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Rumberger Kirk
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Bud Kirk

Partner
Orlando Office
407.839.4519
Email

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Practices

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
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    Profile

    One of the firm’s founders and Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar since the program’s inception, Bud Kirk concentrates his practice in the areas of product liability, commercial litigation and professional liability.

    A significant portion of Bud’s practice is devoted to the representation of clients in commercial litigation matters.  He represents clients in commercial cases including those involving claims of contract breach, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and professional malfeasance.  Among his clients are local and nationally known companies in the fields of law, accounting, real estate development and communications.

    A seasoned trial lawyer with a national reputation, Bud’s product liability practice centered on high profile cases in which plaintiffs seek recovery of millions of dollars.  He represented domestic and foreign manufacturers of passenger cars and trucks throughout the United States, as well as manufacturers in the aviation and heavy equipment industry. Bud  represented clients in hostile territory in Florida and throughout the United States including Louisiana, Wisconsin, Maine, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

    Bud’s decades of defending professionals in the legal and accounting fields against malpractice claims earned him the moniker of the “Lawyer’s Lawyer.”

    In 1996, Bud’s prowess in the courtroom was recognized by The National Law Journal in its annual edition of “Winning” which highlights ten top litigators in the country.  Bud was asked to share his strategies for achieving success in the courtroom which he did in the article featuring him, “In Hostile Territory, Show You Trust the Jury.”  In 1999, he was recognized by The National Law Journal again as being one of the “Top Litigators.”  He has since been recognized for his advocacy skills in numerous articles and publications, including designation by Florida Trend magazine as one of the “Top Defense Counsel.”  In 2010, Bud was named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Central Florida Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and  as a “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of personal injury litigation–defendants for Orlando by Best Lawyers in America in 2013 and 2018.

    Recognized for his successful trial career, Bud was inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious by-invitation-only organization composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada.

    In February of 1991, Bud was appointed by former President George H. W. Bush to the Board of Directors of the Legal Service Corporation which administers nearly a half billion dollars to programs throughout the United States rendering legal services to the poor.  He served in that position for three years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and is a former member of the International Association of Defense Counsel.

    Within the firm, Bud formerly served on the Executive Committee and as Managing Partner for thirteen years.  In addition to his professional activities, Bud is active in the community in the After School Outreach program for Howard Middle School children.  For many years, he served as a member of the Board of Directors for WMFE, the local public radio and television stations. He is also a member of Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

    Following graduation from law school, Bud served as an assistant professor teaching courses in real property, legislation and water law.

    Details

    • Motor Vehicles

    • American College of Trial Lawyers
      • Florida State Committee Member
    • Orange County Bar Association
    • Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel
    • American Board of Trial Advocates
    • Society of Automotive Engineers
    • Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
    • Legal Services Corporation — Board of Directors (1991-1993)
    • Federal Defense Lawyers Association, Committee on Equal Justice

      Chairman, Board of Directors (1991-1992)

    • Defense Research Institute

      Florida State Chairman (1986-1988)

    • Florida Defense Lawyers Association

      Board of Directors, (1982-1989)

    • Lawyers for Equal Justice

      Past Chairman of Board of Directors

    • WMFE Board of Directors

      Former member, Board of Directors

    • Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council
    • University Club
      • Board of Directors, 2007-Present

    University of Florida College of Law — J.D.

    Stetson University — B.A., Social Science

    • Florida

    • U.S. District Courts of Florida (Northern, Middle, Southern)

    • Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
    • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

    • Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Personal Injury- Defendants in Orlando by Best Lawyers in America 2013, 2018
    • Listed in Best Lawyers in America. Personal Injury Litigation –Defendants. 2010-2023
    • Listed in Florida Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2006-2018, 2020
    • Listed in Florida Trend Legal Elite 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013
    • Listed in Who's Who Legal of Product Liability Defense Lawyers 2009, 2010
    • 2010 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Central Florida Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
    • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for General Commercial Litigation

    • Speaker, Orange County Bar Association Member Perks, November 2020
    • Florida Trend article “Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite” — Spotlighted — July 2004 and July 2005
    • Florida Trend article regarding the top defense litigators — Spotlighted — February 2004
    • In Hostile Territory, Show You Trust Jury,” in The National Law Journal’s annual edition of “Winning,” which presents the top ten litigators in the nation and their strategies for success in the courtroom — Featured in article — May 1996
    • Justice Holmes and the Trial Lawyer: Malicious Prosecution, Bad Faith and . . . Excellence,” — Co-author — 1981
    • Public Finance: New Test for Public Purpose,” — Author — 1967

    Bud's News and Insights

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio
    Drag
    FEATURED
    03.01.2023
    Beyond the Bio

    Celebrating Women’s History Month: Honoring a Legend of Our Own

    A Closer Look at RumbergerKirk’s First Female Attorney – Lori J. Caldwell March is Women’s History Month – commemorating and...

    08.19.2022
    Firm News

    23 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America© 2023

    Orlando, Fla., August 18, 2022 – RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

    08.19.2021
    Firm News

    Eighteen RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America© 2022

    ORLANDO – August 19, 2021 – RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

    06.24.2021
    Firm News

    Florida Super Lawyers Names RumbergerKirk Attorneys to 2021 List

    Three Attorneys Named “Rising Stars” RumbergerKirk is pleased to announce...

    11.04.2020
    Events

    Bud Kirk Speaks at Orange County Bar Association Member Perks Virtual Event

    One of the firm’s founders and Board Certified Civil Trial...

    08.20.2020
    Firm News

    18 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America© 2021

    ORLANDO, FL – August 20, 2020 – Eighteen RumbergerKirk attorneys...

    06.04.2020
    Firm News

    Florida Super Lawyers Names RumbergerKirk Attorneys to 2020 List

    FLORIDA – June 4, 2020 – RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

    08.15.2019
    Firm News

    Nineteen RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2020

    RumbergerKirk is pleased to announce that nineteen of its attorneys...

    04.24.2019
    Firm News

    Bud Kirk Selected to Serve on the FAMU College of Law’s newly formed Dean’s Advisory Council

    Pictured from left: Jéan Wilson; Leticia Marquez; Emerson Thompson; John...

    08.15.2018
    Firm News

    Best Lawyers in America 2019 Recognizes Nineteen RumbergerKirk Attorneys

    ORLANDO, FL – August 15, 2018 – RumbergerKirk is pleased...

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio

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    Orlando, FL 32801

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    Suite 1300
    Birmingham, AL 35203

    205.327.5550
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