Lionel F. Rivera is a seasoned insurance coverage and defense attorney in Miami, Florida.  Lionel serves as Senior Counsel to domestic and international insurance carriers, focusing on claims arising from first-party property, commercial general liability, directors’ and officers’, professional liability, and environmental liability policies.  Lionel has proven himself a trusted litigator and advocate in state and federal courts, and deft at resolving matters through direct settlement negotiations and mediation.

Prior to joining Fields Howell, Lionel spent a decade working in the South Florida offices of two national law firms, where he focused on commercial and luxury residential first-party property insurance coverage matters, including matters involving the alleged causes of loss of hurricane, windstorm, water, and sinkhole.  During this time Lionel also handled liability coverage matters, including in the areas of construction defect, insurance broker liability, and negligent security.

Before returning to his hometown of Miami, Lionel worked as an attorney in the New York City office of an international law firm.  While there, and during his summer associateship in the Los Angeles office of the same firm, Lionel worked on land use and securities matters, including matters involving investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  While in New York Lionel was also awarded the firm’s pro bono prize, in part for his work on a case involving housing discrimination against migrant workers.

Lionel completed his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, where he was a Sayre MacNeil Scholar, a member of the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society, and earned First Honors Awards in several courses.  Before attending law school, Lionel earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, where he concentrated in Government.  

Education

• Loyola Law School (Los Angeles),  J.D., 2007
  • Sayre MacNeil Scholar
  • St. Thomas More Law Honor Society
  • Student Bar Association
• Harvard University, A.B., 2004
  • cum laude
  • Harvard Program for International Education
  • Harvard Model Congress
  • Pforzheimer House Committee
  • William Fahey House Spirit Award

Presentations and Publications

“Hurricane Claim Adjustments & Bad Faith Avoidance,” presented by Lionel F. Rivera at the Florida Catastrophe Conference held by domestic insurance carrier.