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Kelsey Black

Kelsey Black

Summary

One of Florida’s up and coming stars in all aspects of civil litigation, at least according to Super Lawyers, Kelsey handles this accolade with her customary modesty but will admit if pressed that she has run some of the most complex cases of commercial and transportation litigation that have touched Florida’s shores. Clients and colleagues think of Kelsey as a lynchpin litigator, because her practice has spanned many enterprise-critical areas of product liability and railroad, and she devotes lots of time to legal issues vital to small business survival. In addition, she assists individuals in bringing claims against moving companies.

First impressions do of course deceive, but they also stick around which must be why Kelsey continues to enjoy a reputation for being cool as a cucumber despite the legal scenario. Could derive from having two toddlers at home, but is still impressive. Anyway, beware the bright-eyed country girl, she doesn’t miss a thing. And yet nobody who meets Kelsey doesn’t immediately like her, as they should.

Despite Kelsey’s somewhat dorky love of the law, she’d still prefer to talk to you about her dogs or travel or scuba diving (in a social setting, at least). In a past life that seems like eons ago, Kelsey was a scuba instructor in the Caribbean. How the people of Florida were lucky enough to pull her back to their shores and set her free in the courtrooms is one of life’s great unknowns, but we don’t look gift horses in the mouth.

 

Education


J.D. (2007), Suffolk University Law School

B.F.A. (2003), University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Admissions


Florida (2010), Massachusetts (2007)

U.S District Court, Massachusetts (2008), Southern District of Florida (2011) and Middle District of Florida (2011)

Activities and Honors

  • Vice President of Risk Management, Underwater Bar Association
  • Annual Meeting Vice Chair, Defense Research Institute
  • Member, Women in the Law Committee – Defense Research Institute
  • Member, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
  • Rated AV/Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Nominee for Sedgwick Mentoring Award (2012)
  • Participant in Sedgwick Trial College (2011)
  • Participant in NARTC Trial College (2009)
  • Recipient of Wallace Sedgwick Client Service Award (2011)
  • Volunteer, Nova Southeastern University’s Marine Science Center (2013)
  • Volunteer, University of Miami - RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program (2013)
  • Volunteer, Posse Foundation (2007-present)
  • Volunteer, American Cancer Society (2013)
  • 2015, 2016, and 2017 Super Lawyer

Publications

  • “Florida Appellate Court: ‘We Help Those Who Help Themselves’ on Juror Concealment,” Sedgwick Product Liability Advisory (October 2012)
  • “Florida Supreme Court Urges Importance of Properly Defining Design Defect in Product Liability Cases,” Sedgwick’s Product Liability Advisory (May 2012)
  • “McBride v. CSX: Supreme Court's Decision a Blow to Railroads or Mixed Bag?,” Sedgwick’s Product Liability Advisory (July 2011)
  • “Does Proximate Cause Have a Place in the FELA? U.S. Supreme Court to Decide,” Sedgwick’s Product Liability Advisory (January 2011)
  • "Florida District Court Returns to Majority's Approach in Applying Economic Loss Doctrine to Consumers in Admiralty Cases," Sedgwick’s Product Liability Advisory (June 2010)
  • Note, “Undue Protection vs. Undue Punishment: Examining the Drinking and Driving Problem Across the United States,” 40 Suffolk University Law Review 463 (2007)
  • Comment, “Tort Law – Diminishing the Burden Placed on Plaintiffs to Prove Municipality Liability – Young v. City of Providence, 404 F.3d 4 (1st Cir. 2005),” 39 Suffolk University Law Review 1113 (2006)