William (Bill) R. Lewis

Bill has spoken about various first party property insurance coverage issues at several seminars. In 1995, Bill was a featured speaker at the International Association of Arson Investigators, Florida Chapter, Annual Conference, in Cape Coral, Florida, and spoke on Spoliation of Evidence. In 1996, Bill was a speaker at the Defense Research Institute Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium in New York, New York, and spoke on The Misrepresentation Defense. In 1998, Bill was a featured speaker at the Fire Investigation Task Force Conference in Petaluma, California and spoke on Courtroom Strategies regarding the challenges of NFPA 921, the Daubert Rule and Demonstrative Evidence. In 1998, Bill was featured speaker at the 44th Annual Ohio Arson School and spoke on Spoliation of Evidence. In 2002, Bill co-chaired the American Bar Association - Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section - Property Insurance Law Committee meeting on Business Interruption and Related Claims in the Wake of 9/11 in New York, NY. In 2004, Bill spoke at the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Conference in Pebble Beach, California on Leasehold Interest and Rental Value Coverage for the Mega-Loss. In 2006, Bill spoke at the American Bar Association, Property Insurance Law Committee meeting in San Diego, California on the application of the ensuing loss provision in first party property cases. In 2007, Bill spoke at the Florida Windstorm Association Conference in Tampa, Florida on Builder's Risk policies and coverage. In April 2007, Bill spoke at Lloyds, London on Florida Property Insurance Legislation and Case Decisions Impacting Catastrophe Claims. In May 2009, Bill chaired the American Bar Association - Tort and Insurance Practice - Property Insurance Law Committee meeting in Austin, Texas on "De-Constructing Builder's Risk Coverage." In August 2010, Bill spoke at the American Bar Association Annual meeting in San Francisco, California on "Resolving Catastrophic Multi-Party Construction Insurance Cases:  Is Mega-Million Dollar Litigation Necessary Plus Additional Insured Issues Arising Out of the Gulf Oil Catastrophe - Excess Insurers Challenging BP Additional Insured Claims."  In August 2011, Bill spoke at the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel annual meeting plenary session on "Exploring the Legal Economic and Environmental Impact of the Oil Spill Disaster". 

Bill is a member of The Florida Bar, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association (ABA). From August 2009-August 2010, Bill served as Chair of the American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee. Bill has been admitted in the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Bill has also practiced in the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bill received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida in 1987 and his Juris Doctorate with honors from The Florida State University in 1990. After graduating from law school, Bill served for two years as law clerk to the Honorable Anne C. Booth of the Florida First District Court of Appeal. Bill has practiced with Butler Pappas since 1993 and is currently a partner with the firm.