Burke G. Lopez

Burke Lopez maintains a diverse caseload involving trucking and transportation, insurance coverage issues, commercial disputes, personal injury defense, products and premises liability, wrongful death, and commercial litigation. Burke also defends professional liability lawsuits against architects, engineers, insurance agents, accountants, and lawyers.

Burke's clients—which span a number of industries—include major property and casualty insurers, residential service providers, transportation companies, third-party administrators, product manufacturers, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Throughout his career, Burke has handled a number of significant cases in state and federal courts throughout Florida, including as lead trial counsel.

Prior to joining Hinshaw, Burke bolstered his civil litigation and trial experience with firms throughout Florida. During law school, Burke was a member of the UF Trial Team and the James C. Adkins Inn of Court.

• The Florida Bar
  • Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, 2003 – 2022

• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation, 2023 – 2025; Litigation – Insurance, 2024 – 2025; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2023– 2025; and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023 – 2025
• Holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability

• Hahn v. Meridian Lighting, Inc., Hillsborough County, Florida, July 2017: Served as lead defense counsel in a construction site accident case resulting from a scissor lift fall. After a four-day trial, the jury apportioned over 50% comparative fault to the the plaintiff.
• Siar v. IPC International, Pinellas County, Florida, November 2012: Defense verdict on behalf of a private security guard contractor. Five-day jury trial before Judge Douglas Baird in Clearwater, Florida. The plaintiff claimed a closed head injury arising from an assault at a shopping center. The jury found no liability on the security guards present during the assault.
• Mejia v. Citizens Property Insurance, Pasco County, Florida, March 2013: Defense verdict in favor of a homeowner's insurance carrier following a jury trial arising from a policyholder's sinkhole claim. Successfully argued that interior and exterior damage to the plaintiff's home was not caused by sinkhole activity beneath the house—a three-day jury trial before Judge Linda Babb in Dade City, Florida.
• Arce v. Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, Hardee County, Florida, April 2012: Four-day jury trial before Judge Marcus Ezelle in Wachula, Florida. Arising from a slip and fall at a Wendy's fast food restaurant, the plaintiff injured her head, neck, and shoulder and underwent shoulder surgery following the accident. The plaintiff's last demand was $350,000, and the jury awarded $26,000 apportioning 65% fault to the plaintiff.