DAVID AVELLAR NEBLETT, Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Admitted to the Florida Bar, 2001, Board-Certified Expert in Admiralty & Maritime Law, 2013, U.S.  District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. Education: University of Miami, (Marine Affairs, Art & Art History 1998), University of Miami School of Law (JD 2001 with special emphasis in Admiralty and Insurance law). Member: WIND, Maritime Law Association, Maritime Law Society, Marine Council, Admiralty Law Committee & the Propeller Club. Certified Advanced WIND Umpire – 2010.  Certified in Reasonable Attorney Fees by NALFA – 2018 Association of Legal Fee Analysis.

Professional Information:

David Avellar Neblett Esq., B.S.C., is a founding partner of Perry & Neblett P.A., and the Neblett Law Group where is currently the managing partner, has been a Florida Bar Board-Certified Attorney since 2013 and an Admiralty & Maritime law Expert, an Advanced WIND Umpire and has earned a Certificate in Reasonable Attorney Fees by the National Association of Legal Fee Analysis.

David spent his time as a young lawyer working for insurance companies on coverage disputes and bad faith defense and representing marine business and yacht owners. He is an avid boater, fisherman, art and antique collector.  His love for the ocean and maritime history and his journey as a patron of the arts and has led to his representing marine businesses, yacht owners, boaters, salvors, artists, gallery owners and luxury business in a professional capacity.  As an attorney who has worked on both sides, David prides himself as a tough Trial attorney that has a practical understanding of the marine, insurance, and art businesses.

Mr. Neblett has considerable Federal and State Court Trial experience and heads the Firm’s Maritime Group, Insurance Group and Trial Group. David spends a considerable amount of time in Court and at the Courthouse and has represented clients in well over 1,000 hearings and 1,000 depositions.  He prides himself as one of the few attorneys that actively tries cases to a Judge or Jury. He has tried over 100 jury and bench Trials and evidentiary hearings in both State and Federal Courts.  David “first chairs” the Trials and he and his Trial team recently tried and won over Thirty-Five (35) cases including two Federal Jury Trials.

David Neblett was the first attorney in the United State in over 38 years that was able to procure Full 1A-31 Exploration and Recovery permits from the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources and the Bureau of Archaeological Research.  These permits have allowed Seafarer Exploration Corp and Seafarer’s Quest LLC to continue their search and recovery of artifacts from shipwrecks off the costs of Florida and to continue to practice underwater rescue archaeology and conservation.

Mr. Neblett works closely with the Firm’s Appellate Group and with Board Certified Appellate counsel. He has participated in over 100 Appeals and has over thirty written opinions.  Mr. Neblett worked on a case that went to the Supreme Court of the United States and he attended Oral Argument in Washington D.C.   This case changed the law in his client’s favor.

David is known as a very tough negotiator who procures very favorable results for his clients. He negotiates very aggressively and has developed a style of being a tough and relentless adversary that will either get the maximum value for a case or try it.  Opponents know that David and his Trial Group will prepare and try a case to a jury.  Just knowing that Trial is a real possibility often dramatically increases the value of a case or pushes the other side to settle. He is also known as an attorney and a partner that works tirelessly for his clients and often outworks his opponents.  Mr. Neblett works extremely long hours, works Sundays and will prepare for Trial and work during Trial 16-18 hours a day.  Because of his negotiating skills, his wiliness to put in the work and try cases to a jury as well as his personal relationships with mediators and decision makers, Mr. Neblett handles most of the firm’s mediations and settlement negotiations.  David has mediated well over 1,000 cases.

David is the President of his Condominium Association, board a member / officer (10+ years) of the Miami Yacht Club, Board Member of Beyond Our Shores Foundation and the Dolphinfish Research Program, Board Member of the Port of Miami Propeller Club, Member of the Admiralty Law Committee & the Admiralty and Maritime Law Board Certification Committee, Member of SEALI – South Eastern Admiralty Law Institute, Member of Maritime Law Association, Member of WIND and a Fellow of the National Association of Legal Fee Analysis.

Mr. Neblett is an avid fisherman, scuba diver, yachtsman, art and antique collector, gentleman farmer and chess enthusiast.

David enjoys spending time with his family and with his son William – especially out on the water.