutical and medical devices have increased in the past two decades. The firm has a wide-range of experience in all phases of these complex cases, from the emergent claim through trial.
Product Liability
Our litigation skills and experience have earned the firm a well-recognized record of success in this area. Named by several of the nation’s leading automakers as their primary legal defense counsel in the southeast, we also champion product cases ranging from construction and agricultural equipment to watercraft and electronics.
Professional Liability
On October 2, 1978,
Thom Rumberger, Bud
Kirk and Dick Caldwell
began practicing law with
a collective commitment
that the day they no longer
enjoyed getting up and going
to work, they would stop.
Little did we know that they were creating a Florida-based institution. More than thirty years later, Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell has grown to five offices and is staffed with dynamic attorneys and staff committed to doing everything it takes to best represent the firm’s clients.With offices in Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Birmingham and Tallahassee, RKC litigates on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, local interests and everything in between.
Our Beginnings
Building a Legacy
One of the leading product liability law firms in the country, Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell began making a name for itself in automotive product liability. From that base, we have grown and diversified our practice to include a broad variety of complex civil litigation matters, including labor and employment, construction, professional liability and commercial clients. “We may be based in Florida, but our work stretches from coast to coast,” says Dick Caldwell. Adds Bud Kirk: “Our firm has tried cases from Maine to California and many places in between. Wherever our clients ask us to go, we go.”
From the beginning, we knew that consistency was the key to successful growth. In fact, three fundamental goals still stand strong today: we intend to maintain our steady growth as both national and regional counsel, to be progressive with the changing face of the law, and to remain invaluable to our clients.
Everyone Contributes
Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell has set the standard for trying small to multimillion-dollar lawsuits — but we have also proven that respect, dignity and fun all play key roles in our success.
The firm has seen significant growth since those early days, and it is the collective contribution of several generations of attorneys that give RKC its entrepreneurial spirit and successful
Thom Rumberger Bud Kirk Dick Caldwell
Each generation of RKC attorneys brings with it a new and different perspective. We continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of our clients. We offer clients our greatest asset – our people. Competing in a landscape full of legal giants is tough, but our talented team of lawyers and staff and our “can-do” attitude is tough to beat when it comes to service. Clients benefit from experience gained through decades of litigation from a multi-generational and diverse group of professionals.
We fully understand our role as counselors and trial lawyers, continually striving to keep abreast of important technical and legislative developments.
Our regulatory, technical and scientific sophistication, developed by working with the best experts in each field over the years, puts us on a very high level in the learning curve on any kind of litigation. When unexpected hiccups occur, it is important for counsel to be able to adapt quickly and work with the client to shift strategy, improvise and overcome obstacles. Having multiple complex cases at any given time, our attorneys and staff are very diligent in the efficient management and organization of client files. We not only work hard but we work smart for our clients. They accept nothing less and neither do we.
“We understand
that our future
business depends
upon how well
we meet our
clients’ needs
today.”
— Thom Rumberger
Orlando
Lincoln Plaza Suite 1400
300 South Orange Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801 Tel.: 407.872.7300 Fax: 407.841.2133
Miami
Brickell Bayview Centre Suite 3000 80 Southwest 8th Street Miami, Florida 33130 Tel.: 305.358.5577 Fax: 305.371.7580
Tallahassee
215 South Monroe Street Suite 130
Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Tel.: 850.222.6550 Fax: 850.222.8783
Tampa
100 North Tampa Street Suite 2000
Tampa, Florida 33602 Tel.: 813.223.4253 Fax: 813.221.4752
Birmingham
Lakeshore Park Plaza Suite 125
2204 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, Alabama 35209 Tel.: 205.327.5550
Fax: 205.326.6786 ©2008 Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell